AllFreeNovel
Share Us
The woman’s eyes widened.
“Look, Ron came to the bar and asked me to put a couple of roofies in your grandfather’s drink. I was so poor. I couldn’t make the next month’s rent and would soon be living out of my car. He paid my rent for several months because I dropped those pills in your grandfather’s drink. No, your grandfather never drank much. But that night when he left, I feared he would die trying to get home.”
Nathan glanced at Lillian, who sighed and shook her head.
“Why did you witness the agreement?” Nathan asked.
“Because Ron was paying my rent. But I had no idea what he was doing to poor Paul,” she said, shaking her head. “The man’s a bastard. Your grandfather was always good to me, and I’m sorry for my part in what happened to your family.”
Lillian closed her eyes and hung her head. “I knew he wouldn’t deliberately do this.”
Nathan stared at the bar owner. “You may need to testify in court. Are you willing to testify?”
She glanced around and then leaned forward and spoke softly. “Yes, if it will help the wrong done to Paul, I will. I’ve always felt bad about what happened.”
“Thank you,” Lillian said. “He’s dying, but at least his name will be cleared.”
“What about Toby Smith and William Rogers? Do you know anything about them?”
“Toby died several years ago, but William is still in town.”
“Thank you,” Nathan said. “We’ll be in touch.”
She nodded. “Hey, I hear Ron is in the nursing home, paralyzed. Is that true?”
“Yes,” Nathan said. “His grandson now runs the ranch.”
She nodded. “Come back soon and the drinks are on the house.”
No way. Nathan would never let someone who could put roofies in someone’s drink pour his own. They’d come here to learn more about what happened that night. Sadly, things were not looking good for his friend Cal. It seemed that his grandfather had shamelessly taken the ranch from Lillian’s family.
When they got back in the truck, Lillian shook her head. “If only they had investigated this twenty years ago.”
“Agreed,” Nathan replied.
The ride out to her grandfather’s shack was silent, each of them lost in their own thoughts. Nathan wanted to speak to the only remaining member of the card game. Ten minutes later, he turned down the dirt road that led to the row of falling-down shacks where her grandfather resided.
When they pulled up, the old woman was sitting outside in a rocking chair, smoking a cigarette. “I don’t know if he’s home or not.”
Lillian nodded. “Thanks. I’ll just knock.”
She pounded on the door. “Grandpa, it’s me, Lillian.”
There was no response.
“Grandpa, open the door,” she called.
Nothing. Nathan kept a watchful eye out, fearful of some big, burly goon coming from around the back. He walked over to the window and glanced inside.
Her grandfather was lying on the floor, not moving.
“Move,” he commanded her.
Stunned, she stepped out of the way, and he kicked in the door.
“You’re going to pay for that,” the woman screamed at him.
“Call an ambulance,” he told Lillian as he rushed to the man’s side.
