Or had sealing the file been about protecting the second daughter so she didn’t end up like Angel?

As he rode past part of the Atkinson place, he saw John standing out by his barn and on impulse rode over. John shielded his eyes and, seeing him, let out a curse.

“Let’s see this old truck my brother told me about,” Russell said as he dismounted.

“What are you doing, getting involved in this?” John demanded. “It doesn’t have anything to do with you.”

“Seems to have something to do with Dulcie Hughes, though, doesn’t it?”

John shook his head irritably. “I told your brother—”

“I know what you told my brother and I know what you told me yesterday. How about telling me the truth?”

“Damn it, I didn’t have anything to do with that woman being run off the road last night.”

“But you did have something to do with Laura Beaumont.”

“I suppose your brother the deputy already told you I had an affair with Laura.”

“Actually, I figured that out on my own.”

“Midge knows all about it.”

“Is that why she gave you an alibi the day of the murder?”

John looked angry again. “I didn’t kill Laura. I loved her. I was planning to leave Midge for her if—”

“If what?”

“If she hadn’t dumped me for someone else, all right?”

“Who?”

John looked away, his jaw set, and for a moment Russell thought he wouldn’t answer. “Ben Carpenter. At least that’s who I saw going into her house right after I left.”

“You must have been angry enough to kill her.”

John swore and started to walk away, but turned back. “I loved her. I wouldn’t have hurt her for...” He wagged his head, looking miserable. “I would have done anything for her.”

“What about Midge?”

“What about her?”

“If she found out about you and Laura, maybe—”

“She’d known for months. She was the one who told me there were other men. I didn’t believe her until I saw it for myself.”

“And you did nothing?”

John let out a humorless laugh. “Wrong. I did something. I crawled back to my wife and begged her forgiveness.”

“Is that when you moved to the other ranch?”

John nodded, looking shamefaced. “And before you bother to ask, I was cleaning out one of the bedrooms to move our stuff in when I heard about Laura. It damn near killed me. I’ve never gotten over Laura. I never will.”

“So tell me what you know about Laura and her two daughters.”

Dulcie had searched the house for hours. She had just stepped out for a breath of fresh air when she saw the lone rider coming over the hill across the road.