The Maverick Part 19

"What?" Sunny said. "Why are you grinning like a possum in a persimmon tree?"

"I was thinking about something."

"Something or someone?" When she didn't answer, Sunny said, "Griff Mitch.e.l.l, I'll bet. Are you getting serious about him, Ca.s.s?"

She sighed. "I think so, and it may be a problem. Mom and Aunt Min don't like him, and they can't explain why. How do you feel about him, sis?"

"He's good-looking for sure. And charming and thoughtful. But...I don't know, somehow I'm uneasy around him. Maybe it's the cop in me. Ben and Sam feel the same way. I'm not sure how Belle and her other brothers feel, but I know Sam ran a check on him."

Ca.s.s bolted straight up, and only her seat belt restrained her from shooting to her feet. Fury zipped through her like an express train. "Dammit! I can't believe he did that. Just because Griff doesn't have a Texas drawl doesn't mean he's a sleaze. Wait till I get my hands on Sam Ba.s.s Outlaw."

"Calm down, Ca.s.s. You're overreacting. Sam only did it because he cares about you. Don't you want to know what he found out?"

She crossed her arms and stared straight ahead. "No! I wouldn't sink so low as to ask."

After a mile or two of silence, she relented. "Okay, what did Sam find out?"

"Griff was born on Long Island, went to Harvard, was the president of his cla.s.s, also went to Harvard Law and graduated at the top of his cla.s.s. He's licensed to practice law in New York, and his record is clean as a whistle except for a couple of speeding tickets and a disturbing the peace citation when he was in college."

"I could have told Sam all that and saved him a world of time and trouble. I can't believe he checked Griff out."

"Don't be angry, Ca.s.s. Maybe it's because none of us are used to being around rich folks from New Yawk, as you call it. You probably rubbed elbows with people like that when you lived there. We didn't. Sometimes you distrust what's not familiar. Maybe that's what we're feeling."

"Ben, too?"

Sunny nodded. "Sorry. And maybe J.J.," she added quietly.

"Has the entire entire family been discussing Griff and his 'slick' ways?" family been discussing Griff and his 'slick' ways?"

"We aren't trying to be nosy. We care about you."

"Let's talk about something else," Ca.s.s said. "I saw the Senator again. Saw him, h.e.l.l. We had a conversation."

Sunny glanced over at her with a surprised look. "You did?"

"I kid you not."

"What did you talk about?"

"He told me to listen to the quiet voice inside me and follow my heart."

"Then I'd pay attention to his advice if I were you," Sunny said. "He's never steered me wrong."

"Maybe so, but his flitting in and out like he does makes me nervous. And speaking of nervous," Ca.s.s said, thrumming her fingers against her thigh, "I'm itching to know what Carrie wants to talk with us about. Have you come up with any ideas?"

"Not a one. I suppose we're going to have to wait another few minutes to find out. Seems strange it's Carrie, of all people, who wants to talk with us. And privately."

"Well, she's a lawyer. But so's Frank. And Belle, too, for that matter."

"Here we are," Sunny said, turning in at their meeting place. "We'll soon find out."

Chapter Nineteen.

Drops of rain began to pelt the winds.h.i.+eld as they pulled into a parking s.p.a.ce in front of the diner. Sunny grabbed a collapsible umbrella from the backseat, and they made a run for the door. No sooner were they inside with the bacon and coffee smells than thunder boomed and a torrent of rain washed from the sky, hammering the metal roof like pebbles.

Looking around, they spotted Carrie in a back booth. Smiling brightly, she rose and came to meet them. As always, Ca.s.s wondered at the amazing color of her eyes. They were a bright, stunning amethyst.

"Good to see you," Carrie said, hugging them in turn. "I was afraid you weren't going to make it before the rain. I swear the clouds chased me all the way from Wimberley."

"It was suns.h.i.+ny and clear in Austin," Ca.s.s said.

"I hope it makes it up our way," Sunny added. "My flowers could use the rain."

Carrie led them back to the booth where she'd been sitting. "I'm having a cup of coffee already. Would you like some while we study the menu?"

"Absolutely," Ca.s.s said.

Carrie held up two fingers toward the waitress behind the counter, and they soon had steaming cups in front of them. "What's good here?" she asked as the waitress refilled her cup.

"Everything's good, but our migas are smokin'. Be right back for your order."

"You know, as a Texan I hate to admit it, but I've never had migas," Carrie said. "I often see them on menus. What are they?"

"Sort of Tex-Mex scrambled eggs, only better," Sunny told her. "You start by sauteing small pieces of corn tortillas and add onion and chilies and anything else you want, then scramble all that with eggs beaten with a little cream or milk. Melt cheese over that, and top it with salsa and cilantro."

"It's delish," Ca.s.s added. "And practically a staple in Austin."

"Sounds fattening," Carrie said. "I was going to have a poached egg and fruit."

Ca.s.s grinned. "Come on, Carrie, live it up. You can have it without chorizo or bacon to save calories."

Carrie agreed, and they all ordered the "smokin'" migas.

As soon as the waitress left, Ca.s.s said, "I know we should ask about Frank and the kids and the rest of the family first, but my curiosity is killing me. What in the world do you want to talk to us about privately?"

"It's kind of heavy," Carrie said. "Maybe we'd better wait until after the migas."

"Car-rie," Sunny said. "You can't leave us hanging like that."

"Sorry. You're right. Let me start at the beginning. You know I used to be a landman for my uncle's oil company, and I first went to Naconiche to lease property for drilling."

"Right," Ca.s.s said.

"Well, a lot of the property belonged to the Outlaw family. It had come down from old Judge John Wesley Hardin Outlaw to his two sons, Wes and Butch. Wes and his family were no problem, but since Butch was dead, I located his recorded will, and he'd left everything to his wife, Iris. I imagine the will was drawn up long before he met your mother."

Ca.s.s and Sunny looked at each other, and Ca.s.s wondered where this was going.

"Iris remarried and moved out of state. n.o.body was quite sure where she relocated, but intrepid researcher that I am, I found her. She didn't want anybody in the family to know her whereabouts, so I agreed to keep all her information confidential."

"And she got the money?" Sunny said.

"Yes."

"So?"

The waitress returned with their order, and everybody dug into the tantalizing concoction, sensing perhaps that the migas might be less appetizing after Carrie's tale.

For a few moments, they ate without speaking. Finally Ca.s.s could stand it no longer and put down her fork. "Why are you telling us this?"

"Iris Outlaw Bradford, who had been widowed a second time, recently died. Her lawyer contacted me as per her instructions."

"And?"

"The bottom line is she left everything to the two of you."

"Good Lord!" Sunny's fork clattered to her plate. "Why?"

"I'm not quite sure," Carrie said. "From what I know about the situation, I would a.s.sume it was guilt for keeping your father from marrying your mother. I had a feeling that's why she left Naconiche."

"How much are we talking about here?" Ca.s.s said.

"A considerable amount. The will is being probated, but as far as I can tell, you own your father's part of the Outlaw land and the income from oil and gas production there. It's a rich site, and it will be producing for quite some time."

"Holy guacamole!" Ca.s.s said.

"I don't know any particulars about her personal estate yet, but her lawyer, who is her executor, indicated she was well-fixed."

"You mean we're rich?" Sunny said.

"At least quite comfortable. Or you will be as soon as the estate's settled. I was hoping it would be completed by this weekend so I could give you more particulars, but it will be another few days or perhaps weeks before everything can be turned over to you. Iris's attorney also sent me this letter to give to the two of you. Perhaps it will answer most of your questions." Carrie handed them the sealed envelope she'd taken from her bag.

The twin's names were typed across the front, along with "To be opened after my death."

Ca.s.s took it and used her knife as a letter opener. "Excuse us, Carrie. We can't wait any longer." She unfolded the pages and, holding them so Sunny could read, scanned the letter. Her mouth dropped open as she read. "Son of a b.i.t.c.h!" Anger boiled up hotter than molten lava.

"Wrong gender," Sunny said, "but I couldn't have said it better. I hope she rots in h.e.l.l! I don't want her d.a.m.ned money!"

"She murdered murdered our father!" Ca.s.s said to Carrie. "Shot him dead on the steps of the capitol building." our father!" Ca.s.s said to Carrie. "Shot him dead on the steps of the capitol building."

Sunny tapped the page with her finger. "She admits it right here. No wonder the b.i.t.c.h felt guilty!"

"Oh, dear G.o.d," Carrie said, covering her mouth. "I'm so sorry. I never imagined..."

Ca.s.s touched Carrie's arm. "No need to be sorry. We're not going to slay the messenger." She handed the pages to Carrie to read.

The migas lay congealing on their plates as they all three sat there, stunned by Iris's confession.

After a long silence, Sunny said, "Well, the case is finally closed. We'll have to tell Wes right away."

"Would you like me to tell him?" Carrie asked.

Sunny and Ca.s.s looked at each other, then nodded. "Please. I think we need some time to process this."

"I think you're right," Carrie said. "And don't be too hasty to refuse the money and land. After all, it was your father's birthright...and yours."

Ca.s.s nodded. "We need to wait until the estate is settled, and we have all the facts and some emotional distance from this." She fluttered the pages.

"You're right," Sunny said. "I feel like I ought to belly up to a bar and toss back a stiff one to settle my nerves, but I'd throw up. My stomach might never be the same again."

"I hear you," Ca.s.s said. "Carrie, I know you'll understand if we leave now. We have some concerns to discuss. We need some time to wrap our minds around this."

"I do understand. I wish I could do something to make the situation easier."

The waitress came over with the coffeepot and their check. "Something wrong with the migas?"

"The migas were superb," Ca.s.s said.

"I'll get the check," Carrie said. "Go ahead." She stood and hugged them both again.

THE RAIN SOON SLACKED off, and they ran out of it entirely as they drove back to Austin. Ca.s.s reread Iris's letter as they drove. Her initial anger had cooled a bit, and she struggled to study it with an objective mind. "'If you can't forgive me, at least I hope you'll pray for my tortured soul,'" she read aloud. "You know, sis, I'm not nearly ready to forgive her, but I can sort of understand her. Our mother and father weren't exactly blameless in this situation. He was, after all, a married man." off, and they ran out of it entirely as they drove back to Austin. Ca.s.s reread Iris's letter as they drove. Her initial anger had cooled a bit, and she struggled to study it with an objective mind. "'If you can't forgive me, at least I hope you'll pray for my tortured soul,'" she read aloud. "You know, sis, I'm not nearly ready to forgive her, but I can sort of understand her. Our mother and father weren't exactly blameless in this situation. He was, after all, a married man."

"Ca.s.s, that doesn't excuse murder murder. And with his own d.a.m.ned gun! She deserved to be locked up in prison all these years."

"Spoken like a cop, but I agree."

"We have to report this, you know."

"To whom? And why? It's been over thirty years."

"I know," Sunny said, "but the authorities need to close the case."

"I suppose you're right, but I'm more concerned about telling Mom than about turning over Iris's confession to the police. Do you think we should tell her?"

"Eventually, but not now."

"I agree," Ca.s.s said. "Let's pick a better time. Do you wonder how Iris knew so much about us? I get the impression that she'd followed our lives to some extent."

"With the Internet, tracking down people is fairly easy."