the top of his head, and when she did, I saw a tear in her eye. "Sure we will."
When we got back to the living room it was dark outside. The deer horn chandelier over the couch cast weird shadows over the room. Babe was standing at a table against the wall that served as a bar pouring herself a big belt of whiskey while her husband, Rob, watched.
"That's my darling," he said, "a woman of lusty appetites."
Babe turned around, and if looks could kill, Rob would have been a dead man. She opened her mouth to speak, but then she glanced at me and snapped it shut.
"Where's Rosebud?" I asked.
"He went to the kitchen to have a beer with Abner," Grace Higgins said.
"I believe I'll go, too." I headed for the door.
"I want you to stay here with me." I could tell from Biggie's voice that it wasn't going to do any good to argue, so I sat beside her on the couch.
Laura spoke up. "Babe, honey, why don't you fix our guests a drink?"
"Sure. What'll you have?"
"I'll have a Big Red," I said, surprised to see that they had added two cans of my favorite soda to the other drinks on the table.
"Just a small glass of wine for me." Biggie sat down next to Laura. "What's wrong with Rex?" she asked, straight out.
Laura looked flustered. "Well, I… he woke up feeling poorly this morning. I thought he'd be better by now. He was so looking forward to your visit. If he's not better by morning, I'll call the doctor."
"He said something about his medicine." Biggie watched Laura over her wineglass. "What's he taking?"
"Well, he's diabetic, you know, so he has to take his insulin. Then, let me see, there's the heart medicine and painkillers. They make him a little confused…."
Just then the front door flew open and Stacie burst in. Her shirttail was half in and half out, her hair was sticking out all over her head, and her cheeks, red and blotchy, were tearstained.
"Why, Stacie darling." Laura half rose to her feet.
"Don't 'Stacie darling' me, you bitch." The girl's voice was hoarse and low. "I know who you are, remember?"
"Get a grip, kid." Babe weaved a little as she made her way to a chair. "Why don't you go back to the barn with the other cows?"
Stacie ignored her. "I've had it." Her voice rose. "I'm not staying here, and you can't make me."
"But, darling, where would you go?" Laura's voice was low.
"Stacie, stop it!" Grace rose to her feet and approached Stacie. "Stay out of this, Laura. I can handle it."
But she couldn't. Stacie made a horrible face as she grabbed Laura by the arm. Then I saw something shiny in her hand. It was a gun, and it was pointed at Laura's temple. For an instant everyone was too surprised to move.
Then Laura began speaking softly to Stacie. She spoke in a singsong voice. I couldn't make out the words, but it sounded a little like baby talk. After what seemed like a long time, Stacie's eyes softened and the hand holding the gun dropped to her side. Laura kept chanting while Grace slowly began edging her way toward them. Just as she got near enough to reach out and grab the gun, Stacie snapped out of it.
"No!" she shouted; and dragging Laura, she ran to a door, pulled it open, and disappeared into the next room, taking Laura with her. We heard the lock click into place.
"What is that room?" Biggie asked.
"Laura's study," Grace gasped. "We've got to get in there."
But before she had time to move, a shot rang out, then another, then a few moments later one more. Somebody screamed from behind the door.
It must have been five seconds before anybody moved. Biggie was the first to react. "Someone phone 911," she said. "I'll go find the men."
Just then the lights went out and the room turned black as a well digger's pocket. I sat there stunned until the tiniest bit of light entered the room. I could barely make out Biggie's figure against the window. Feeling my way across the room, I came and stood next to her. She had opened the drapes, letting in a little moonlight. We both watched as something moved out on the patio; then the lights came back on, and Abner Putnam entered followed by Rosebud.
"Nothing to be alarmed about," Abner said. "But I'd like to get my hands on the SOB who tripped the