Dead Wrong

“Where do Dolores and Joaquin live?” Joa

“In a mobile home parked just down the road. You came past it on your way here, right after you turned onto Triple H Ranch Road.”

“So you have help,” Joa

Leslie nodded. “Mom wanted me to go to college. That was her dream, but by the time I graduated from high school, she was already too sick for me to leave her. Besides, since she never finished college, why should I?”

“So you got your real estate license instead?” Joa

“That was Rory’s idea. He and Mom have been friends since they were kids. I think at first she was glad when I went to work for him. It made her feel like she had hung around long enough to see me launched. I think that’s the only reason she didn’t do the same thing her mother did.”

“As in commit suicide?” Joa

Leslie nodded. “Later, when Rory and I ended up falling in love and wanted to get married, Mother approved. She was relieved to know that if something happened to me-that if I did come down with HD-there’d be someone around to take care of me. And the truth is, even though Rory is older than I am, maybe he’ll outlive me. In the meantime, while Mother’s gotten worse and worse, Rory’s been a huge help. For the last couple of years he’s handled all the Triple H’s financial dealings. I don’t know how I would have managed without him. The thing is, I really don’t like real estate all that much. It’s not in my blood the way it is with Rory. Once Mom is gone, I’ll probably forget about real estate, see about getting back into the horse and cattle business and focus on ru

Listening to Leslie, Joa

Leslie had been chatting amiably enough, but now she suddenly seemed to realize what she was doing and pulled back. “Why all the questions about my mother? If you’re hoping she’ll be able to shed some light on the stealth photographer situation, it’s not going to work. As you’ve no doubt gathered, she’s far too sick to answer any questions.”

Irresponsible or not, Joa

He stopped short just inside the door with his face registering a mask of disapproval. “For God’s sake, Leslie, why aren’t you ready? It’s late. The wedding’s due to start in less than an hour. You should be dressed already. We’re going to be late.”

At that point he must have caught sight of Joa

“Rory,” Leslie said. “It’s only a wedding. Do we really have to go? Dolores isn’t here yet, and with Mother the way she is…”

“The bride’s parents are important clients of ours,” Rory returned. “We told them we’d be there. Now, come on. I’m sure Dolores will be here soon. She’s more than capable of looking after your mother.”

“I didn’t mean to delay you,” Joa

“How can you?” Rory asked. “On foot?”

“My initial ride was summoned to another incident,” Joa

“But why are you here to begin with?” Rory asked.

“She came to talk to Mother about the photographs,” Leslie put in quickly. “Obviously, considering Mom’s condition, that isn’t going to work. Now, if you’ll excuse me, Sheriff Brady, I guess I need to go change.”

As she hurried out the front door, Joa

She glanced in Joa

With a nod in Joa

“Hospice?” Joa

Rory Markham nodded. “Yes,” he said. “And in her condition, I can’t imagine why you’d think she’d be able to shed any light on the man who took those photos.”

“It was an outside chance,” Joa

“That’s not possible.”

Rory Markham was just as adamant as Leslie had been. Short of fighting her way past them and forcing her way into Aileen Houlihan’s room, there was no way Joa

“Your wife is impressive, Mr. Markham,” she said. “Considering it’s entirely possible that she’ll suffer the same fate as her mother, it’s brave of her to shoulder the burden of her mother’s care the way she does. A lot of people in similar circumstances wouldn’t.”

Rory nodded. “You’re right. Huntington’s disease is a terrible scourge, and dealing with Aileen’s condition is anything but easy. I’m not sure how Leslie copes sometimes, either, but for the most part, she’s a very sensible girl.”

Joa

“Oh, that,” Rory returned with a dismissive shrug. “I do what I can.”

They stood uneasily, looking at each other across a dim expanse of room. Finally, realizing that he wasn’t going to add any more, Joa

At the end of the sidewalk, a Chevrolet Yukon emblazoned with the Cochise County Sheriff’s Department logo sat idling outside the gate. Deputy Rick Thomas reached over and pushed open the passenger door as she approached.

“Sorry it took a while for me to get here, Sheriff Brady,” he apologized. “I was already involved in a traffic stop when the call came in.”

“Don’t worry,” she told him. “You arrived in plenty of time.”

“Where to?”

“Do you know where the Target store is in Sierra Vista?”

“Sure,” Deputy Thomas said. “No problem. Why?”

“I want you to take me there,” she said. “And let’s hope that our bad guy was dumb enough to use a credit card.”