Alex chose to ignore the double entendre and hoped he
would ignore the mounting color in her face. She directed
her attention to the judge.
"Miss Gaither was curious to know why I ruled Mr. Hicks
incompetent to stand trial. Since she didn't know him, she
can't appreciate how easily he fit the criteria of being unable
to understand the charges against him and assist in his own
defense."
"Thank you, Judge Wallace," she said, seething, "but I
know the criteria. What I don't know is why you made the
ruling so hastily."
"I saw no need for a postponement," the judge replied,
obviously more at ease now that Reede was there. "I told
you earlier that most people in town merely tolerated Hicks.
Your mother, to her credit, was kind to him. Gooney Bud
latched on to her, in a pathetic way. I'm sure he was often
a nuisance, the way he followed her around like a devoted
little puppy. Right, Reede?"
The sheriff nodded. "Celina wouldn't let anybody pick on
him when she was around. He used to give her presents, you
know, mesquite beans, rocks, stuff like that. She always
thanked him like he'd given her the crown jewels."
"I figure that Gooney Bud mistook her kindness for a
deeper emotion," Judge Wallace said. "He followed her into
the Mintons' stable that night and, uh, tried to force his
attentions on her."
"Rape her?" Alex asked bluntly.
"Well, yes," the judge said, flustered. "And when she
rebuffed him, he couldn't handle the rejection, and ..."
"Stabbed her thirty times," Alex supplied.
"You force me to be insensitive, Miss Gaither." Joe Wallace
looked at her reproachfully.
Alex crossed her legs. Her stockings made a slippery, silky
sound that drew the sheriffs attention to them. She caught
him staring at her hemline, but tried not to let it bother her
as she continued to question the jittery judge.
"Let me make sure I understand. It's your contention that
the murder wasn't premeditated, but a crime of passion?"