something needed to be done about Zack Larson. Most of it was talk, but what if one drunk, or friend of Davis Montano, decided to take the law into his own hands? Could Granger and a few old deputies stop him?
The sheriff glanced over at Randi, who perched on the wide windowsill to watch the snow. She obviously did not see herself as part of this discussion.
He turned back to Meredith and tried again. 'I can't let a man go because the widows took a vote. That's not my job. I'm the one who catches them, the courts are the ones who let them go.' He smiled at his attempt at humor.
'Yes, but you're holding an innocent man,' Meredith Insisted. 'Doesn't that bother you?'
'Why are you so sure he's not guilty? Because Crystal heard him ask about Anna? Maybe he was worried that if he killed her he'd be going up for murder, not just assault.'
Meredith did not answer, so he continued, 'Or maybe I should unlock him because Anna asked about him? Did you women ever think that she might have asked because he scared the hell out of her and she was hoping he was dead?
'I've got my own misgivings, but nothing strong enough to let the man go. He was in a house where he didn't belong at a time that's not usually considered visiting hours. He was undressed. Anna was beat to a pulp. Carlo was shot.'
'But I stood right next to you when Adam called from the hospital to tell you there was no powder residue on Zack's hands. He didn't fire the gun that shot Carlo.' Meredith walked back and forth in front of the sheriff as though she were lecturing. 'And I saw you measure the space between the weapon and Zack. He couldn't have fired the gun and washed his hands, then fallen unconscious half a room away. He wasn't the one who shot Carlo, and he didn't hit Anna.'
'Then get her in here and let me talk to her. All she has to do is tell me who, besides Zack, beat her near to death and I swear I'll put that guy in jail and let Zack out.'
'She can't come. She's too afraid. But you should she the way she looks when someone says Zack's name. She's worried about him, not afraid of him.'
Meredith rubbed her forehead. 'I don't know, maybe she thinks if she tells the truth Zack and her might both die. It's that kind of terror I see in her eyes. She cares about the man and somehow thinks she's helping him by remaining silent.
'That's not enough.' Granger shook his head.
Randi finally unfolded from the window. With her slender limbs and fringed jacket, she looked like a daddy longleggs spider on the move. 'I know what would be enough,' she said calmly. 'I read it in your report.'
Meredith and Granger both looked at her as if they had forgotten she was there.
Randi widened her stance. 'You're a man of detail, Sheriff. In your report you wrote that you turned off the stereo.'
'So? I always write down things like that. You never know what's important.'
'All right. This is important. What was playing?'
Granger frowned. 'I don't remember, some country and western station.'
'Zack Larson didn't rape Anna Montano.' Randi smiled as if she'd made her point. When the other two did not respond, she added, 'Anna loved classical. Drove us all crazy every time we were around her. It was her house, her stereo, so the music would have been her choice. Classical, not C-and-W. A man doesn't take time to change the radio country if he's chasing her around the room to rape her.'
'Maybe, maybe not.' Granger frowned, obviously angry that hadn't thought much about it. 'Look, since yesterday morning I haven't had more than an hour's sleep. Why don't you ladies come back tomorrow?' Meredith leaned into his space. 'Let me talk to him, Granger.' She almost knocked his keys off his desk.
'No way.' Her nearness bothered him, but he didn't back down. 'I've tried to talk to him a dozen times. He won't say a word. He won't even admit to knowing Anna, much less going over to her place.'
'Then let me talk to him,' Helena Whitworth demanded as she walked through the sheriff's office door.
Granger stood, almost bumping noses with Meredith in his haste. 'Mrs. Whitworth, I was just explaining to Mrs.
Allen…'
Helena handed him a paper that had been folded neatly in half. 'I'm too old to argue. I brought a letter from Judge Lewis stating that since Zack Larson has no relatives that we know of, I can visit him as his next of kin.'
Granger's frown was becoming a permanent part of his face. 'I've never heard of such an exception.'
Randi laughed. 'Great, Helena. You've adopted him.'
'No, I'm just visiting Zack Larson. I woke the judge up from his nap. It doesn't seem right for a man who's lived in this town all his life not to have at least one person visit him. If the rest of the city counsel considers themselves the town fathers, I can play the town mother once in a while.' Granger shook his head. 'What makes you ladies so sure you're right? Did it ever occur to you that Zack may be guilty?'
'It might have.' Helena tilted her head slightly. 'Bella his housekeeper, Bella Johnson, told me he's been drinking tea lately. English tea.'
Granger threw up his hands. 'That settles it. I'm letting him out. If he drinks tea, he couldn't be a bad person.'
None of the women thought the sheriff was the least bit funny.
'Bella told me the same thing when she brought Zack up a set of clothes this morning.' Granger tapped the letter against his hand. 'But Bella spent half her life living in a bottle. Zack's family probably offered her the only job slu could get and keep. She'd say anything.'
Helena raised her chin as though peasants were questioning the queen. 'She worked for Anna, too. Bella may have taken a drink now and then, but I believe she's honest. She wouldn't lie.'
Meredith almost felt sorry for Granger. He could handle the drunks and the troublemakers, but he had no idea how to handle the widows.
She watched as he paced the office, rereading the letter from Judge Lewis. 'All right, you can see him for five minutes. But you'll have to climb the stairs, the elevator isn't working.'
'I'm sorry, officer. I can't.' Helena lowered her thin body to the nearest chair. 'I've been having dizzy spells lately. I have no plans to climb any more stairs than I have to this day.'
Meredith smiled. Helena played her part so well. She wouldn't have been surprised to hear the older woman call Granger 'young man.'
'You'll have to bring him down here.' She said the words casually, as though ordering an extra course at dinner.
Granger had met his match. Helena Whitworth had not managed a successful store and the town by giving an inch to anyone. Meredith had no doubt there would be another letter from the judge if Granger didn't start moving.
'Just wait here, Mrs. Whitworth. Adam and I'll bring him down from the third floor.' The sheriff looked at Meredith and Randi. 'I don't want either of you in this office when I get back.'
After he left, the three women stood staring at one another in silence for a long time. They all knew the risk they took. Crystal said the hospital planned to release Carlo by the next shift change. He had already called and had his men post a guard at the gate of the Montano Ranch. Anna would not answer the phone, she was in no shape to leave, and as soon us Carlo got home and demanded Bella leave, Anna would be all alone. They would no longer be able to get to her… or save her.
If they were going to help Anna, Zack might be their only chance.
'I've never done anything like this in my life,' Meredith whispered as she wiped her sweaty palms on her pants and reached for Granger's keys. She circled them around the desk as though they were a toy.
Randi shrugged. 'This is just Saturday night excitement for me.'
Helena straightened. 'We do what we have to. I see no crime in that.'
'Hope the sheriff agrees with you,' Randi added.
When they heard footsteps on the stairs, they sprang like rabbits.
Randi took her place on the far side, at the bottom of the stairs. Her long leg stretched up to the fourth step as though she were a ballerina warming up.
Meredith stood on the other side near the marble column.
She slipped her hand up along the back side, feeling in the darkness for what she hoped was still there.
