“Yeah, but what good does it do when the likes of Grady Hart get all the women. I hate to admit it to you, but I think Salem was carrying his baby and he offed her so he wouldn’t have to takeresponsibility.”
Paul’s words slapped Linx like a splash of cold water. “That is so far-fetched as to be ridiculous. You want to know what Gradysaid?”
Anger surged inside her belly like the roaring of a red dragon. She didn’t know why Grady put up with taking the blame, but the truth was, Grady didn’t say anything to jeopardize Salem. Instead, he gave her a reason to live. He told her about the pendingengagement.
“Whatever he told you is a lie.” Paul all butgrowled.
“No, I believe him. Maybe it wasn’t his business to tell her, but he told her you’d gotten a ring, and that she’d better figure out whose baby she was carrying because he didn’t want you to gethurt.”
Paul narrowed his eyes and snorted. “How was she going to do that? The baby wasn’t evenborn.”
“News flash. They can do prenatal paternity tests by drawing the mother’s blood and isolating fetal DNA, then comparing it to a cheek swab of the prospective fathers. No need to touch the baby. It’s not cheap, but hey, you’re loaded and I bet you’d want toknow.”
“Damn.” Paul slapped the bar counter. “Why didn’t I know aboutthis?”
A cloud of gloom draped over Linx’s shoulder, pressing her spirits down. “I guess it no longer matters, now that she’sgone.”
“It matters to me. Grady wasn’t the only likelyfather.”
“I’m sorry.” Linx put her hand on his. “Reallysorry.”
“Not your fault,” he said, flinching. “Salem really admired you. Said you were her friend—the only one she had. I think she might have been a little jealous of you,though.”
“Why? She’s the smokejumper and I’m thedropout.”
“Yeah, but she once admitted to me that Grady called her by your name when… you know…” Paul cleared his throat. “Guess I’m jealous ofGrady.”
“Don’t be. Seriously.” Linx blinked back her shock at what Paul had just spewed. How had she missed the obsession Salem had had withGrady?
Could it have pushed her off the deep end? Or had she always been a psychopath who only cared aboutherself?
“Yeah, you’re right,” Paul conceded. “What does it matter now? Dead isdead.”
