“They’d ask you in Group. If you ever decided to attend.” The support group. Max had briefly attended a group in the course of exorcising the last murder victim. Group was brutal. Support had nothing to do with it. They’d grind Julia to dust if she didn’t toughen up.
Julia smoothed her dress over her thighs, the stiff material rustling in the few moments of silence before she spoke. “If I told you I’d killed him, then you’d also have to accuse Baxter of lying since he gave the police my alibi.”
“And I never lie, Max.”
Max jumped at the sound of Baxter’s voice as he stood inside the doorway. It had lost the soft quality she’d noticed yesterday.
Julia turned to the father she called by his first name. The door was to Julia’s left and behind Max. Neither of them had heard him enter. Max knew both of them wondered how much he’d heard. For Max, it mattered. She gathered together all her secrets and armored herself against the two of them.
Suddenly, she was the one alone in the crowd.
“Both Julia and I knew about this latest woman.” He shot a quick glance at his daughter before adding, “Though certainly not by name or we would have told the police.”
“We both knew he got an apartment for her,” Julia finished.
“How did you know?” If they’d had him followed, it pointed towards murder, despite their apparent need for Max to think they had no motive.
“He asked my permission,” Julia answered with a gracefulness of tone, as if she were pouring the tea or offering a plate of biscuits.
Max pounced. “You said you didn’t discuss his other women.”
Baxter strode further into the room, pushed aside the lapels of his tweed jacket, and slid his hands down into his pockets. He’d finished off the bow tie with red suspenders. With another sliding look at Julia, Baxter said, “Lance asked me what I thought of the apartment idea.”
“It was his way of letting me know,” Julia went on as if they were one voice.
“He always tested things out on me first, to see how I would react so that he’d know how Julia would react,” Baxter finished.
“And you let this man stay married to your daughter.” It wasn’t a question, it was an accusation.
Baxter glanced from Max to Julia.
“Maybe I finally figured out how wrong I was. Julia wouldn’t have killed him. But I would have.”
Chapter Fourteen
“But my father was with me that night. He didn’t do it,” Julia jumped into the fray.
“And you can tell Bud Traynor,” Baxter went on as if Julia hadn’t spoken. “I’ll kill him, too, if he ever tries to get close to my daughter.”
“Father, stop it.” Ah, finally, the title. Max could see Julia meant it with all sincerity brimming in her gaze.
Baxter turned to her, his eyes on fire behind his spectacles, his fists clenched. A small man, he suddenly seemed as powerful as Witt. “I should never have put up with that weird arrangement, Julia. I should never have let you settle for anything less than a real marriage. I should have—” He cut off his own words.
Julia rose. “Father, we’re talking about a murder here.”
A murder. Not my husband’s murder. Something telling in that.
“A bastard’s murder.”
Julia’s tone softened to the brown of her eyes. “Please don’t try to make Max think you did it. You couldn’t hurt a fly.”
His fingers flexed. Open, closed. “Tell her to let Bud Traynor know I’ve never trusted him and I know he’s up to something. He ruined Walter, but I won’t be such an easy target. And I won’t let you be either, Julia.” His gaze stayed on Max as he spoke.
Julia stepped closer to her father. “We do have things to be thankful to Bud for, Father.” She gripped his arm. “He’s been a great help these last few days.”
Baxter looked about to spit.
Max stood, but with Julia looking at her father, Baxter Newton was the only one who saw Max’s face full on.
“I know exactly what he’s up to, Mr. Newton. He’s expanding his power base. And you have something he wants.” She paused for effect, watching Baxter’s eyes widen, then she shook her head imperceptibly. “I don’t think it’s your daughter.”
He looked away. Max knew she had him.
“Why don’t you tell us what he’s really got up his sleeve?” Max asked, her voice barely louder than a whisper.
A moment of silence, a requiem for Baxter’s guilt. They waited, Julia without taking a breath.
His eyes unfocussed, as if he looked deep inside, pain flashed across his face at the terrible sight, then he was back with them. “He wants to marry you for your money, Julia.”
If he wanted Julia, it wasn’t for her money. It certainly wasn’t for love. Baxter Newton held the key. And he was lying.
Max bent to retrieve her purse, tucking it beneath her arm as she regarded Baxter once more. “I think you’ve been playing with Bud Traynor. Bad boy.” She wagged a finger. “He’s the devil, you know, and he’ll come knocking on your door for his due. I don’t think you’re going to like his price.”
As she passed Baxter, he murmured, “I already know I don’t.”
For her ears only.
When Max turned back, Julia stood by the tea table, fingers resting on the top of her Queen Victoria Jubilee tea cozy.