The Outsider Series: The Complete Omnibus Collection

Chapter 40

Chapter Forty

Brad fed the stock. This was Cliff’s job; he’d redistribute the workload as soon as he found someone to replace Cliff.

The clouds were thick tonight; not even a sliver of moonlight seeped through. Years ago, his eyes had adjusted to the dark. He checked doors and gates, and made sure everything was fastened and secured. The front porch light illuminated two figures on the porch. As he got closer, he could see Cliff, engaged in some heated discussion with Crystal. She stopped and backed away when she saw Brad. Cliff stepped toward her, an angry man who threw up his arms in defeat and stormed away, past Brad, jumping into his beat up, brown Chevy truck, spewing gravel as he drove away.

Brad really dug into each step. He slowed and then stopped on the bottom step when Crystal stumbled against the door. He took another step up. A faint flush tinted her cheeks and forehead before the icy glare appeared. “There’s good old Crystal; for a moment I thought you’d grown a conscience.”

She yanked on the screen door and strode back into the house.

Brad followed the woman with not even a flicker of interest in the way she sashayed to the kitchen. He wanted to laugh, but remained quiet, calm and in control. She lifted a lid on a simmering pot on the stove, gave it a quick stir and smiled up at him. Brad knew better. Mary was here earlier and she always put dinner on the stove for Brad. He was tempted to ask Crystal what was in it. She wouldn’t know, but it was vaguely entertaining to see her stumble.

“So what was that all about?” Brad couldn’t wait for her spin. She was an accomplished liar and could spin a lie off the tip of her tongue as easy as she could bat an eyelash. Had she ever spoken the truth, any real truth? He studied her now as he would a science experiment. What in the world made her tick?

“He told me you fired him. He wanted me to talk to you and get his job back. He told me about Emily, but I told him that I agreed with you. I mean, really, how low can he get? He even threatened to tell you I told him to do it.” She raised her eyes in a mock gesture of disbelief.

She was good. “Hmm.” He nodded.

He couldn’t help wondering if Cliff realized she’d hung him out to dry. Tomorrow he’d make sure the detective tracked Cliff down. No, maybe tonight would be better.

“Better turn that off before it burns.” He said nothing more as he marched out of the house.