phone?”
She reached into her purse, retrieved the phone, and took a quick glance at the caller ID. “It’s Carolyn. She’ll gab all day. I’ll let you read your paper in peace.” She grabbed a sweater and went out to the patio.
He nodded and went back to his paper.
Once she was far enough beyond the house, unable to be heard, she answered, but said nothing and waited.
“You’re lucky I’m calling you and not your husband.”
At the sound of Wayde’s voice, her hand went to her open mouth suppressing a yelp, and she held the back of the chair. “What are you talking about? Why would you say such a thing?” She rounded the chair and fell listless into the seat.
“I’ve had enough of this bitch, and I been thinkin’. Who are you to tell me when we’re going to talk about money? How would you like your lifelong secrets to be revealed to your rich husband and your precious Nick?”
Money, he wanted money. Wayde wasn’t the kind of man you wanted to deal with for any length of time, preferably not at all. “Okay, I guess you’ve done all you can for me. I’ll give you another fifty-thousand for your trouble, and I’ll come and visit you. I promise.” She closed her eyes and appeared to be praying.
“Things change. They might not be comin’ home ‘til I get a half million dollars. If you call the police, you won’t see either of them again.”
“Why? What’s changed? You haven’t done anything wrong. Just threats. You said you don’t want any trouble. Now you’re talking about kidnapping and maybe murder?” Speaking too fast, her breathing became thick and short. The palm of her hand pressed hard against her forehead, and she swayed. Her hands began trembling. “I’ll take care of it. Money like that will be noticed. It’s a lot. Don’t hurt them, either of them. That isn’t supposed to happen. I need a little time.”
Just as Xavier came out onto the patio, the phone dropped from her hands, and she fell from the chair reaching for it.
He ran to her. “Angela!”
Trying to choke out words, she gasped. Her fingers bent and curled, the only movement from the arm that had been reaching for the phone. Madness shone in her eyes as she tried to speak, and then they closed.
“Jonathan! Jonathan!” Xavier bent over her, rolling her from her side to her back. Her breathing became shallow. He turned in the direction of Jonathan’s footsteps. “Call 911! It’s Angela. I think she’s had a stroke. Don’t try to talk Angela. I’m here. You’re going to be fine. I won’t let anything happen to you. I promise.” Sitting on the concrete with her in his arms, he rocked to soothe her.
Chapter 14
Wayde put some of Max’s things into Kinsley’s suitcase and brought Max out to the truck. After tossing the suitcase into the truck bed, he reached into his back pocket, pulled out his wallet, and took the picture of Angela from the billfold. Staring at the tattered photo as he had done so many times over the years, his eyes glazed. He looked away as his hand opened and closed several times, crumpling the paper memory. After removing the handy Bic lighter from his T-shirt pocket, he ignited the crinkly photo he now held between his fingers like a rat by its tail. He tossed the burning photo to the ground and headed down to Veda’s place with Max.
She was coming from the barn when he pulled up. He exited the truck quickly, got Max out, and took him to her.
“Hey, Veda, I need you to take Max. Kinsley she’s got real upset again. Said she needs to go back to Lakeside. See if that doctor can help her like he did before. Probably only be a couple of days. She said you’d help out.”
Veda leaned on the top of the shovel she held, gave him a distrustful stare, and reached out for Max’s hand. “Lakeside, huh. I’ll take him. He’s no problem. Him being here will put Kinsley’s mind to rest, I know that. C’mon over here with me, baby. You can play with Colt until your mommy comes home.”
Max slipped his arm around Veda’s leg and hugged her as he buried his free hand into his tired eyes and rubbed.
“I’ll go get his things.” Wayde hustled to the truck and back, gave her Max’s things, and got back to the house.
Remy’s big ol’ Caddy was already in the driveway. Wayde entered