Page 74 of Lie for a Million

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In Big Spring, they stopped for gas. While Roper filled the tank, Lila bought coffee, which they drank on the road from Styrofoam cups. They hadn’t spoken much, but Roper was grateful that she’d insisted on coming with him. This was a hell of a time to be alone.

They were more than halfway to Odessa and the site of the accident. Roper had yet to notify his family. He was struggling with what to say to them, when his phone rang. Once, twice, and then again as he fumbled it out of his pocket.

“Mr. McKenna?” The voice was a man’s, crisp and official sounding. Roper muttered a response. “This is Sergeant Rasband of the Odessa City Police Department. I’ve got a young man here who asked me to call you. I’ll put him on.”

“Roper?” The familiar voice was a stab to his heart. For a split second he lost control of the wheel. The vehicle veered over the painted line before he wrenched it back.

“Rowdy? Where in hell’s name are you?” Swept away by anger and relief, Roper was too shaken to drive safely. He pulled into the emergency lane and hit the flasher.

“I’m at the police station in Odessa. That sonofabitch, Judd, stole my truck with my phone and everything. He drove off and left me at a gas station. I got a clerk to call the police. Then I had to wait for them, file a report, and finally got them to call you. Where are you?”

“On my way to where you are.” Roper checked the traffic before pulling back onto the roadway. “Stay put, damn it. We’ll talk when I get there.”

Lila was staring at him, her expression incredulous and joyful. “Your brother’s all right?”

“He’s fine.” Roper willed himself to keep a steady course in the outside lane. “Judd stole the truck. That burned body . . .” He swallowed hard. “It would be his.”

“And Rowdy doesn’t know about the accident?”

“Evidently not.”

“Take the next exit,” Lila said. “This calls for a break.”

The exit was coming up. Roper swung the truck onto the off-ramp and pulled into the parking lot of a Kelly’s Barbecue restaurant. Taking a long breath, he switched off the engine, unfastened his seat belt, turned, and pulled Lila close.

Lila wrapped him in her arms. His shoulders shook with dry sobs. As she felt his need, the love that flowed through her was bittersweet and so deep that it brought a surge of tears. But even then she understood that part of him belonged to his family. That part was what mattered now, more than her, more than their love.

After a few minutes, he released her and sank back into the seat. “Thanks. I’m all right now,” he said. “Damn it, what a scare. When I see that rascal, I won’t know whether to hug him or slap him silly.”

“Do you want me to drive?”

“I’ll be fine.”

“I could call Sam. He’ll need to hear the news.”

“Go ahead.”

While Lila made the call to Sam, he drove back onto the freeway, in control again but still silent. In an hour they reached Odessa and followed the GPS to the police station. A lanky young man with a brotherly resemblance to Roper sat on a bench outside. He looked as forlorn as a lost puppy.

“Stay here.” Roper pulled into a nearby parking place and climbed out of the truck. Lila watched as he strode toward his brother. Rowdy stood, looking uncertain.

If she’d expected a heartfelt embrace, Lila would have been disappointed. She couldn’t make out what was being said, but Roper was clearly taking a strip out of the young man’s hide. Rowdy cringed under the impact of his brother’s fury. When his expression changed to one of shocked horror, Lila knew that Roper must be telling him about Judd’s accident.

Abruptly, the lecture ended. Trailed by Rowdy, Roper walked back to the truck and opened the back seat of the club cab. As Rowdy climbed inside, his startled gaze met Lila’s.

“I believe you’ve met Mrs. Culhane, Rowdy,” Roper said.

“Ma’am.” Rowdy nodded. His face was pale and streaked with tears, but at least he remembered his manners. Roper started the engine and drove away from the police station, headed back to the freeway.

“Are we going home now?” Rowdy asked.

“Nope. We’re going out to the accident scene so you can have a look at what happened. Then we’ll pay a visit to the county morgue so you can help with a positive ID of your so-called friend. After that, you’ll be going home to face your mother. If you’ll apologize for what you said to her, she just might let you back into the house.

“Judd was drinking,” Rowdy said. “Just beers, but a lot of them. I didn’t let him drive, but then he stole the truck. All my gear, my good saddle and everything I own, was in that truck.”

“Whose responsibility was that?” Roper asked.

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