Page 28 of Lone Star Secrets

Hell. Did that mean Birdie had murdered Kenton? No way did Angel want to throw out that question so he just waited.

“I’m not sure how long I stayed in the attic,” Birdie finally continued. “But I decided to go downstairs and talk to Melanie. When I got to the boys’ wing, I could see that Kenton’s door was open so I risked glancing inside. I saw the blood, more of it than had been there earlier.” She looked at her husband, who nodded. “I cleaned it up and threw away the towel.”

“Because she didn’t want Mia to be blamed for what Kenton was trying to do,” Roger snarled, looking directly at Mia. “Birdie was protecting you.”

Maybe. But Birdie could have been protecting herself, too.

“Kenton was alive the last time I saw him,” Birdie went on. “And I have no idea how he ended up dead.”

Angel had to go with another maybe on this. Birdie could be lying. He could see Kenton setting up the scene to make it look as if he’d been murdered, but Kenton sure as hell hadn’t buried himself. Someone had put him in that grave.

And that led him back to the questions of logistics.

Kenton and he both owned cars. Junkers they’d bought to get them to and from their part-time jobs. Angel had had his car and keys with him that night, but Kenton’s could have been used to transport the body and then left somewhere or destroyed to conceal the forensic evidence that would have been in the vehicle.

Using the vehicle accomplished something else, too. It had made it seem as if Kenton could have just driven away. Since the cops had never even looked for it, there was no hope in finding it after all this time.

“Anyone here?” someone called out.

Angel muttered some profanity because he instantly recognized the voice. Dwight. And it was obvious the man was already inside the house.

“Anyone here?” Dwight called out again, but before the last word had left his mouth, he was already in the arched opening of the kitchen.

Hell. How long had he been here?

Angel recalled that Melanie hadn’t locked the door when they’d come in. Apparently, neither had Birdie.

“It’s customary to knock or ring the bell when you come to someone’s home,” Angel snarled as he got to his feet. So did Mia, Presley, and RJ.

For just an instant he saw the fury flash through Dwight’s eyes, but the man quickly tamped it down. “I know. I’m sorry. I knocked. At least, I think I did, but I feel like I’m in a trance. A grief trance for my boy.”

Oh, butter wouldn’t melt in that lying-assed mouth.

Dwight slid glances all around the table, lingering a moment and scowling a bit at RJ. Then again, according to RJ, the two had had a run-in.

“Why are you here?” Angel pressed just as Roger asked, “Who are you?”

Dwight volleyed glances at both of them and must have decided he could get a warmer reception from Roger.

“I’m Dwight Barker, Kenton’s father. It’s just awful what happened to my boy.” He gave his head a sad little shake and hiked his thumb in the direction of the foyer. “I was driving by the house, thinking of the times I’d visited Kenton here, and I saw all the vehicles. I figured whoever was in here would be talking about Kenton. Do any of you have any news about my son?”

“No,” Angel was quick to say. Definitely no need to spill any of what Birdie had just told them. “I’m sure the cops will fill you in on anything they learn.”

Dwight sighed. “That’s just it. They’re not filling me in. They’ve left me on my own to find out what happened to Kenton.” He seemed to try to conjure up those tears again by rapidly blinking his eyes. “Somebody please tell me what happened to him. Please.”

And with that, he turned to Birdie.

Angel did more cursing because he was almost certain now that Dwight had heard what she’d said.

“I, uh,” Birdie muttered, but Roger squeezed her hand.

“My wife is upset, and I think she’s had enough of this miserable trip down memory lane for the time being.” He stood, easing Birdie up with him, while he shifted his attention to Ruby. “I trust you have everything you need and that you’ll handle this with the care and diligence that your reputation indicates you have.”

Ruby nodded.

Dwight pounced right on that. “This? What do you mean by this? What’s going on here?”

Angel was about to repeat that bit about Dwight getting any other info from the cops, but he stopped when he caught a whiff of something. Something he didn’t want to smell.

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