Page 39 of The Killing Plains

At the flagstone path, Colly released Russ’s arm. “If someone planted those masks, you realize what that means?”

“They had access to the ranch.”

“Who besides the family has access?”

As they started up the hill, Colly heard Russ snort in the darkness. “Half the town.”

“Be serious.”

“Okay, I’m exaggerating, but not much. Felix, and his nephew Pete, and Nadine the housekeeper, and a half-dozen ranch hands live on the property year-round. They’ve all got friends who visit now and then. Not to mention the tradesmen and delivery people in and out all day. Plus Talford, and Momma’s bridge-club ladies. And now that Lowell’s living in the guesthouse, there’s his poker buddies, and sometimes employees from the turbine plant. We had the company picnic here last summer. If it’s not literally half the town, it’s a fair percentage.”

“Great.” Colly massaged her temple, where the earlier sharp pain had resolved into a dull throb. “Those masks couldn’t have been in the nightstand long, or Willis would’ve found them himself.” She thought for a moment. “Did anything unusual happen at Iris’s party?”

She sensed Russ looking at her. “Lowell had one beer too many and got mouthy about politics, like always. But basically, it was a pleasant evening. Dinner, presents, cake. Alice headed out early for a babysitting gig. Brenda took Logan and Minnie home around nine-thirty, as I recall. Talford left around ten. Momma went to bed a little after that, and Lowell and me sat by the pool a few moreminutes, finishing our beers. That’s when Felix came running up, saying Willis was hurt.”

“Hurt? He said that?”

Russ paused. “I think so.”

“Tonight, he said he knew right away that Willis was dead.”

“Maybe I’m misremembering.”

“He’s found more than his share of dead bodies recently—first Denny, then Willis.” Colly thought of the gray rabbit, of Felix dropping it through the herpetarium hatch as casually as if he were posting a letter. He would certainly know how to catch and skin a wild hare.

They had crested the hill and were passing the tennis courts. The murmur of voices came drifting on the night air from the patio behind the house, along with the shrill laughter of children splashing in the pool.

Russ turned towards Colly, the frown lines on his face accentuated in the dim glow of the distant house lights. “Felix didn’t kill Willis—he was his protector. He loved Willis.”

“People kill loved ones all the time, Russ.”

“Not Felix. Trust me.”

And that’s the problem with investigating friends and family, Colly thought.Neither of us should be on this case, but I’m more objective than Russ.She wondered what he would do if she started poking around in directions he didn’t like. It was a subject that needed to be addressed, but not tonight.

From the direction of the house came an especially loud shriek and splash, followed by Iris’s sharp voice, carried on the still night air. “That’s enough, kids. Come dry off.” Then, more querulously: “What’s keeping them, Lowell? Run down to the cabin and tell Russ dinner’s ready. If Nadine’s roast beef dries out, she’ll pout for a week.”

“That’s our cue.” Russ offered Colly his arm. “Ready for battle stations?”

Colly sighed and looked up. The Big Dipper hung high above them to the north, tipped as if about to spill the contents of its vast cup onto the roof of the house—a cup of spiced and foaming wine, full of wrath. The poetic phrase came, unbidden, to her mind. Was it from the Bible? She hadn’t been to church since burying her husband and daughter, yet the verse sounded right.The grapes of wrath.

Battle stations, indeed.

She shook off the thought and tucked an escaping strand of hair firmly behind her ear. “Ready.”

Ignoring Russ’s arm, she walked quickly towards the house.

Entering the gloom of the crape myrtle thicket, Colly was startled to encounter a shadowy figure coming from the direction of the house. To avoid a collision on the narrow path, she stopped abruptly, and Russ crashed into her from behind, knocking her sideways.

In the darkness, the shape in front of her expelled an annoyed grunt, and Colly caught a whiff of alcohol. The figure turned without apology and retreated the way it had come.

“Here they are, Momma—praise the Lord and hallelujah, the roast beef’s saved.”

“Dammit, Lowell,” Colly heard Russ mutter. “You okay, Col?”

“I’m fine.” Colly smoothed her dress. “What’s Lowell’s problem? He’s worse than usual.”

“I told you, it’s nothing. Ignore him.” Russ started to move away, but Colly grabbed his sleeve.

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