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“I’d enjoy that,” Drayton said.
They walked another fifty feet, then Philip waved a hand and pointed to a wooden corral with high, spiky posts. “We can take an easy shortcut through here to the barns. I think you’ll be impressed by the workings of the Red Hat Cattle Ranch.”
“I’m sure I will,” Drayton said. “Although I’m not exactly dressed for this kind of adventure.” Drayton was still wearing a linen jacket and summer-weight slacks, and now his shoes were covered with a fine film of reddish-brown dust.
Philip unlatched a tall gate that opened into the corral. He made a friendly go ahead gesture to Drayton and said, “After you.” Once Drayton was inside the corral, he added, “It won’t matter to the bull how well-dressed you are once he gets a hold of you.”
“The bull?” Drayton said, just as Philip shoved a hand into the middle of Drayton’s back, gave him a hard push, and sent him flying to his knees. Then he slammed the gate and latched it tight.
Stunned by Philip’s sudden aggression, it took Drayton a few minutes to recover, to pick himself up and dust off. Completely shaken by this bizarre turn of events, Drayton spun toward Philip and cried, “Why did you do that? What’s going on?”
“Your too-smart-for-her-own-good tea lady just walked into that barn over there.”
Confused, Drayton looked over at the barn, but he didn’t see Theodosia anywhere. “What are you talking about?” he asked as he put both hands on the gate and peered through the bars at Philip, who was safely on the other side.
“If and when she sees my motorcycle, she’s going to put two and two together mighty fast.”
“I’m still not following you,” Drayton said.
“You see, there was one city official who was holding things up for me.”
Drayton stared at Philip. “One city official?” Then the meaning of Philip’s words finally sank in. “You mean Claxton?” he asked, surprise lighting his eyes. “You killed Claxton? You’re the one who escaped on a motorcycle?”
Philip executed a deep bow. “At your service.”
“Because... why? Because you wouldn’t pay a bribe?”
Philip’s face darkened with rage. “Claxton was holding me hostage for every penny I had. Promising results but always holding out for more money. Something had to be done—I was desperate to get that liquor license approved. And I needed every cent I could scrape together. Still do. My restaurant is the only thing that matters to me.”
“Dear Lord,” Drayton cried as all the pieces clicked into place for him. “Did you kill Booker as well?”
“That creep Booker overheard me in the gallery talking about my motorcycle, trying to sell it. He was always sneaking in and out, snooping around. I didn’t even know he was there half the time. He overheard me and I worried that sooner or later that dimwit brain of his would crank on a forty-watt bulb and figure things out. Anyway, I knew where his hidey-hole was. The rest was easy.”
Drayton stared at him incredulously. “You’re going to kill me, too.”
“No, I’m going to let the bull take care of that.”
Drayton spun around. “What bull? I don’t see any bull.”
Claxton held up an index finger and grinned wickedly. “Give me a minute.”
32
The first things Theodosia heard were cries of desperation. Then, rising above that, laughter, high-pitched and almost maniacal.
Someone’s in trouble?
Even though she didn’t know the how or the why, Theodosia knew the circumstances probably weren’t good. Sprinting to her Jeep, her body slammed against the back hatch with full force, almost knocking herself breathless. Then, struggling to catch her breath, she stepped back and jerked the hatch open. Drayton’s pistol was where she’d left it. In the tailgate storage bag and still loaded.
She grabbed the pistol without hesitation.
Theodosia ran in the direction of the screams. Past the red barn, veering right at the white barn, ducking past a small orchard, then heading down a well-worn path that led to a high wooden corral.
Something seemed to be going on inside that corral, something dreadful from the sound of all the shouts and cries.
Dear Lord, would she make it in time? Was Lamar Lucket tormenting Drayton and Philip in some way? If so, what was he doing to them?
Theodosia picked up the pace, sucking in air as she ran down the trail. Her hair flew out behind her, her feet kicked up puffs of dirt. When she reached the wood fence where all the shouting was happening, she threw herself against it without hesitation and clawed her way up.
