Cash didn’t say anything else. “If things get rough over there, call me, will you? I know you’re outside the city limits, but I can get to Hayes Carson pretty quick if I have to, and he has jurisdiction.”

“Oh, it’s nothing like that...”

“Isn’t it?” Cash asked.

She felt chilled. It was as if he was able to see Roberta through her eyes, and he saw everything.

“She did apologize. Sort of. For hitting me, I mean.”

“Hitting you?” Cash stood straighter. “When?”

“I messed up the sale of Daddy’s stamps. She was wild-eyed and screaming. She just slapped me, is all. She’s been excitable since before Daddy died, but now she’s just...just...nuts. She talks about money all the time, like she’s dying to get her hands on some. But she doesn’t buy clothes or cosmetics, she doesn’t even dress well anymore.”

“Do you know why?”

She shook her head. She drew in a breath. “She doesn’t drink,” she said. “I know that’s what you’re thinking. She and Daddy used to have drinks every night, and she had a problem for a little while, but she got over it.”

Cash just nodded. “You let me know if things get worse. Okay?”

“Okay, Chief. Thanks,” she added.

The phone rang. Carlie answered it. “It’s your wife,” she said with a big grin.

Cash’s face lit up. “Really? Wow. A big-time movie star calling me up on the phone. I’m just awed, I am.” He grinned. Everybody knew his wife, Tippy, had been known as the Georgia Firefly when she’d been a supermodel and, later, an actress. “I’ll take it in my office. With the door closed.” He made a mock scowl. “And no eavesdropping.”

Carlie put her hand over her heart. “I swear.”

“Not in my office, you don’t,” he informed her. “Swearing is a misdemeanor.”

She stuck out her tongue at his departing back.

“I saw that,” he said without looking behind him. He went into his office and closed the door on two giggling women.

“He’s a trip to work for,” Carlie enthused, her green eyes sparkling in a face framed by short, dark, wavy hair. “I was scared to death of him when I interviewed for the job. At least, until he accused me of hiding his bullets and telling his men that he read fashion magazines in the bathroom.”

Michelle laughed.

“He’s really funny. He says he keeps files on aliens in the filing cabinet and locks it so I won’t peek.” The smile moderated. “But if there’s an emergency, he’s the toughest guy I’ve ever known. I would never cross him, if I was a criminal.”

“They say he chased a speeder all the way to San Antonio once.”