Smoke and Mirrors

130

Leigh Gardner turned and smiled when Winter walked into the room where Brad Barnett lay in bed, a bandage encasing the left quarter of his head. His left hand was locked with Leigh’s right.

“Look who’s here, Brad,” Leigh said.

“Massey,” Brad said, smiling crookedly. His voice was no more than a low rasping. “Leigh told me that German bastard clipped you. Sorry I wasn’t more helpful.”

“He chewed on me some.” Winter shook Brad’s free hand gently. “You look a lot better than the last time I saw you.”

“Since you were injured in the line of duty, Tunica County has your medical expenses covered. Whatever you need.”

“We owe you everything, Winter,” Leigh said.

“I asked Leigh to marry me,” Brad said.

“I think it’s the meds talking.” Leigh giggled, squeezing Brad’s hand.

“Bullshit,” Brad declared. “I didn’t really believe it, but you were right about that bastard,” Brad said, meaning Styer. “Daddy never had a chance.”

“I was lucky,” Winter said. “And I had Alexa.”

“It’s over now,” Leigh said, frowning. “We bury our dead, help the wounded as best we can, and life goes on.”

“That’s that farmer realism talking,” Brad said. “Leigh’s a rock.”

“Yeah,” Winter agreed. “That she is.”

The door opened and Cynthia came bouncing in with a soft drink in her hand. She patted Winter’s shoulder playfully as she passed him, went to the bed, and kissed Brad’s cheek. “How you feeling, Pops?” She looked at Winter and her face lit up. “God, is that ever weird or what? I grew up in the same town with Brad and never knew he was my daddy.”

“Where’s Hampton?” Winter asked.

“Gone to spend the night with an old friend of Mama’s,” Cynthia said. “She works as a volunteer at the zoo. He’s helping her feed animals or some happy shit.”

“Cyn!” Leigh snapped. “Language.”

“Sorry,” Cyn said, shrugging.

“I brought you something,” he said, handing Leigh the envelope. “These are Jacob’s personal effects from the accident.”

“Thanks,” she said, dropping the envelope unceremoniously into a shopping bag beside her chair.

Winter’s cell phone rang. He opened it and put it to his ear. “Yeah, Billy. Leigh’s right here,” Winter said, handing Leigh his phone. “He needs to talk to you.”

“Yes? I can be at your office in an hour. Address?” she asked. “Yes, Winter can show me. Cynthia too? Sure, I guess so.”

Winter put the cell phone into his pocket and spent the next fifteen minutes making idle conversation with Leigh and Cynthia. He had thought it would be more difficult.