she'd half convinced him.
Of course, once they found out who killed B.K. and everything had been set right, she'd go back to Sequana Falls. And he would claim his inheritance.
Reece rang the doorbell. The porch light came on. Claire Roberts, short and matronly plump, eased open the door. Her expressive brown eyes widened. She clutched the storm door handle.
'I need to talk to you, Claire. Please.' Reece saw the fear in her eyes and hated that she was afraid of him.
'What are you doing here, Reece? The sheriff's department, the police... everyone's looking for you.' Lowering her eyes, staring down at the floor, Claire bit into her bottom lip. 'You have to go. I can't talk to you.'
Reece clasped the outside door handle. 'I don't know why you lied in court about Kenny and B.K.'s argument, but I need you to tell the truth. I know you don't want to see me spend the rest of my life in prison for a crime I didn't commit.'
'Oh, Reece, I'm so sorry. I... I...' Tears welled up in Claire's eyes.
'Did Kenny threaten you?' He shouldn't be feeling sorry for Claire, considering that her testimony at the trial proved him to be a liar, but he knew she was a good person.
Claire unlocked the storm door, opening it slowly. 'I had no idea that my testimony would hurt your case. Kenny said that he wanted to protect his family, his mother in particular, from any more sordid news coverage. He said.. .he was under no obligation to keep me on as his secretary when he took over the reins at Stanton Industries.'
'He threatened to fire you?' Reece glanced around, wondering how long he could stand on Claire's porch without one of her neighbors noticing.
'I have two daughters in college. I've raised them all on my own since my divorce when they were small. I have to have a job.'
'Claire, could we talk inside?' Reece asked.
'What? Oh, yes, Reece, come in. I'm sorry that I lied, but I did what I felt I had to do.''
Claire opened the door and allowed Reece inside her house. He closed the door behind him.
'Your older daughter is attending college on a Stanton scholarship, isn't she?' Reece wondered how many Stanton employees' sons and daughters had been awarded a full-tuition scholarship paid for by Stanton Industries. He'd been B. K. Stanton's son, but he'd put himself through school.
'Kenny could have taken away Shelly's scholarship and could have seen to it that Lauren didn't get one. He made himself very clear when he told me that he didn't want anyone to know about the argument he'd had with his father.''
'Claire, I understand the predicament you were in, and I can't really blame you, but... I need your help.'' Reece stood in the living room, only a couple of feet away from the front door. He didn't want to push his way into Claire's home. He didn't want to frighten her.
'I know you didn't kill Mr. Stanton,' Claire said. 'In the years I worked with you at Stanton Industries, I had a chance to see what sort of man you are. You aren't a murderer. But then, neither is Kenny.'
'I'm not asking you to accuse Kenny of murder,' Reece said. 'All I'm asking is that you tell the truth.'
'Kenny warned me only this morning about keeping quiet.' Claire clasped her hands together. 'He's out of his mind with worry since you escaped.'
'Kenny won't be calling the shots at Stanton Industries if I'm proven innocent of B.K.'s murder. Christina and I will have the majority shares. We'll make sure your job is protected and your daughter's scholarship.'
'Hearing you put things like that makes me so ashamed.' Claire wiped the tears from her face with her hand. 'I knew I should have told the truth. I wanted to go to your lawyer and tell him what I'd done after the trial, but I was so afraid.'
Reece took Claire by the shoulders. She stared at him, wringing her hands, her chin quivering. 'Will you go to the sheriff tomorrow and tell him the truth?'
'I...I...'
They both heard the car pull into the driveway. Reece released his hold on Claire's shoulders. 'Are you expecting someone?'
'No, I...' Claire eased back the sheer curtains over the picture window and peered outside. 'Oh, my goodness, it's Kenny. He just got out of his car, and he's talking to some woman.'
Every nerve in Reece's body tensed. Some woman. Hell, the woman had to be Elizabeth.
'What's he doing here?' Claire trembled, her hand clutching the sheer curtains.
'He's checking up on you. Making sure you keep your mouth shut.'
'Who's the woman with Kenny?'
'She's not with Kenny. She's with me. She drove me over here to see you tonight.'
'Oh, dear. How will she ever explain being at my house?'
Standing directly behind Claire, Reece glanced out the window. Elizabeth stood beside Sam's T-Bird. He heard her voice, loud and strong and clear.
'Well, hello, Mr. Stanton. What are you doing here?'
'Ms. Mallory, our visiting psychic.' Kenny surveyed Elizabeth from head to toe. 'I'm here on business, to pick up some papers from my secretary. What are you doing here? I wasn't aware that you were acquainted with Claire Roberts.'
'I'm not acquainted with Mrs. Roberts.' Elizabeth glanced toward the house, hoping Reece was aware of Kenny's arrival. 'I had another vision. One that involved the woman who lives here.'
'What sort of vision?' Kenny asked.
'A vision of a terrible argument between you and your father. Mrs. Roberts witnessed the argument. I came here to question her about my vision, and find out what she knows.'
Even in the darkness, Elizabeth saw Kenny's face collapse, but she couldn't help admiring his control. He didn't move a muscle.
In her peripheral vision Elizabeth noticed the front door of Mrs. Roberts's house open. Surely Reece wouldn't be foolish enough to walk outside at this precise moment.
'Mr. Stanton, is that you?' Claire Roberts stood on her porch, staring out at the two people in her driveway.
'Yes, Claire, it's me.' Turning around, Kenny faced Claire. 'I've stopped by to pick up those papers I need for tomorrow morning's meeting, but it seems I'm not your only visitor.'
'Who's that with you?'
'Elizabeth Mallory, some young woman who claims to be a psychic and says she's had visions about B.K.'s death. Christina brought her to the house for dinner tonight.'
'Why did you bring her here with you?'
'I didn't,' Kenny said. 'She was here when I arrived.'
'I see. Well, I'm afraid those papers you want aren't ready yet. Perhaps if you can come back in an hour.'
Kenny walked up the sidewalk, stopping at the bottom of the front steps. 'I'll just come inside and wait for you to finish up with that report if you don't mind, Claire. There's no need for me to drive all the way back home, is there?'
'I'd like to speak to you tonight, Mrs. Roberts.' Elizabeth rushed over, stepping in front of Kenny. Reece had to be inside the house, and undoubtedly Claire Roberts had no intention of telling Kenny. Did that mean Reece had persuaded B.K.'s secretary to tell the police the truth, to admit that she had lied under oath?
'Couldn't this wait until tomorrow, Ms. Mallory?' Kenny glared at Elizabeth, his round, full face slightly flushed.
'It's all right,' Claire said. 'Why don't you both come on in.'
Once inside the house, Elizabeth glanced around the living room, wondering if Reece had exited through a back door or if he was hiding in another room. She could tell that Claire Roberts was nervous simply by the hesitant way she walked, the way she kept wringing her hands, the way she repeatedly glanced toward the darkened hallway.
Reece was at the end of that hallway, impatiently waiting. Elizabeth sensed his unease. She tried to reassure him by sending him a telepathic message, hoping he would open his mind to hers. She could almost hear him
