Killing the Secret (24 page)
Read Killing the Secret Online
Authors: Donna Welch Jones
Tags: #Fiction, #Mystery, #Retail, #Suspense
“Where is Dr. Carr?” Tye stopped the first nurse he saw.
“On the third floor in surgery. There’s a waiting room up there for family.”
“Thanks.” Tye trotted to the elevator.
Adam was looking out the window when Tye walked in. “How’s your grandpa?”
Adam turned. “Not good. His heartbeat went down to thirty and the doc’s putting in a pacemaker. Told me not to get my hopes up.”
“I’m sorry to hear that.” Tye sat on the leather sofa near the window.
“You here visiting your sister? She let me take her photo for the newspaper.”
“She’s the one who told me your grandpa was taken to the emergency room. Did you get to talk to him?”
“For a minute, but he wasn’t making any sense.” Adam’s eyes glazed.
“How’s that?”
“He kept saying he was sorry, then something about finding my brother. I don’t have a brother.”
Tye sat silently, unsure of what to say. He’d made a promise, but Carr had tried to tell Adam the truth himself.
Tye took a deep breath and said, “Your grandpa was sorry because he never told you that you were adopted at birth by his daughter and her husband. You were the biological son of two teenagers. The girl’s father arranged for the adoption. The boy never knew about you until recently.” Tye knew his onrush of information was overwhelming.
Adam’s face reflected the emotional turbulence inside. “I’m sorry. I need to be alone now.” He sunk into a chair by the window.
“I’ll be in Lexie’s room if you want to talk.” Tye slowly rose from the sofa.
Adam’s voice stopped him as he reached the door. “I have a brother?”
“Yes,” Tye answered, “a twin brother.”
“Where is he?”
“I don’t know. The two of you were separated at birth.”
Adam turned his chair toward the window, shutting out Tye and the rest of the world.
Tye took the stairs to Lexie’s room. Sleeping soundly, she didn’t stir when he entered. Seating himself in the chair beside her bed, Tye was relieved he didn’t have to make conversation.
A few minutes passed before Adam came to the door. The door banged against the wall with the strength of his entry.
Lexie startled from sleep. “What are you people doing here? Watching me sleep?”
“How do you know so much about me?” Adam’s voice stuttered.
Tye answered calmly, “I’m your father.”
“What?!” Lexie’s mouth gaped open.
“Who is my mother?”
“Jamie Evans. She doesn’t know that I found one of our sons.”
“She gave us away?!”
“Jamie was a scared teenager who did what her dad told her.”
Adam’s voice resonated with unbelief, “You didn’t know about me?”
“No. Your grandpa admitted it to me when I was at his place the other day. I promised not to tell you the truth until after he died. But from what he said to you about your brother, he wanted you to know.”
Tye glanced over at Lexie’s face. The only way to describe her expression was a mixture of shock and joy.
“I know this is probably not the time to say this, but I’ll say it anyway. I’m so glad you’re my nephew, Adam.”
Lexie reached her hand toward Adam. He held it for just a second before he walked out of the room.
“Wow! You sure know how to wake a girl up. How long have you known about Adam?”
“Not very long. I hope someday he’ll forgive us for messing with his life.”
“I’m sure he will.” Lexie smiled.
“Damn, you seem awfully happy for a woman with a brother who is about to have an emotional crack-up.”
“Not every day that I get a nephew. I like the thought of being Aunt Lexie.”
“It may take him a long time to accept us,” Tye warned.
“You maybe, but I’m really nice. He’ll like me long before you ‘cause I didn’t do anything that he needs to forgive me for.”
Tye couldn’t help but laugh. “I think all those pills are making you loopy.”
“I only tell the truth, brother dear, drugged or not.”
“Jamie needs to be told, so that’s my next mission. I hope she handles it better than our son. I’ll pick you up in the morning to take you home.”
“Okay. Congratulations!”
Guilt dampened Tye’s spirit as he drove toward Jamie’s house. He knew Adam was hurting, but he couldn’t help picking up on Lexie’s happiness over having Adam in their lives. To have a son was something he’d never thought would be realized, and now he had two.”
Jamie came to the door in a long terry robe. “I wasn’t expecting to see you tonight.”
“I wasn’t planning to be here, but I wanted to tell you in person.”
“Tell me what?”
“Dr. Carr told me that Adam Cox is our son.”
“Oh, my God!” she cried out. Tye pulled her to his chest and held her.
“Does he know about us?” Jamie asked breathlessly.
“He does now. It’ll take him awhile, but I think he’ll come around.”
“Where are his adoptive parents?”
“They were killed in a plane crash a couple of years ago. That’s why he came to Diffee—to live with his grandpa. Carr was in heart surgery tonight. Must have thought he was going to die because he tried to tell Adam the truth.”
“Shouldn’t we be with Adam?”
“He’s not ready for us yet.” Tye shook his head. “We need to give him time. I’m going to drop back by the hospital to see how Carr is doing. Do you feel okay with me going?”
“Yes, I’m fine.” Jamie gave him a quick kiss on the cheek.
Tye wondered about the questions Jamie didn’t ask, but when the shock wore off he’d probably get an earful for withholding information from her.
Tye went to the hospital information desk to ask about Carr. The lady at the counter offered a friendly smile that Tye didn’t have energy to return.
“How is Dr. Carr doing?” he asked.
“Dr. Carr delivered my daughter thirty years ago. He’s a good guy.”
“I agree. How is he?”
“He’s stable. The surgery went well. You just missed his grandson. Said he needed to go feed the animals.”
“Thanks,” Tye said. He returned to his apartment to stare at the ceiling all night.
Epilogue
Tye and Red had forced Lexie to stay home two days, threatening all sorts of medieval tortures if she didn’t comply. Today was her first day back at work. It was good to see the flowers on Delia’s desk and the unmatched file cabinets.
Delia jumped up from her desk at the sight of Lexie. “My dear girl, how are you doing?”
“Here’s the town heroine returning to work,” Tye announced. “Quite the story Adam wrote about you in the paper.”
“Adam does have a flair for the overstatement.” Lexie grinned.
“You deserved every word of it.” Delia hugged her gently.
Lexie felt the comforting fit of her old chair. “Delia, do you mind going to the restaurant and picking up some breakfast for the three of us?”
“Sure. Are pancakes and bacon okay?”
“Perfect.”
“How’s Beth?” Lexie turned to Tye after Delia left.
“She’s got a long road to recovery, but they say she’ll make it.”
“Turner?”
“He died, Sis. Lost too much blood.”
“I feel so bad about that. He was just helping us out, not even his job.”
“I still find it hard to believe that Mariah murdered her friends.” Tye shook his head.
Lexie verbalized her thoughts. “For someone born a male, who wanted to be a female, it was the ultimate prize—First Lady of the United States.”
The room was quiet for a few moments.
Lexie traced the scar down the side of her face. “It’s time to find our father’s killer.”
Tye stood and walked toward her. “We will find him,” he promised. “And my other son?”
Her hand reached to grasp his.
“Yes,” she answered. “We will find them both; one out of hatred, and the other out of love.”
Acknowledgements
I would like to thank the following individuals, who provided encouragement, and recommendations during the writing process: Author Karen Cornell, Author Susan Case, Author Maureen McMahon, Author Peggy Fielding, and Dan Case, Publisher. A special thanks to former Pawnee County Sheriff Roger Price, who gave me insights into the role and duties of an Oklahoma sheriff. Thank you to my daughters, Amy Grimes Price and Kimberly Grimes Roberts, who cheered me on, and are the joys of my life.
Sheriff Lexie Wolfe Novels
Killing the Secret
Somebody is murdering the women who played on a championship high school basketball team twenty years ago. Sheriff Lexie Wolfe searches for the link between the women that provoked someone to want them all dead. Lexie’s investigation intensifies when a local woman dies and the towns’ people blame her for the death. When Lexie discovers there are three secrets instead of one she fears more will die while the investigation goes in multiple directions. Her dilemma is further magnified by the fact that one of the women appears to be destined to be First Lady of the United States—provided she doesn’t die first.
Deadly Search
Sheriff Lexie Wolfe becomes entangled in a web of deceit as she searches for her father’s murderer. At the center of the investigation is her mother, Margo, a beautiful temptress who used the love and attention of Diffee men to feed her ego before rejecting them. Her mother may be the reason Lexie’s father, Nodin, was killed. But which of Margo’s pawns did it: the judge, the lawyer, the mayor or someone else? The investigation and Lexie’s betrayal of the man she loves propels her life into a dark downward spiral. If she finds her father’s killer what price will she pay for revenge?
Terror’s Grip
Shadows and fog filled Sheriff Lexie’s brain. No familiarity. No point of reference.
Where am I?
Spots ached inside her flesh—deep bruises that disturbed her nerves. Her left hand touched her forehead, but the dried blood wouldn’t allow the hair to be pushed to the side. Her right arm suspended above her held by a chain attached to a two-inch metal clamp around her wrist. The chain trailed through the broken cellar window. Lexie braced one hand against the wall to bring herself to standing. The movement sent pains pulsating through her body. Up and down her stiff legs marched like a wooden soldier. Her left hand fisted and punched forward as if a boxing bag, or her captor’s new face, dangled in front of her. Lexie’s scream filled the cold darkness. “I WON’T DIE WEAK!”
Visit the author’s website:
http://www.donnawelchjones.com
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