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Ledge took it from her and set it on the floorboard.
Marty said, “Should we call the cops?”
“It won’t do any good,” he said.
“But with a pack of wild dogs—”
“You heard the whistle?” he said. “They weren’t feral, and they weren’t on the prowl.” He turned to Crystal. “Do you mind if Arden stays with you tonight? She shouldn’t go home alone.”
“Where are you going?”
“To run an errand.”
This trio of women wasn’t stupid. They shared a look among themselves.
Crystal said, “Of course; Arden can stay for as long—”
“Thank you, Crystal, but I won’t be pawned off on you.” Looking straight at him, she stated, “I’m going with Ledge.”
“The hell you are. You’re shaking like a leaf.”
“I was. But the shock has worn off. I’m okay now. See?” She held out her hands, palms down to prove they were steady. They weren’t.
“You’re staying.”
“No. I’m not.”
Marty nudged Crystal. “I think we should leave them to hash this out.”
Crystal looked indecisively at him, and then at Arden, then murmured, “Be careful,” and went along with Marty.
Ledge waited until they were inside the house, then said, “Arden, I don’t want to waste time arguing with you.”
“Then you had better stop arguing.”
“You could get hurt.”
“You keep telling me that, but so far I haven’t been.”
“You can’t go where I’m going.”
“Which is where?”
“I don’t even know yet. I don’t know what I’ll be up against when I get there. It will most certainly be dangerous. You can’t go with me. That’s final.”
She stared him down, or tried. But he won. She capitulated.
“All right.” She retrieved her purse and climbed down from the truck. But she didn’t start in the direction of the house. She headed for her car.
“What are you doing?”
“I either ride with you or follow in my own car.”
He erupted with a stream of obscenities, none of which fazed her. She walked back to him. “You believe Rusty was behind this, don’t you?”
“It has his trademark.”
“If what you told me tonight is true, and he killed Brian Foster, and he has let everyone think for two decades that my father did it, I’ve damn well earned the right to fight back.”
