Page 72 of Lie for a Million

Judd climbed out the passenger side. “Chips and a hot dog with relish. And a Bud Light. That should do it for me. After we’re gassed up, I’ll need to use the crapper. Give me your keys. I’ll lock the truck and bring them inside to you.”

Rowdy tossed him the truck keys. Judd caught them deftly with one hand, then turned his attention to opening the tank and working the gas pump. Leaving him, Rowdy went into the convenience store. After a visit to the restroom, he took a plastic basket from the stack near the door and began filling it with snack items—for Judd, a packet of barbecue-flavored chips and a hot dog from the cooker in the corner, set up with buns, garnishes, and paper bags. The beer probably wasn’t a good idea. Judd had already downed several. But he wouldn’t be driving. Maybe this one would put Judd to sleep.

For himself, Rowdy chose a granola bar, a pack of beef jerky, and a chilled Red Bull to keep him awake.

In line at the cash register, Rowdy took his credit card out of his wallet to have it ready. He had yet to see Judd come in. Pumping the gas shouldn’t have taken this long. He’d probably gone straight to the restroom and would be showing up any minute.

By the time Rowdy had paid, there was still no sign of Judd. Maybe there’d been a problem with the pump or with his card. Or maybe he’d gotten into an argument with somebody. That would be like him.

Impatient but not really worried, Rowdy checked the restroom. When he failed to see Judd, he went back through the store, opened the front door, and stepped outside.

Judd was gone.

So was the truck, with Rowdy’s phone, his keys, and everything else he owned.

* * *

Lila got the call from Sam after supper. “I saw your light,” he said. “There’s been a development. We need to talk. Is this a good time?”

A development?A chill passed through Lila’s body. What was he talking about? Had Roper been arrested? Heart pounding, she forced herself to reply. “Now’s as good as any.”

“I can come over, or we can sit here on the bungalow porch.”

Lila thought of Mariah, whom she no longer trusted. Even now the cook could be eavesdropping. She didn’t trust Sam, either. But she needed to hear what he had to say.

“Stay where you are,” she told him. “I’ll come out.”

She left by the patio and cut around the house to the bungalow. The porch light was off, probably to discourage mosquitos, but she could see Sam sitting in the moonlight, an empty chair pulled up next to his.

She mounted the porch and took a seat. “No small talk,” she said. “Just tell me. Is this about Roper?”

“No. It’s about Crystal.” His gaze followed the darting flight of a nighthawk chasing insects in the dark.

Crystal. Lila released a long breath. “What about her?”

“I saw her at the clinic. Her ex-boyfriend, Judd, got out of jail and beat her up pretty good. She’ll be all right, but she fell and hit her head. Probably a concussion.”

“What about the baby? Is the baby all right?”

He turned toward her, his gaze holding hers. “There is no baby, Lila. Crystal miscarried. She chose not to tell you about it.”

Stunned, Lila stared at him. “Why, that little . . .” She shook her head. Torrents of emotion washed over her—rage, pity, relief, disappointment, and finally, grief.

“I was actually going to do it, Sam,” she said. “My lawyers were drawing up the contract. I was going to pay Crystal’s price and adopt the little mite. I was ready to be a mother again. Now . . .” She sighed. “I don’t know what to say. I don’t even know what to feel.”

“You could have her charged with fraud. She chose to go ahead with the scheme, even after she’d lost the baby. I’m sure you must’ve given her money.”

“That’s the least of it.” Lila ran a hand through her hair, raking a stray lock back from her face. “But no, I can’t change what’s already happened. So why prolong this farce? Let her go. I’ve got other battles to fight. I’ll call my lawyers in the morning.”

Lila stood, still reeling with the impact of what Sam had told her. She’d pretended to dismiss the news, as if it didn’t matter. But she’d already begun to imagine the baby—the tiny hands and feet, the hungry little mouth, the need for love. Frank’s child, and Crystal’s, would be innocent of everything its parents had done. She’d been prepared to love it. Now it was as if that small person had just died in her heart.

“Are we finished?” she asked Sam.

“Just one thing more.” Sam stopped speaking and stood as a tall figure appeared in the moonlight, striding from the direction of the stables. It was Roper.

His surprised gaze met Lila’s for an instant. Then he turned to Sam. “Any news?” he asked.

“Not about your brother,” Sam said. “But pull up a chair. What I have to say concerns both of you.”

---