Robert laughed, a bitter bark that held no humor. “Hardly. I assure you I have plenty of money.”
“And Max told you he would change his evil ways and become a fine upstanding citizen.” It was not a question.
“Yes, he did, and I believed him.”
“All that crap you told Victoria, that she wrote to Sally, about Lisa and Victoria being lusted after by Max. All that was a lie?”
“No. No, it wasn’t. He told me he wanted my wife. And he told me he would use Lisa to have her.”
“And you still defend the sorry no-good? Jesus Christ, Robert, what have you got between your ears? Mush?”
“I owe him my life, Smoke. Three times, I owe him. And I owe him my family fortune.”
“You want to explain that?”
“A gang of thugs set on me when I was a boy. They had knives. Max whipped them. Every one of them. Later, when I got a—a woman in a family way, her father had me cornered, with a gun. Max killed him.”
Smoke looked at the man, amazement in his eyes. “You’re a real swell fellow, Robert. You know that?”
Robert could not miss the sarcasm in Smoke’s tone. “She was just trash. So was her father.”
“You did see the child through school, I hope?”
“Of course not. Don’t be ridiculous. I told you, she was trash. Anyway, she moved away. I have no idea where she and the brat might be.”
Smoke took off his hat and shook his head in disbelief. Robert was as bad, in his own way, as Max. He wondered if Victoria knew about any of it. He didn’t think so. At least, he hoped not, for Sally’s sake. “Go on, Robert.” Smoke put his hat on and leaned back in the chair, rolling a cigarette. “It’s such a heartrending tale.”
“Yes. It really is, isn’t it?”
Smoke looked at him to see if the man was serious. He was. Smoke sighed and waited.
“The third time Max saved my life I was in college. He was on the run from the law—had been for years—but he was back east at the time. I had a rather unpleasant experience with a brother....”
“You have another brother?”
“Oh, no. This was a fraternity brother at school.”
“What the hell is that? Never mind. don’t want to know.”
“I beat the young man quite severely about the head with a brick. It was over a woman, of course. Max finished him off for me.”
Smoke was jarred right down to his boots. The good doctor, Robert Turner, was crazy. Insane. Smoke had read of people who had, or professed to have, two or three or more personalities. This was, he believed, the first time he’d ever met one of those people. He sincerely hoped he would never meet another.
“Finished him off? What do you mean, Robert?” Smoke knew exactly what he meant, but he wanted to hear the words out of Robert’s mouth.
“Killed him, of course. Oh, the young man was dying anyway. Max just took the brick and beat his head in with it. I was appalled, of course. I abhor violence of any kind.”
“Yeah. I can sure see that.”
“It was in the dead of winter. And my heavens, but it was cold. Max took the body and threw it into the river, after tying several heavy objects to it. We’re brothers, you know. Brothers help each other.”
“Yeah. Right.”
“It was just after that when my father got into his ... ah ... predicament. Max took care of that, too. Then he headed west. He always kept in touch with me, though. We’re brothers, you know.”
“How did he take care of your father’s ... ah ... troubles?”
“Killed my father’s mistress. She was attempting to blackmail Father. That would have done poor Mum in had she ever found out about it.”
“I’m sure it would have, Robert.” It’s just about doing me in listening to it, he thought.
Robert sat up straight in his chair and clasped both hands to his knees. “Well, my good fellow. I certainly am glad we had this little chat. I feel so much better now that I realize what an understanding man you are.” He stood up, a broad smile on his face. “I must go see my patients now. They need me, you know? It’s such a nice feeling to be wanted.”
Robert walked back into the house, took his doctor’s bag, and got into his buggy, clucking the horse forward. Smoke sat on the porch and watched the doctor drive out of town.
“The man is nuts,” Smoke said. “Crazy and dangerous. Very dangerous.”
He was sitting on the porch when Vicky strolled up, her arms filled with packages. She did not seem surprised to see Smoke sitting there. He helped her with her packages, then waited on the porch for her to come out of the house.
“Are you waiting for Robert?” she asked.
“No. I had a long chat with Robert. He just left. I was sitting here ... ah ... sort of catching my breath after our conversation.”
“Whatever in the world do you mean, Smoke?”
Smoke did not know how to handle this. He was not the type of man who relied on finesse. His way was straight ahead and get the job done.
He shook his head and stood up. “Nothing, Vicky. It was just that our conversation got a little deep for me. Medical stuff.”
“Oh! Are you ill? Is Sally all right?”
“Both of us are fine. Where is Lisa?”
“Playing with a friend.” She smiled. “Don’t worry. The kids are well guarded.”