Free Redress of Grievances by Brenda Adcock Page B

Taggart
intelligent enough to fool a shrink?"
    "She's
extremely bright."
    "What
about her family? How supportive are they?"
    "Very.
But I can tell you up front that you probably aren't going to care for Frank
Taggart, the husband."
    "Why?"
    "He's
kind of a smart-ass. Parker can't stand him, and I'm sure Sharon's parents only
tolerate him because he's married to their daughter."
    "What
does he do for a living?"
    "He's
a mechanic for one of the Dallas car dealerships."
    Harriett
looked at Alex and grinned. "Bet that went over well with the country club
crowd."
    "I
thought Sharon's mother, Clarissa, was going to have a stroke," Alex
laughed. "No one's ever figured out why Sharon married him. Probably to
get away from Clarissa, but you didn't hear that from me. It isn't fair for me
to give you my opinions of these people, Harriett. My judgments shouldn't cloud
your feelings about them."
    "I've
always found your impressions about people to be pretty accurate, Alex. But
I'll keep an open mind when I speak to the family. Not to change the subject,
but how are you planning to get your plane back to Dallas?"
    "Paige
said she would fly it up later today. She got her pilot's license a couple of
years ago."
    "She's
a very attractive young woman, by the way. She looks like you."
    "She
reminds me of you sometimes. Pig-headed, straight ahead, no holds barred."
    "Is
that a compliment or a complaint?"
    "The
former. She studied advertising in college, you know."
    "Really?"
    "She's
wildly talented, and I tried to convince her to go to New York. We have a few
clients who could have helped her get a job with an agency there, but she decided
on a different route."
    "When
she met Senator Collins?"
    "She
designed campaign materials as a proposal while she was an intern with Stern
and Craft. He fell in love with the material she developed, and then he fell in
love with her. At least that's what he says happened."
    "You
don't believe him?"
    "I
don't know," Alex said, leaning her head against the back of the seat.
"I've never tried to influence Paige in any way about whom she saw or what
she did, but I think she's too young for Parker. He's twelve years older than
she."
    "You're
twelve years older than I, Alex, and you didn't think I was too young,"
Harriett said looking at Alex.
    "You
were already established in your career, Harriett. Paige isn't as mature as you
were."
    Harriett
didn't respond, keeping her eyes on the road ahead.
    "Maybe
it's because Parker is a politician, but there's something behind all that
charm and good looks that I don't completely trust," Alex said.
"Guess I'm being a jumpy, over-protective, much older sister."
    "Does
Paige know Sharon Taggart?"
    "Better
than I do. They both worked on Parker's last campaign. Sharon's an expert on
demographics and wrote most of Parker's speeches for him. He's the one who
faces the TV cameras, but she's the brains behind what he's saying."
    "Is
there anyone who might think they can get to him by going through his
sister?"
    "That
could be an angle, I suppose. You know how politics is."
    "There's
a good restaurant up ahead. Not too pricey and the food's good," Harriett
said. "You up for some lunch?"
    "I
skipped breakfast, so I guess I could stand something."
    Harriett
changed lanes and exited the interstate at Salado. Pulling into the parking lot
of the Stagecoach Inn, she hopped out of the truck and stretched her legs. Huge
pecan trees surrounded the historic two-story building, and the parking lot was
two-thirds full.
    Alex
followed her as she walked through a white picket fence gate and up the steps
to the front porch of the restaurant. A waitress seated them at a table
overlooking a creek running next to the building. A few children ran around on
the bank of the creek, while others held bamboo fishing poles, hoping for
something to pass by.
    "Do
you still fish?" Harriett asked as she watched the scene below them.
    "No.
You still make your pilgrimages to the lake?"
    "I
sold the cabin to Wayne