Dead Women Tell No Lies (25 page)

“Did you speak with Todd’s boss, the burger shop manager, yet?” she asked him.

“He fired Todd two weeks after he started because he rarely showed up.”

“I guess he wasn’t up for model employee of the year.”

“And his aunt wasn’t up for model relative of the year.”

“If Myra casts a Halloween play, I can make a recommendation.”

“I’ll be sure to let her know. In the meantime, I’ll get a warrant to search for a missing Todd Clark and do an official search of his apartment.” He walked away to collect their drinks.

* * *

Rose, come to the river. We’re waiting for you.

“No,” Rose mumbled, tossing on the sofa bed.

Rose, come. Then we can go home.

The whisper grew louder and louder until she snapped upright on the couch. The blanket fell to the floor in the empty living room. She brushed stray strands of hair away from her face. The tick of the battery powered clock on the wall echoed in the silence. It was four-thirty in the afternoon. She’d fallen into an exhausted sleep after Lennox brought her home.

Light slanted downward onto the floor through the window. The sun would set in less than an hour. She collapsed against her pillow and closed her eyes.
Please, Dahlia, let me sleep.

Instead of peace, her sister’s words repeated in her mind. What did she mean
we’re
waiting? Was her killer there? Was Rose’s mind playing a trick? She closed her eyes and prayed for everything to disappear. The spot where her sister’s body had lain tangled in the bushes on the bank was the last place she wanted to visit.

Then we can go home.

The key to the murder was at the river. Now she understood.
Rose slid from the couch, tugged on her parka and scooped up her purse with her gun. Outside, she welcomed the fresh air while her mind churned with anticipation. What would she find? She dug out her cell phone and hit the numbers for Lennox. The call went straight to his voicemail.

She listened to his familiar voice and studied the sky. Overhead, the sun battled a cloud and broke through to shine its last rays. She blinked into the sunlight. Days were short this time of year. She didn’t have much daylight left, and no way was she walking near the water in the dark. She’d have to hurry.

When the beep signaled to leave Lennox a message, she blurted out she was down by the river, and she’d report back. She clicked off and started down the hill to Smith Plaza.

At the bottom of the paved road, she marched through the shopping center’s half filled parking lot and past the concrete block stores. The shops would be closing within a few minutes. She sped up and jogged down the fire lane toward the dumpsters in the rear. The odor of something rotting greeted her.

Ahead lay the abandoned railroad track, and beyond was the hillside. The sounds of cars whizzing past on the distant highway floated toward her. She pulled out her gun, pointed it down and crossed over the tracks to the weed covered hill. The snow had disappeared on the sun warmed slope. Empty bottles and fast food wrappers littered the ground.

None of the street people had pitched their tents, yet. The sound of rushing water drew her downward toward the edge of the gray river. In the middle of the waterway, an ice floe refused to melt. A flock of pigeons sat on the frosty island with feathers puffed against the cold. Rose stopped, unsure. Was Dahlia’s ghost down here? Lifeless bushes marked the incline. The wind blew and her skin chilled with sudden awareness.
Her stalker
was here.

Goosebumps broke out on her arms. She forced herself to pivot around, hunting for him or her. No one was within sight.

“Dahlia, are you here?” She wandered further toward the water, listening to the pounding of her heart competing with the roar of the current.
How long had her sister fought to stay alive in the icy river?
She shivered. The wind whirled and whispered Rose’s name.

“Dahlia?” Rose forced herself to search the waterway.

A branch swept past, disappeared under the current, helpless in the force of the spring flow.

Why had her sister called her here? Her gaze skipped and skimmed over the dormant shrubs on the edge of the bank and found Dahlia.

“Dahlia!” Rose’s hand tightened on the butt of her gun.

Her twin turned to her. Her wet hair hung lifeless around her bloodless face and hollow eyes. She turned away and walked along the river’s edge.

Rose swallowed the acid lump in her throat. “Dahlia, come back.”

Rose blew out a wobbling breath. She’d come this far. She headed toward her sister. The gnarled branches of the bushes grew low to the ground and snaked toward the edge. She wove through the underbrush and stopped on an overhang. Her sister’s form faded and disappeared.

“Why did you call me here? What do you want me to find?” She closed her eyes. “Dahlia, please show me.”

And then icy, gray water washed over her head, ending signs of daylight and land. Freezing. No air! Blackness closed around her. Confusion and panic took over. Which way was up? She struck out with her arms and legs. Air. She needed to breathe. Where was the surface? Help! She was drowning. Choose a direction. She flung her arms over her head and kicked her legs. Her lungs burned. Her body numbed, slowing her fight.

The chilly water invaded her bones, and weighed down her limbs and clothing. She could barely lift her hand. Her feet heavy as bricks towed her down, down. She was sinking, deeper and deeper. Her lungs wanted to explode. Desperate, she tried to propel herself upward before her last breath gave out.

Chapter 18

The frantic need to fill her lungs drove Rose to inhale. Frigid water flooded into her mouth and nose, choking and strangling her.

She sobbed and opened her eyes. She was lying on her back in the bushes. The low hanging sun blinded her. She coughed, sat up and sucked in the precious oxygen.

She ran her fingers through dry hair and dug her nails into the hard, solid ground. Her clothes contained not even a damp spot. The truth smacked her. It had been Dahlia in the river, her twin’s last fight for life.

Rose drew her shaking knees up and hugged them to her chest. “It was Dahlia, not me.

Dahlia, not me. I’m okay. I’m not losing my mind.”

Burying her face into her knees, she prayed a thank you for her life. She raised her head. “I wanted you to come home, Dahlia. I didn’t mean it when I said I never wanted to see you again after you took the money. I didn’t want you to go away forever. I love you. Did you bring me here to punish me?”

We rested here.

What? Her sister had washed ashore at this exact spot. She glanced down and flashed onto the image of her sister’s nearly naked body twisted among the bushes. We? Was she next?

No! She leaped to her feet, grabbed her belongings and fled up the bank. Tears stung her eyes and blurred her surroundings. She had to get out of here. She ran faster. Her foot sank into a hole. She toppled forward. The gun flew from her hand. She closed her eyes. Not the water again.

Raising the binoculars, it was easy to spot her running up the hill. A spike of heat hit his gut and rushed through his blood. If only she were closer. Then he could touch her. He’d run his fingers down that slim, white throat and squeeze until the fear filled her eyes. Watch the horror on her face.

A surge of yearning abrupt and sharp hit him. Soon he’d make his next move.

Across the river he heard her scream and he closed his eyes in longing and glee.

Chapter 19

Rose smacked against the brittle, dry grass.
You’re okay. You’re okay.
Rose lifted her head and stared into unseeing eyes. A cry escaped her mouth. She shoved upright and stared down into the face of her friend, Cassie. She lay in front of her, duct tape wrapped around her mouth.

Rose screamed and scrambled to her feet, grabbing her gun from the ground.

Was she going crazy? She dared another glance. Oh-my-God, Cassie. Not Cassie. Was she real? Her open eyes stared up at Rose. She was naked.

Rose leaned down and touched one of Cassie’s cold hands bound together by tape. She searched for her pulse. Nothing, Rose jumped away.

The sound of laughter drifted across the river. Rose whirled around. A figure darted into the grove of pines standing on the shore across the river. The stalker was there. Was it A.J., Tia, Bike Boy, Dean, Buddy or someone she didn’t know, spying, laughing at her and Cassie? He could have a high powered rifle aimed at her.

Run. Faster.
Her breath came out in pants and cries. At the crest, she stopped. She fumbled for her phone pulled it out of her pocket. With the other hand, she aimed the gun toward the opposite bank even though the shore must be out of range.

Lennox’s deep voice answered his cell.

“Thank God, it’s you. Come right away. He’s here. He’s at the river. I heard him laughing at me. Hurry.”

“Rose, where are you?”

“I’m on the riverbank behind the plaza with the liquor store. He is watching me, Lennox…and it’s Cassie.” Rose headed toward the shopping center and then pivoted around to see if anyone was behind her.

“Who’s watching? What happened to Cassie?”

“Dahlia’s kill-er.” She clamped her teeth together for a moment to stop the chattering. “He got Cassie. She’s dead. On the bank.”

“Did you see A.J.?”

“I wasn’t close enough.”

“Stay on the line. I’m on my way.”

Pull yourself together.
She swallowed hard and searched the bank for her friend. “Hurry.” Rose turned away fighting the nausea, forcing its way into her throat.

“Rose, Rose.”

“I’m…here.” Stay alert.

“I’m in my car and on my way. Are you in danger?”

“I don’t know. How could anyone hurt Cassie? She was a good person. She watched my boutique, drove for more than an hour to surprise me and brought me to lunch. Why kill someone who wanted to go to lunch?”

“Rose, focus. Where are you standing?”

“I’m at the top of the hill behind the stores. You’re coming?”

“I’m almost there. Hang on. Go up to the liquor store, I’ll meet you.”

“Okay.” She strode upward where the closed sign hung on the glass storm door. “The store’s closed.”

“Stay in the doorway. Take a deep breath. What happened to Cassie?”

“She’s dead.” Tears blocked the words. She wanted to dash off to her apartment, but she couldn’t leave Cassie.

“Do you see any cars?”

She shook her head.

“Rose?”

“No…cars. I heard a man’s laughter.”

“Did you see any boats on the river?”

“No, he was on the other side of the water. Are you close?”

“Fifteen seconds or less.”

She clicked off. Stay calm. Rose faced the slope. The coward was there. “You stole my sister and our friend. I hate you.”

Lennox’s car screeched around the anchor store and wheeled to a stop.

“The cavalry’s arrived, Dahlia.”

Lennox jumped out, and she sprinted across the ground and flung herself against his solid chest. He wrapped his arms around her waist and held her. Nothing bad would happen now.

He eased back. “Where’s Cassie?”

“Go down the bank, straight ahead.” She pointed and closed her eyes for a second.
Please, please be a dream, a horrible dream. I want to wake up.

“Stay here and don’t fire. Scream if you see anyone near.” He hiked down the hill. Rose trailed him to the crest of the bank and stopped. A short distance from the river, he crouched down. He’d found Cassie. She wasn’t dreaming. Rose turned away and gulped air. When she heard his footsteps, she faced Lennox.

“Is she alive?” she shouted to him. Maybe Cassie had fallen into a coma.

Lennox didn’t answer until he reached her. “I’m sorry. She’s gone.”

Her lip quivered. Tears streamed down both her cheeks. “I should have helped her.”

“You can help your friend by telling me everything that happened after I left you.” Folding their hands together, he forced her to pinpoint her attention on him.

“I fell asleep. My sister woke me. She told me to go to the river. I left and walked along the edge. For a few minutes, I felt like I’d fallen in the water and was drowning. But it must have been Dahlia because I was lying on the ground. I ran up the hill. I tripped and found Cassie.”

The image of Cassie’s eyes glazed by death overflowed in her mind. Dizziness waved over her. “I need to sit.”

“Come to my car.” He slid his arm around her back and led the way across the fire lane to his vehicle.

Rose sat inside and faced the open door to inhale the fresh air. Lennox hovered near her. “He left her with all the litter.”

Lennox crouched in front of her. “Rose, you should have called me before coming to the water by yourself.

“Dahlia told
me
to come right away. Lennox, how could it happen? Cassie was on her way home. I saw her drive off. What happened? Why is she on the hillside?” Her mind cleared. “Do you think he hid in her car?”