Dead Secret

neck in a way she would never wear it. Her clothes looked like she had slept in them for a week—they had probably been rolled up in a bag and returned to her just before their arrival, to wear in place of the orange prison coveralls.
    Iris Fallon hugged Susan and Gerald, then Diane last. “Your father tells me you are the one to thank for getting me out of here.”
    “I had help from a detective friend who discovered the falsified records and recommended we go to Mr. Reynolds. Mr. Reynolds is the one who got you out.”
    Diane’s mother went to the lawyer and took his hands in hers. “I don’t know how to repay you.”
    He grinned. “I take checks.” They all laughed. “Seriously, I’m glad to help. This is just a terrible miscarriage of justice.”
    They left without any apology from the warden and without looking back. On the way out to the car Reynolds asked Diane who it was who recommended him. When she told him it was Frank, Reynolds smiled.
    “Frank Duncan. I’ve had him on the stand before. So he recommended me, did he? One of the toughest people I’ve ever cross-examined. He knows his stuff.”
    “Apparently he thinks the same about you.”
    Diane’s mother didn’t even want to stop to eat. Diane tried to talk her into going first to the doctor to get checked out, but she said she’d make an appointment later.
    “I just want to get home,” she said. “I just want to get home.”
    They drove the two hours back to Birmingham. Glenda had a huge meal waiting for them, but the first thing her mother wanted to do was take a shower and change clothes. As they waited for her, Diane managed to subtly herd Gerald out to the patio. She was not looking forward to this, but with Alan’s recent behavior, she had even more reason to try to keep their marriage intact. She took a sip of wine and bit her lower lip before she began.

Chapter 25
    “Susan told me about what the two of you are going through right now,” said Diane.
    “What we are going through? Nice way of putting it. How about what Susan is making me go through? I suppose she wants you to talk to me.” Gerald looked at his wineglass, turning it in his hand as if examining the ruby-red color. “She wants you to convince me they weren’t having an affair, is that right?” He took a drink.
    She sat down on the low rock-garden wall. Gerald sat down beside her. “I don’t believe she was having an affair.”
    “You’re her sister. What else would you say?”
    “You know we don’t get along. I was surprised she took me into her confidence enough to ask me to help.”
    “I guess it shows her desperation.” He took another sip of wine.
    “Desperation doesn’t mean guilt.”
    He looked over at Diane, his jaw set, his face like granite. “Why do you believe her, Diane? Can you tell me that?”
    “I’ve spoken with enough liars in my time to pretty much be able to pick them out. Susan’s a bad liar; she always has been. I know her, and I know when she’s lying and when she’s telling the truth. She’s telling the truth.” Diane took a drink of her wine. It was sweet—a little too sweet. “Gerald, it was just a kiss.”
    Gerald’s laugh was without any mirth. “She said it wasn’t even a good kiss.”
    “I can believe that. Alan never was very good.”
    Gerald chuckled again. This time he seemed to mean it.
    Diane laughed with him. “You don’t like him, do you?” he asked.
    “No. I never have. Gerald, I know this has to hurt like hell, but it was New Year’s Eve, for heaven’s sake.”
    “It wasn’t a New Year’s kiss; even Susan admitted that.”
    “It probably wasn’t. I’m sure everyone was drinking. I’ve noticed that Susan is feeling like she’s getting older these days and less attractive. I’m sure that had something to do with it. Just forgive her and move on.”
    The afternoon air was smothering in a way that only Southern climates could pull off. The rain the day before made it steamy. Even with fall approaching, it still felt like summer. The heat never left the South quickly.
    “It’s not that easy,” said Gerald.
    Diane looked over at Gerald. “Is it harder than disrupting your children’s lives?”
    “It wasn’t my doing that got us here.” His voice was filled with emotion.
    “Nevertheless, you are now the one with the power to stop it.” Diane took another sip of her wine. “Don’t let Alan do this to you.”
    Gerald set set his wineglass down on the wall. “You should come