She wanted to say something to comfort her father, but she couldn’t find the words.
“After the murder ... I was so devastated I didn’t even think of the conversation. Fairgate and my problems with him were the farthest things from my mind. But, once the police were gone that night, Fairgate sent for me. Two of his thugs came to the house while you and your mother were at the hospital. I had been about to go there myself. Your grandparents had picked up your brother.” The fleeting look he cast at Emily confirmed just how much he’d suffered with the weight of this secret.
“They took me to Fairgate and he made me an offer.” He drew in a heavy breath. “He gave me back the money I’d paid him already, minus half of the original loan, and said I didn’t owe him anything else. I knew then he was up to something no good. He didn’t want to bedragged into the investigation. Didn’t want the police nosing around in his business practices. All I had to do was keep my mouth shut about what I’d heard.”
It was true. Every word. Emily’s heart dropped into her stomach and quivered uselessly, leaving her aching all over.
Edward Wallace squared his shoulders and met what he no doubt saw in her gaze with a challenge in his own. “I refused.”
Hope welled, tightened in her chest.
“I told him that he could forget it. I wasn’t about to break the law for him. And then he explained how things were going to be. I would keep my mouth shut and in return not only would the remainder of my debt be dismissed, but I wouldn’t have to bury my family.”
Horror gripped Emily’s throat, but the words burst free: “He threatened to kill us?”
“If I said a word,” her father confirmed, needing her to see what he’d been up against, the desperation spelled out across his face, “he said you would be the first to die. Then James, then your mother. What was I supposed to do?” Tears glittered in his eyes. “I told myself it wasn’t such a terrible thing. Just because Austin told the truth about his reason for being next door didn’t mean he was innocent of the charge against him.” His eyes sought agreement from Emily’s, if not forgiveness. “This doesn’t mean he was innocent, Em.”
But it did.
When she couldn’t confirm his assertion, he looked away. The realization that she and her father had sent an innocent man to prison shifted something elemental inside her.
“There was nothing else I could do, Em. I’ve lived with this guilt ...,” his voice caught, “... but I had to believe I did the right thing. It was the only way to live with what I’d done. You have to know that.”
She did know. Wished with all her heart she could make it right. But it was never going to be right ... not if they left it this way. Before she could say as much, he went on.
“But after his conviction was overturned and his release, I knew I had to do something. I couldn’t let you live with this need to go after Austin. Fairgate’s son must have anticipated this because he reminded me of my obligation. Reminded me that if I told there would be consequences. Your mother and I didn’t know what to do. Either choice put you in danger.”
“Daddy.” She laid her hand on his sleeve, felt the familiar freshness of starched cotton. “I know you did what you had to do. Obviously, Sidney Fairgate is playing games with us. He came here last night and told me about the secret you had been keeping.”
Her father’s eyes conveyed the agony he felt. “Please understand I had to do it.”
She nodded, smiled sadly. “I understand and now I have to do what I have to do.”
“We both do. As worried as I am about your safety, I’ll do what I should have done ten years ago. You have my word on that. Just don’t expect it to change things.”
Oh, but it did. She hugged him hard with all the emotion twisting inside her. It changed everything.
33
9:45 a.m.
Clint sat down with his cup of coffee and considered his limited options for breakfast. Doughnut or candy bar. He’d made a trip to the Sack & Go for something to fill his gut, but he hadn’t spent much time on choices since folks were coming through on their way to church. He didn’t want to endure the way they looked at him. He’d thought he could tolerate it, that nothing could touch him after what he’d been through at Holman, but he’d been wrong.
They could touch him, just like Ray said.
Clint swallowed a slug of coffee and banished the thoughts. He’d get through this. Giving up now was out of the question.
Moving on to the case files would put him on the right track.Someonewas definitely getting nervous. Clint had always known that Heather had been the intended victim. He’d watched Emily too closely not to have been aware of any threat to her. He’d wanted her something fierce. Now he’d caused her to be hurt ... again.
All those years locked in a cell Clint had lived for this opportunity.
The determined fury that usually zeroed in on Emily wouldn’t stay focused on her. If he could just get her to look past his guilt, to think about the days and weeks before Heather’s murder, she had to know who had it in for her best friend. Who Heather had been at odds withat the time. Who was jealous of her or would have wanted her out of the way.
There had to have been clues leading up to what happened. The way she had been murdered spoke of revenge ... jealousy, not a mere random act. That was the very detail the DA had used against Clint during the original trial.
Only it hadn’t been him.
He glanced around the barn. His mother had kept his car out here, to protect it from the elements. And the old truck she’d used. He couldn’t believe that old pickup still ran. A 1964 light green Ford, a little banged up and seriously faded. He’d learned to drive in that old thing. The memory of his mother’s patience made him ache with sadness. He’d lost her house ... all her things. Now this old barn was all he had left in the way of a roof over his head. All he had left of her.
