Love Can Be Murder

on."
    "I think you're a wonderful lawyer," she said, and Roxann was glad to hear the sincerity in her voice. "I appreciate the way you stood up for me." She pulled him forward and gave him a kiss on the cheek.
    He blushed furiously and turned his hat inside out. Then he withdrew his wallet and extracted a business card. "You probably never want to see this place again, but if you're ever up this way, I'd be proud to show you my farm."
    She took the card and nodded. "I'd be proud to see it."
    "Goodbye, ma'am." Then he shoved his hat on his head and strode off, climbing into a white Suburban parked nearby.
    Roxann smiled. "Ready?"
    Angora looked up. "Yeah, I'm ready. Let's go home."
    She shoved the door closed, then climbed into the driver's seat and adjusted the rearview mirror so they could see each other. "What a trip this has been."
    "I'll say. Honestly, Roxann, I had no idea this much sorrow and... evil existed in the world. Or maybe I knew, but I didn't think it could get to me. I've led such a charmed life."
    "Are you sorry you came?"
    Angora thought for a moment, then shook her head. "I don't know how to explain it, but it's as if the last couple of weeks had to happen, as if I've been holding my breath all my life waiting for it to unfold." She frowned. "Of course, I had no idea it would be so tragic." Her eyes were pinched, sorrowful. "Roxann, not a day goes by that I don't feel terrible about the deal we made."
    She leaned on the steering wheel, her pulse elevated. "Same here."
    "Do you think it had anything to do with what we just went through?"
    "You mean some kind of penance? I don't think all those people died just to jump-start our conscience, but maybe something good can come out of all of this."
    Angora bit into her bottom lip. "Is there anything we can do about it now?"
    Roxann turned around in her seat so they could speak face-to-face. "We could always come clean." How many times had she almost picked up a pay phone to make an anonymous tip on herself, just to get everything out in the open? But they'd promised each other sacred silence and she'd kept her end of the bargain.
    "What would happen to us?"
    "That's hard to say. Worst-case scenario, we could be brought up on criminal charges."
    "Not again."
    "But that's not likely, especially in light of the publicity the university has just suffered." She sighed. "And there would be personal consequences."
    "Mother would never forgive me. Trenton would be scandalized. The job in Chicago would be out." Then she gave a little laugh. "But I'm not so sure all of that would be a bad thing."
    "You don't want to go to Chicago?"
    "I don't want to marry Trenton."
    Roxann agreed with her wholeheartedly, but had kept her opinion in check.
    "I'm tired of doing and being what everyone expects of me. Sometimes I wish Mother had left my face the way it was so I could just ...be. Be plain, be fat, be happy. You know—a simple life with a good man and a few kids." She burst into tears. "I think I'm in love with M-Mike B-Brown."
    Roxann's eyebrows skyrocketed. "What?"
    "He's so good to me—I've never had a man take his hat off for me, bring me flowers, a ham." She sniffled. "Mike makes me laugh, and he makes me feel good about myself."
    At first the idea of Angora the debutante being the wife of a plump Midwestern farmer was comical, but after Roxann tried it on for size, the image seemed to...no, actually it still seemed far-fetched.
    "Angora, you have to do whatever will make you happy. But I'd hate to see you run from Trenton and your parents just so you won't have to face them."
    "Oh, no, I'm going to face them. I'm going to tell them the truth, then break it off with Trenton."
    "We could take care of this while we're here, but we both have to agree."
    "I... think we should," Angora said. "Don't you?"
    Roxann nodded. "Yes, I do." Even though she could imagine the disappointment on her father's face, she could also imagine the relief of a clear conscience. "Are you sure you're up for this?"
    "No, but I'll live. Do you think that Mike will still be interested in me after he finds out?"
    "I suspect so." She smiled and started the engine, then turned in the direction of campus. Her stomach pitched and her neck muscles tightened. "This is going to change everything, you know."
    "I know."

Chapter Thirty-seven

    ROXANN CLUNG TO THE BACK of an aged wing chair in her father's living room. Her knees were practically knocking and her mouth couldn't seem to produce enough