Dead Right Read Online Free PDF Page B

seemed fully committed to the investigation. Had she been afraid of what she might find if she really looked? Considering what everyone else believed, probably. Madeline doubted Allie was still worried about that now that she knew Clay as well as she did. But they both seemed determined to move forward and not dwell on the past.
    They could move forward, Madeline thought. They didn’t feel the same responsibility to Lee Barker that she did. Allie’s father had had his own problems before he moved away, problems that had included an affair with Irene. But Chief McCormick was still part of Allie’s life. How could Allie understand what it would be like not to know where he was or even whether he was alive? And Clay had only lived with Lee for three years.
    â€œBefore she could dig too deep, her father fired her for taking Clay’s side,” Madeline said, trying to smooth over the issue. If she started pointing fingers at others for not doing enough, she knew Grace would feel guilty by association. And Grace had always had her own demons to deal with. It wasn’t until she came home eighteen months ago that she’d had much of a relationship with her family. Before that, she’d been emotionally remote and completely immersed in her work as an assistant district attorney in Jackson.
    The past had been difficult for them all.
    â€œShe would’ve continued to dig,” Grace said. “She just didn’t find anything that gave her any indication of where Dad might’ve gone.”
    â€œOr who might’ve harmed him,” Madeline added.
    â€œOr who might’ve harmed him,” she conceded.
    Madeline pulled her hair back so she could apply concealer to the dark circles that came from a week’s worth of restless nights. “It’s something I’ve got to do.”
    â€œThis might not solve anything,” Grace said again.
    â€œI know, but seeing the Cadillac lifted out of the quarry made me sick.” She paused, her hand on the blush she was going to apply next. “I felt as if I’ve let my father down by not doing more. I’ve let myself down, too. Even you and Clay, Grace. They almost prosecuted Clay last summer, for murder. ”
    â€œI don’t think they’ll go after him again,” Grace argued. “Last year, it was political pressure that caused all the trouble. The Vincellis have backed off since then.”
    â€œMy aunt and uncle, maybe. Not my cousins. You saw them at the quarry.”
    â€œJoe and Roger are vultures. We’re safe as long as we’re still moving.”
    â€œThey have a lot of powerful friends.”
    â€œBut there’s no solid evidence. There never has been. Clay’s innocent.”
    Finished with the blush, Madeline smeared some brown eye shadow on her eyelids. “The car’s going to stir it all up again,” she said. “Don’t you think it’s better to get to the bottom of what happened?”
    The silence stretched, and a few seconds became half a minute.
    â€œIs something wrong?” Madeline finally asked.
    â€œNo, of course not,” Grace said. “Believe me, I’d like to know what happened, too. But not at any cost.”
    â€œWe’re talking about dollars. What are dollars compared to peace of mind?” Dropping the eye shadow into her makeup bag, Madeline dug around for her mascara.
    â€œCan you really afford him?” There was concern in Grace’s voice.
    â€œI’ll keep him on as long as I can.” Madeline heard a clock ticking somewhere in her subconscious, and it made her frantic. She only hoped Hunter found her some answers before she had a nervous breakdown or was living out on the street.
    â€œDo you need help with his bill?”
    It was a generous offer. But Madeline didn’t expect her stepsister to finance an investigation she couldn’t welcome. Mr. Solozano would, in all likelihood, focus on Grace and the