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“The police?” Alexis’ words sent Echo flying out of bed. “Just a minute, let me get my robe.” Grabbing the white terry-cloth robe, she tied the belt around her waist and then opened the door. “What’s wrong?”
Sheriff Hodges stood beside Alexis. His potbelly toppled over his duty belt from his sides to the front, nearly enshrouding his radio and gun holster. An eager-looking deputy waited near the stairway, swaying from side to side as he glared suspiciously at Echo.
“Would someone please tell me what’s going on here? Alexis?” Echo’s eyes caught her friend’s gaze momentarily, before Alexis diverted her gaze to the floor.
“Mrs. Brennan, we’re here looking for Randall Halstead,” the sheriff said. Echo sighed. All the tension from the past weeks drained from her. Paul McGuire must have confessed to Ann’s murder. They were here to tell Rand the nightmare was over! Closing her eyes, she whispered a gentle prayer of thanks.
“I’m not sure where he is. Wasn’t he in the lobby working on the mural when you arrived?” she asked casually. “It’s nearly completed, so he could be anywhere.”
“His car isn’t parked outside. Any idea where he might have gone?” The sheriff’s face was covered with deep lines and flat planes. Serious. Deadly serious.
Memories from the night before flashed into her mind. Rand’s car was still at the ranch where they had left it. Echo gently shook her head and nervously pulled her bottom lip through her teeth. “Oh, his car hasn’t been here since yesterday. We left it out at his sister’s ranch yesterday. I had gone out to see Paul and...got sick. Rand had to get me and drive me home.”
“Morning, Deputy, Sheriff. Is there some problem?”
Everyone turned to stare at Randall Halstead as he stopped on the last step of the staircase, right behind Deputy Evvers, who whirled around and stepped back away from Rand, his hand on the revolver at his right hip.
Echo smiled a wide greeting to Rand, glad he had chosen that very moment to appear. Her heart did a slow roll of desire. Rand looked so adorable...his hair gathered at the nape of his neck, an old sweatshirt with the sleeves ripped out and his holey cut-off jeans covered with various paint splotches.
Rand ambled across the floor to join Echo at the doorway and took her hand lovingly.
“The sheriff’s been looking for you,” Echo said.
Surprise registered on Rand’s tan face. “Really? So, Sheriff, have you finally arrested Paul McGuire for killing my sister?” He squeezed Echo’s hand tightly in his.
The sheriff cleared his throat and said tersely, “Well now, I don’t know what you’re talkin’ about.” His wiry eyebrows fluttered as he spoke and threatened to stick painfully into his eyes. “We found Paul McGuire this morning out at the ranch. Dead. Shot in the head.”
“Oh my God! He killed himself?” Echo cried.
“Nope, didn’t shoot himself.” The sheriff stepped closer and grabbed Rand’s right arm. “Randall Halstead, you’re under arrest for the murder of Paul McGuire. Read him his rights, Ben,” the sheriff said to his deputy while snapping a handcuff on Rand’s wrist.
“You have the right to remain silent...” Deputy Evvers began.
“Wait a minute!” Rand hollered, trying to pull from the sheriff’s grasp, but the larger man twisted Rand around, pulling both hands around behind his back, and snapped the other handcuff around his free wrist.
“You’ve got to be kidding! I didn’t shoot Paul McGuire!”
“Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law,” the deputy continued, reading from his cheat sheet.
“Rand didn’t do it,” Echo cried, tugging at the sheriff’s arm. “He couldn’t have. I was with him all night.”
The man shook Echo off like a pesky fly. “Don’t get yourself into trouble, ma’am. I have a witness to the murder.”
Echo fell silent at his statement. A witness? Who? Rand had been with her all night. The witness was lying, and the sheriff didn’t want to listen to the truth.
“Who? Tell me, who is your witness?” The words flew as Echo questioned him.
Rand’s face turned red, and he hollered, “That’s impossible! I was here all night!”
“That’s right, he was with me!” Echo added.
“Ma’am, Wiley Grant contacted my office earlier this morning. He saw it all.” The sheriff pushed Rand ahead of him down the hall.
“That’s impossible! Why would he say such a thing? He’s lying!” Echo wanted to go to Rand. Hug him to her and protect him from this terrible scene, but there was nothing she could do. “Rand, I’ll call a lawyer to get you out of there!” Randall turned and gave her a sad smile of thanks. “I didn’t do it. You know that, Echo,” he whispered softly.
“I know, darling. Go with the sheriff and I’ll send help. I’ll be right along, too.”
“You have the right to speak to an attorney, and to have an attorney present during any questioning. If you cannot afford a lawyer, one will be provided for you at government expense,” the deputy read as they walked down the stairway.
~ * ~
“THIS CAN’T BE HAPPENING,” Ann cried.
“It certainly can be,” Miss Fire uttered under her breath. The silly young woman was irritating her. No matter how she and the girls watched her, the young ghost found ways to hop into Echo’s mind. Her mad flight out to confront her husband had led to this, and now everything was a mess.
Ann whirled around toward Fire. “Why do you think you know so much? You’ve been dead for years and years!”
“We can’t keep arguing like this. It never happened before you came here!” Magnolia cried and sat at a table nestled in the dining room’s bay window. Fire shook her head, listening to the younger ghosts babbling discontentedly. Something unidentifiable filled the surrounding atmosphere. If the others weren’t all so fired up, they’d feel it too.
Soon. Something would happen soon. She felt it in her bones—if she’d had any, that is. But the feeling was there, despite being just an essence of soul.
“Girls!” Miss Fire knew she had to take command again. “Stop this nonsense.”
The four ghosts sat around the table, their elbows on the polished wood, their heads in their palms. “Randall’s been hauled away to jail for a murder he didn’t do, Echo’s up in her room crying and we’re all fighting. I can’t bear much more of this meaningless bickering.” Fire jammed her fists against her hipbones. “Now, I suggest we think about this situation and keep a watchful eye out for something to happen.”
“Like what?” Lolly asked, her voice quivering with anticipation.
Jewel looked up at her. “Do you know something we don’t?”
“No.” Fire shook her head. “But can’t you feel the change in this room? I feel sparks in the air.”
The girls looked around them.
“I, for one, think you all are nuts!” Ann said with a snort. “Living in this limbo’s done it to you. And I’ll be next.” She stood and faced Fire. “We’ve got to help my brother. Please.” Crystalline tears ran down her cheeks.
Fire gathered Ann into her arms and stroked her fine, cropped tresses. “Honey, I know you’re upset, but we will figure out something.”
~ * ~
THREE DAYS LATER, ECHO sank dejectedly onto the couch in her room. She’d just arrived home from Allanville, the county seat, after finally getting a lawyer for Randall. That hadn’t been a gravy job. No one wanted to tackle his defense because they felt the case against him was airtight.
Unbraiding her hair, she thought about the appalling situation. Carl Herman took Rand’s case, as well as all the money from her savings account. He acted no more confident than the other lawyers, just greedier. At least Mr. Herman would ensure Rand’s rights. In those three days since his arrest, Rand hadn’t talked at all to the police about anything.
The lawyer assured her he’d meet with Rand later tonight, and that she was welcome to attend the meeting. The problem was, she wasn’t sure if she should. Maybe she should give Rand the space to talk to his lawyer without her intrusion.
She’d only been allowed to see Rand once since his arrest. She had taken him a change of clothing and toiletries that first night. At least he wouldn’t be in some uniform like in television programs.
She had been shocked at his appearance after only a few hours in jail. His eyes had an eerie, hollow look with dark bruising underneath. Sadness surrounded him.
Echo shuddered. Carl Herman had to help Rand. She couldn’t fathom him being locked away for the rest of his life for something he didn’t do. And she knew he hadn’t killed Paul. He might have wanted to but he wasn’t capable of killing anyone. But if he didn’t, who had?
Moving from the couch, Echo slowly walked into the bathroom and disrobed. Her red split skirt and candy cane striped blouse hit the floor. A draft of cool air brushed her skin, raising goose bumps across her legs as the air blew from the register in the floor.
She opened the glass door of her ultra-modern shower, the only concession to modern day life during her renovations of the Victorian building. Every bedroom had one, along with a deep, claw-foot bathtub. The hot water jetted from the showerhead as she turned it on and she stepped into the prickling spray. The sting from the pinpoints of water and the pain in her heart joined, and tears fell from her eyes. She loved Rand and now...? He’d been taken from her. Possibly for the rest of her life. A sob caught in her throat, and she whispered a prayer, begging for help to clear Randall.
A half hour later, all cried out, Echo stepped from the shower... her hands and feet felt shriveled and pruney. Her mind was so tired from trying to figure out why Wiley lied that all she wanted to do was crawl into her bed and sleep. If only this were a huge nightmare. Then maybe she could awaken from it.
Wrapped in a terry-cloth robe, she twisted a matching bath towel around her hair to squeeze out the moisture. Tonight, she wished to feel the comfort from Ann whispering in her mind, but Ann seemed to be gone. Echo had felt the absence of Ann’s spirit almost from the moment they had heard about Paul McGuire’s death. Surely Ann was at rest now.
The telephone made a chirping sound from the end table beside her bed, but she didn’t have the energy to answer it. Finally, because it wouldn’t stop ringing, she picked it up.
“Hello?” She heard her voice sound hoarse and strained.
“Echo? Is that you?” Alexis asked.
She took a deep breath, trying to shake off the depression. “Sure, it’s me. Who else would it be?” A tight laugh spilled out. Echo heard Alexis’ soft groan. She hadn’t fooled her friend. This had been the first time she’d spoken to her since Paul’s death.
“Are you okay, Echo? I just wanted you to know I don’t think Rand did this either, and we want to help get him out of there.”
Echo’s wobbling knees would hold her no longer and she dropped on the edge of her bed. “You don’t? Oh, I’m so glad to hear that. What do you think happened?”
“I know Paul wasn’t a nice man, Echo. I know he abused Ann all during their marriage. No one liked him. Anyone could have killed him,” her friend pointed out.
Echo experienced the first bit of encouragement she’d felt since Randall was arrested. “Yeah, but how are we going to find out who did it? It’s not like they’re going to stand up and admit it.”
“I don’t really know, but I just feel sure it wasn’t Rand.”
“Thank you for that. I was worried you’d think Rand did it.”
There was a long pause. Echo couldn’t think of anything to say to her friend. Just having her behind Rand helped a lot.
“So, what does the lawyer recommend doing next?” Alexis asked.
“He’s going to talk to Rand tonight. I’m supposed to meet him there.” Echo took a deep breath. “I don’t know what to do, Lex. This has all been such a mess. Rand in jail. Ann and Paul dead. Where will all of this end?”
“I wish I had the answer. Just let me know if you need anything. I’m down in the dining room and people are asking about you. I—I wondered,” Alexis stammered, then continued, “Could you come down later? At least make an appearance?”
Echo shook her head in a negative response. She had no energy left to walk down the stairs, but she knew she needed to do it.
“That’s going to be so difficult for me, but I should. You’re right, I need to for the business, don’t I?” She slumped under the weight of her decision. “Give me a few minutes to change and I’ll be right down. I’ll work until it’s time to leave for the meeting with the lawyer.”
Echo replaced the handset on the receiver, its weight nearly draining her of energy. The depression over Rand’s arrest overwhelmed her. She had to go down and take care of her customers. This business was her dream. If something happened to Rand, it would be all she had left.
Thirty minutes later, she descended the stairway dressed in a lightweight cotton sweater and jewel-toned gauze skirt Rand loved.
She glanced at her watch. Five o’clock. She had an hour and a half to hostess before going to the jail for the meeting with Rand and the lawyer. She wished she had some good news to tell him. But that darn sheriff felt he had his man, and he wasn’t doing any checking on Wiley’s story or anything else. Depression settled on her shoulders like that of a steel shawl, its weight crushing her.
She couldn’t shake this feeling of doom that seemed to hover over her. Echo looked out the large windows on the landing between the first and second floors and watched as the heat lightning danced in the distance.
Taking a deep breath, she headed down the remaining stairs, her long hair unbound, bouncing against the small of her back.
Alexis rushed up to her. “There you are. I’d wondered if you were going to stay in your room tonight.”
“That’s where I’d rather be. But the business won’t stand that, now will it?”
The bell hanging about the double doors jingled. Echo turned toward the sound, snatching up the menus at the same time.
“Good evening, welcome to The County Seat.” When she saw the customer, her throat closed around the flames of hatred as Wiley Grant sauntered into the lobby. He’d had a haircut, and instead of the shabby work clothing, he wore an expensive-looking gray western-cut suit.
Echo couldn’t understand why the man would show up at her restaurant. “Wiley Grant, of all people, why are you here?” Barely able to force the words out, Echo stopped the man before he could enter the dining room.
“Well, missy, this here is nearly the best place to eat in town, and...ahhh, I wanted to speak to ya...privately.”
Her eyebrows rose with surprise. Why did he want to talk to her? Knowing there was only one way to find out, she said, “Okay, but I only have a moment. We can talk in here.”
Wiley followed her down the hall and into her office. Not wanting to offer him a chair or any hospitality, Echo turned and faced him with her hands on her hips. “So, what do you want, Wiley?”
He leered at her with one eyebrow raised. “Why are you in such a snit?”
Echo felt the heat of hatred rush over her as her gaze caught his cloudy glare. “I know you lied to the police about Randall killing Paul. He didn’t do it. He was with me.” Beads of perspiration popped up on her forehead.
Wiley edged closer to her. Echo took a step back and felt the desk against the backs of her legs. A nauseating sweetness filled her mouth and the room seemed to tip, dropping her into a realm much like a surrealistic kaleidoscope. This couldn’t be happening. Wiley Grant closing in on her?
“Now, missy, I saw that no-good boyfriend of yours shoot poor Paul, just like I told the sheriff. Why would I lie? What would it gain me?”
He stepped closer to her, so close she could feel his breath on her face as he said, “You look mighty pretty tonight.”
She tried not to flinch when a speck of spittle landed on her right cheek as her body recoiled in disgust. He was close enough for her to smell the high notes of cigar smoke clinging to his jacket.
Her breath caught in her throat as Wiley reached toward her with aged hands leathered and knotted from years of ranch work and abuse. They looked strong—brawny enough to hold her captive. Instead, Wiley ran his fingers down the valley between her breasts, molding the cotton sweater to her.
“No! Don’t,” Echo demanded as she pushed his hand and tried to move away. The desk at her back held her captive. His toothy grin unnerved her. If he were trying to frighten her, he was succeeding. Trying not to show her fright, she asked, “Why did you want to speak to me?”
“I’m just here to help you, missy. You want your boyfriend out of jail, don’t ya? All you have to do is just be nice to me...” He drew his tongue over his thin lips. “I’ll tell the sheriff I must a been mistaken about the time.” He twisted his hands in her hair and painfully pulled her head down toward his belt, letting her know exactly how he expected her to be nice to him.
“Noooo!”
The sound came from within the very room itself, radiating from every corner.
Take your filthy hands off her!
Wiley looked up as he released Echo and froze. As his gaze focused on something behind her, his face paled, terror written across it. Echo quickly moved away from him.
The once threatening man who, only seconds ago, had terrorized her to the core, stood trembling in his new suit and freshly polished boots.
“Maggie,” Wiley whispered, “you can’t be here. You’re dead!”