seemed to bother her much, although Marc was apparently the only one whoâd noticed that, despite Silviaâs tragic past, she was curiously impervious to grief.
âYou havenât told us all of it,â Bib said when they were out on the porch. His pale blue eyes narrowed. âThereâs more, isnât there?â
Marc stuck his hands deep into his pockets. âThe investigator Simonâs sending out to coordinate efforts with the Bexar County District Attorney,â he began reluctantly. âYou might remember her. Josette Langley.â
Silviaâs face flushed. âThat bitch!â
Bib looked weary. âSil, it was a long time agoâ¦â
âThat woman accused you of being the murderer! Do you think I could ever forget? Sheâll stir up trouble, sheâll make false accusations, sheâll go to the mediaâ¦!â Her voice rose, becoming shrill.
âCalm down,â Bib said quietly, looking her straight in the eyes. He put a gentle hand on her nape and smoothed it up and down. âCalm down. Take deep breaths. Come on, Sil.â
She did what Bib told her to. She still looked glassy-eyed, but she was quiet. Bib reached into a crystal bowl on the side table next to the open front door and produced a mint in a fancy wrapper. He placed it in her hands and waited while she unwrapped it and popped it into her mouth. Candy calmed her in these odd outbursts. Once heâd thought she might be diabetic, but bloodwork disproved that theory. She refused to see a psychologist, despite his best efforts. She was violent in these rages, dangerously so. Once, sheâd killed a favorite dog in one of them. In a way, Bib was glad they couldnât have children. She was too unpredictable.
Bib turned back to Marc, who was scowling worriedly. âMiss Langley was talking to Henry, before he was killed. She was a quiet woman, not the sort to enjoy a party. I couldnât understand why she was dating Dale in the first place. He did work for Henry, against my advice. He was in close with Jake Marsh in San Antonio. I had problems with a campaign worker who was in Marshâs pocket during the lieutenant governorâs race.Iâm sure Marsh put Dale up to what he did,â he added bitterly.
âThat was never proven,â Silvia said sweetly. âI always thought the man was working on his own. Iâm sure he had no real connection to Marsh.â
âThen why was his body found near Marshâs nightclub?â Marc wondered aloud.
âThose sort of people can get killed anywhere,â Silvia said carelessly. âI wouldnât waste state money on an investigation like that. He was a nobody.â
Bib ignored her. âThat campaign worker,â he told Brannon, persisting. âJennings had recommended him, to work on my campaign for lieutenant governor. The man went behind my back and apparently dug up a scandal to force my opponent out of the race. Iâm almost positive it was why he pulled out of the race at the last minute, but I never could prove it. I didnât like Jennings around Henry, and I said so that night at the party when Henry was killed. We argued.â He grimaced. âI hated parting from him on an argument. You know how Henry was,â he added with a wan smile. âHe trusted people.â
âThatâs how you get killed in the modern world,â Silvia said with a high-pitched laugh. âYou canât trust anybody these days.â
Bib continued to ignore her and stared at Marc. âHow did Jennings die?â
âSingle gunshot wound to the back of the skull.â
Bibâs intake of breath was audible. âDear God!â
âOh, what does it matter how he died? He was a murderer,â Silvia said with regal nonchalance. âI donât feel sorry for him. Is that why the state attorney generalâs sticking his nose in, because it was execution-style?â
Marc didnât