weren't they? " "No, " he answered. "His saddlebags were in the
luggage compartment."
"Maybe Rebecca's satchels were thrown out the window."
"The sheriff assured me that he and his men searched the area. They
were looking for Rebecca, and they would have found her bags. They
didn't."
"Maybe the men who shot Marshal Cooper let her take herthings with her,
" she said. "That would be a good sign, wouldn't it, that they plan to
keep her alive? " "But they wouldn't want to do that, " he argued.
"They'd want to silence her as quickly as possible."
"Because they think she's the witness? " "Yes."
"How awful, " she whispered. "Poor Rebecca. She wasn't even there."
The matter-of-fact comment caught his attention.
"She told Cole and me she was."
"She what? " Grace asked, clearly flabbergasted.
"Rebecca said she witnessed the robbery. She gave us a detailed
accounting of what happened and descriptions of the men she saw. "
"She couldn't have, " she argued, shaking her head.
"She could have and she did."
"If you'll remember, I told you I was in the bank too. Rebecca was
probably just trying to protect Jessica and me and she lied to you."
"Why are you assuming she lied? " Before Grace could answer the
question, he said, "Jessica also told us she was the witness. She
didn't give us any real details, though, but Rebecca did. She told us
everything." She shook her head again.
"No, that isn't possible."
"I'm telling you she gave us specific details, " he insisted. "What's
wrong? " "It doesn't make any sense.
That's what's wrong . . . " She was exasperating. He held on to his
patience and asked, "Why doesn't it? " "Because she couldn't have
given you details. I promised I would keep silent. . . . I gave my
word . . . but that was before . . . and now . . . " "Grace, what
are you trying to tell me? " "Rebecca isn't the witness. Jessica
is.
" Xaniel was white with anger. "Do you realize what you're saying? I
swear to God, if you're lying now . . . " "I'm telling you the truth,
" she insisted. "Jessica was in the bank during the robbery, not
Rebecca." He was pacing about the room like a caged animal. He kept
telling himself that shouting at Grace wouldn't accomplish anything,
but the urge was nearly overwhelming. He took a deep breath and then
asked in a chillingly soft voice, "Why didn't you tell me the truth
before? Why in God's name did you wait so long? " "I promised Jessica
I wouldn't tell anyone. I gave her my word."
"Dear God, " he muttered. He threaded his fingers through his hair and
sat down.
"Try to understand, " she pleaded. "Jessica was terrified."
"Does Rebecca know that Jessica is the witness? " "No, she doesn't."
"Are you sure? " "Yes." She turned away then so that she wouldn't
have to look at the fury etched on his face. She had never seen him