Page 7 of The Killing Plains

“Pity’s the worst.” Colly bent over the desk. “I’d rather have them hate me.”

“You’ve come to the right place, then.” Brenda smiled wryly. “Most people aren’t as nice as Wanice. They hate me, too, if it’s any comfort.”

Colly handed back the paper. “I doubt that. You didn’t get anybody killed. Besides, everyone knows Lowell’s an ass.”

“But half the town works for him.” Brenda gave her another form. “Plus, Iris has been gossiping. I deserve it, I suppose. If I could do things over...” An indefinable look crossed Brenda’s face, a complicated mixture of wistfulness, regret, and anger. “You’d think a psychology degree would’ve stopped me making the most humiliating mistakes.”

“We all make mistakes, Bren. Even Iris knows that.” Colly signed the paper. “Here you go. Oh, by the way, Satchel doesn’t want other kids knowing he lives with his decrepit granny. So keep that quiet, if you can.”

Brenda laughed as she tucked the form into a thin folder. “There are grannies, and there aregrannies.”

“Which kind am I?”

“You’re the badass rock-climbing kind. Come on, I’ll walk you to your car.”

Out in the parking lot, Colly asked, “How’s joint custody going?”

“Tough at first, but getting better. I got a smaller place, and Lowell moved back to the ranch. We’re still doing holidays and get-togethers at Mollison like one big, happy family, for the kids’ sake. They love spending half their time on the ranch, with all that space to run around, and Iris spoiling them rotten. I don’t worry so much about them being there, now that—” Brenda stopped herself.

“Now that Willis is dead?”

“What was the governor thinking, commuting his sentence?”

“Iris is well-connected. Money talks.”

“With Willis, another disaster was inevitable. Honestly, that snake of his did us all a favor. Lowell thinks he would’ve gotten the death penalty this time. I’m not sure Iris would’ve survived that. As it is, she can believe whatever she wants.”

Iris can forgive Willis, but not me, Colly thought. “No mother wants to think badly of her child.”

“But she shouldn’t be blind to reality. You know Iris was behind this whole re-investigation, don’t you? Since Willis died, she’s been obsessed with clearing his name. She badgered Russ into dragging you out here. He can’t say no to her.”

“You think Willis was guilty?”

“Ofcoursehe was. Denny Knox was found at the pond, just like the Parker boy.”

At the car, Colly turned and regarded her sister-in-law thoughtfully. “That’s not proof.”

Brenda’s eyebrows rose. “You don’t think it was Willis?”

“I don’t think anything, yet. What’s the mood in town?”

“Jumpy. People are still keeping a close eye on their kids, worried the investigation might’ve got it wrong. But the Rangers seemed satisfied. Truth is, Willis was a psychopath. If Iris hadn’t pulled strings to get him out of prison, Denny would still be alive.”

“You’re the psychologist.” Colly found her keys and unlocked the car.

Brenda apparently felt she’d said too much. “Sorry, I’m rambling—you know me.”

“The distraction’s nice. I dread seeing Russ.”

“He doesn’t blame you for what happened.”

“I blame myself. Besides, looking at him is like looking at a ghost.”

“Colly, it’s just Russ—you’ve known him half your life.” Brenda hugged her. “Don’t worry about Satchel. I’m here till noon every day. I’ll keep an eye out.”

Chapter 3

Driving through town, Colly tried to shake off the heaviness she felt. The visit with Brenda had left her depleted and a little depressed. Her sister-in-law frequently had that effect on her, though Colly wasn’t sure why. Their encounters were always friendly but exhausting, as if they were both trying too hard. Acting parts in a play. And Colly hadn’t slept well the night before. Satchel, refusing to stay in a separate bed in the unfamiliar house, had kept her awake with his thrashing and muttering. She’d dozed for a few minutes now and then, each time waking to find his hot, sweating little body pressed against her as if he were trying to burrow away from something horrible.

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