“Did you?”
“Yes.”
“And?”
“Same as always. She turned me down.”
“Do you know why?”
“Yes.” He shifted uncomfortably in the booth. “She still loved Reede. Always and forever, it was Reede she wanted.”
Alex looked away because she knew it was a painful admission for him to make. “Junior, where were you that night?”
“At the ranch.”
“I mean after that, after you took Celina home.”
“I didn’t take her home. I presumed Dad would.”
“Angus?”
“I was upset because she had refused me again. See, I’d told my parents to get used to the idea of having a daughter-in-law and a grandchild in the house soon.” He spread his hands in a helpless gesture. “I got mad and stormed out—just flew the coop and left Celina there.”
“Where did you go?”
“I hit all the places that would sell liquor to minors. I got drunk.”
“Alone?”
“Alone.”
“No alibi?”
“Junior doesn’t need an alibi. He didn’t kill your mother.”
They had been so immersed in the conversation that neither had noticed Stacey Wallace’s approach. When they looked up, she was standing at the edge of the table. Her stare was even more hostile than it had been at their first meeting.
“Good morning, Stacey,” Junior said uncomfortably. He seemed less than pleased by her sudden appearance. “Sit down and have a cup of coffee with us.” He moved over to make room for her on his side of the booth.
“No, thank you.” Glaring down at Alex, she said, “Stop bothering Junior with your endless questions.”
“Hey, Stacey, I’m not bothered,” he said, trying to smooth over the situation.
“Why don’t you just give it up?”
“I can?
?t.”
“Well, you should. It would be best for everybody.”
“Especially the murderer,” Alex said quietly.
Stacey’s thin, straight body quivered like a bowstring just plucked. “Get out of our lives. You’re a self-serving, vindictive bitch, who—”
“Not here, Stacey.” Junior, intervening quickly, scooted out of the booth and took her arm. “I’ll walk you to your car. What are you doing out this morning? Oh, your bridge group is having breakfast,” he said, noting the table of women watching curiously. “How nice.” He gave them a jaunty little wave.
Alex, as aware as Junior of all the prying eyes, slipped a five-dollar bill beneath her saucer and left the coffee shop only a few moments behind Junior and Stacey.