The Lady Doctor's Alibi by J. Roberts

age?”
    “He doesn’t have much experience with women.”
    “Okay,” Clint said, “listen, the sheriff said I could use you to watch Lissa and Marietta.”
    “The lady doctor and the little Mexican nurse?” Boone asked.
    “Yeah.”
    “You want me to guard them?”
    “Right.”
    “Why not use the kid, Ed?”
    “Would you trust the lives of two women to an inexperienced deputy?”
    “Uh, no.”
    “Then you’ll do it?”
    “It’s not an order from the cap’n?”
    “No, it’s not an order, Deputy,” Clint said. “I’m asking as a favor.”
    “A favor to you, or the cap’n?”
    “Does it make a difference?”
    “Yeah,” Boone said. “See, the cap’n owes me a favor. It’s his turn.”
    “I see. Well, this one’s a favor for me.”
    “Okay.”
    “Okay, what?”
    “I’ll do it.”
    “Oh. Thanks.”
    “Just tell me one thing.”
    “What’s that?”
    “Who am I protecting them from?”
    “Rufus Holmes.”
    Boone nodded and said, “I’m gonna need a bigger gun.”

TWENTY-SIX
    After Deputy Boone got himself a bigger gun—a shotgun, in fact—Clint walked Boone over to the doctor’s office and introduced him to Lissa Sugarman and Marietta.
    “The deputy is going to stay here with you, just in case,” Clint said.
    “In case of what?” Lissa asked.
    “Well . . . in case Lillian Graham comes back,” Clint said. “The sheriff has warned her to stay away from here until all the patients are gone.”
    “Will she?”
    “I don’t know.”
    “What if she does not?” Marietta asked. She was standing in the doorway to the next room. “Will he shoot her?”
    “No, ma’am,” Boone said, “but I will arrest her.”
    “So why the shotgun?” Lissa asked.
    Deputy Boone shrugged and said, “Well, you just never know, ma’am.”

    Marietta went into the other room to be with the patients. Clint took Lissa by the elbow and pulled her aside.
    “Bone is here in case Lillian tries something,” he said, “or sends someone.”
    “And what will you be doing?” she asked.
    “I’m going to continue to try and find out exactly who killed Dr. Graham.”
    “And how will you do that?”
    “By asking questions of people who know both Lillian and Rufus Holmes.”
    “Is that her . . . man?”
    “Yes,” Clint said, “her lover.”
    “What would this man see in her?” she asked. “I mean, I’m not being cruel but—”
    “I know what you mean,” Clint said, “but you might not ask that if you saw Rufus—and I hope you never do.”
    “Will you come back?” she asked.
    “In the morning,” Clint said. “Are you and Marietta sleeping here?”
    “Yes,” Lissa said, “she doesn’t want to go home.”
    “All right,” Clint said. “Deputy Boone will be here all night. I’m going back to my hotel, but I’ll check here in the morning. Meanwhile, here.”
    He took out the Colt New Line and handed it to her.
    “Just hold it like this, cock it, hold it steady, and pull the trigger. Aim for the largest part of your target, which would be the upper part of the body. And if it’s Rufus Holmes, it’ll be a large target.”
    “How many times do I pull the trigger?”
    “Until the gun is empty, and the hammer is falling on empty chambers.”
    “A-All right.”
    She was wearing a smocklike dress that had large pockets on the sides.
    “Keep the gun in your pocket,” he said. “Don’t put it down anywhere.”
    “I have to admit y-you’re frightening me.”
    “Good,” Clint said, “you should be frightened. But also remember you can leave anytime you want. You’re basically a volunteer here. Nobody will stop you from walking out.”
    “No,” she said, “these people need me. I have to stay.”
    “I admire you for that,” he said. “And I’ll do my best to make sure you and Marietta are safe.”
    “I’m afraid our little nurse may have a crush on you, Clint,” Lissa said.
    “Really? And how about our doctor?”
    “Well . . .” She blushed. “I think I better check