How Secrets Die (25 page)

Russ Sheldon—well, she believed that what he'd told her was true, but there was no way she could think of to prove it. Bart Gordon would deny everything, not wanting it known that he'd driven Jason to suicide.

She'd thought, when she'd started this quest, that just knowing the circumstances would be enough to lift the burden of pain and responsibility she carried. She'd been wrong.

The truth was that Jason, facing the biggest disappointment of his life, hadn't turned to her. It was almost more than she could bear to think of the pain he'd been in, seeing his future ruined. Always before, she could count on a call when he was in trouble. Not this time.

Why, Jason, why? Why didn't you call and talk to me about it?

She could have helped. She'd have gladly fought the battle with him, insisting on an audit and an outside investigation to find out exactly who had been responsible for the problems at the financial group. Jason must have known she'd have left no stone unturned to defend him.

But he hadn't called. Had he thought she didn't care? That the fact that she hadn't been around all summer meant that she was relieved of the responsibility for him? It tore at her heart, and knowing the circumstances hadn't really helped at all.

As for Mac—she couldn't so much as think of Mac without feeling a fresh surge of pain. She wasn't sure how he'd come to mean so much to her in the short time they'd been together. He ought to have no place in her heart.

But he did. And he'd shattered her by his actions. He'd been so intent on protecting his own that he'd ignored her needs. The only thing left was to forget about him, but she suspected it was going to take a long, long time to do that.

In the end, though, she couldn't bring herself to leave. She showered and dressed, avoiding looking at the ugly purple-and-yellow bruise on her shoulder, and headed for Blackburn House. If there was anything new to learn, she'd be far more likely to hear about it there.

Emily twittered at her arrival. “Kate, I'm sure you shouldn't come back to work so soon. What if you make your shoulder worse? I'd never forgive myself.”

“I'll take it easy, I promise.” She gave Emily a reassuring smile. “At least I can wait on customers for you, even if I can't do any shelving or cleaning. Besides, I'll go crazy, stuck in the cottage with nothing to do.”

“Well, if you're sure...” Emily's face brightened. “I suppose you know all about the arrest. It's the biggest thing that's happened here in the past month, I do believe. Not that anyone actually knew this criminal.”

“Bolt.” She supplied the name. “Ax Bolt.”

Emily shivered. “Horrid name for a horrid person. We're all better off with him behind bars.” She leaned a little closer. “Do they think he had anything to do with the funny business here? Maybe he was trying to break in to get money for more drugs.”

“From what I've heard, I think he was a big enough dealer that he didn't need to do that.” She suspected Emily would enjoy the vicarious thrill of thinking a vicious criminal had tried to rob her store—at least, now that the criminal was safely locked up.

Emily shook her head, white curls bouncing. “You never can tell what people like that will do. At least Mac caught him. I knew we could depend on Mac to keep us safe.”

“Yes.” The word tasted bitter on her tongue.

Apparently deciding Kate was a poor source of information, Emily slid from behind the counter. “Since you can take care of any customers, I believe I'll go over to the Buttercup for some coffee. I'm sure there's a lot of chatter going on there.”

Kate nodded. As long as the chatter wasn't about her, she didn't really care. “I'll be here. Take as long as you want.”

The bookshop was oppressively silent once Emily had left. Kate checked the computer for messages and found herself staring absently at the phone. Someone had stood here, where she was standing, and picked up the phone to call her. To lure her into the building. Whoever he or she was, they'd left no trace behind.

“Kate?”

She looked up at the sound of her name to see that Lina had just come in.

“Yes, I'm here.” She gave a mechanical smile. “I guess I was just spaced out for a second. How may I help you, Lina?”

Lina approached the counter. “To tell you the truth, I haven't had much time for reading lately. I was on my way to the post office when I saw you here, so I thought I'd pop in and see how you are.”

Someone else who was curious, Kate supposed. Well, she had a bit of curiosity of her own to satisfy. What did Lina know about the accusations of theft against Jason? She had to know something. She'd been there at the time, according to Nikki.

“It's nice of you to stop by,” she said automatically, trying to think how to put the questions she wanted to ask.

But Lina forestalled her. “You know that Mr. Sheldon is in the hospital. I understand he asked to see you. I think I can guess why.”

“He was feeling burdened by a secret he'd been keeping about my brother.” Kate looked into Lina's eyes, hoping to read the truth there. “A secret I believe you know.”

Lina glanced away for a moment. “I'm sorry. I wish I could have said something earlier. But you have to understand—I need my job. I hoped just telling you that Jason had been fired would be enough to help you. I could never get another position that pays nearly as much. Not at my age, here in Laurel Ridge.”

The woman looked so distraught that Kate's anger seeped away. She'd never been in that position, so what right did she have to judge? She was young and well educated, she had enough money to live on, thanks to her stepfather, and she could always find a job, even if it wasn't the reporting job of her dreams.

But Lina, plain, middle-aged and trapped by circumstance—well, she wasn't so lucky.

“I understand,” she said finally. “But now that I already know, won't you tell me about it from your perspective?”

A rattle at the door interrupted them, and a moment later the bell over the door rang as a couple of women came in, chattering about their purchases at the quilt shop.

Lina gave her a haunted look. “Not here. I can't. Bart can't know I talked to you.”

“We could meet someplace after work. Or I'll take you to supper...” She let that trail off because Lina was already shaking her head.

“I can't. I won't be free until fairly late this evening. Suppose I come to your place—say, around nine o'clock? Is that all right?”

Kate would like to make it earlier, but she didn't have much choice. “Great. I'll expect you at nine.” As Lina turned away, she added, “Thanks. I appreciate it.”

Lina leaned closer, glancing around, apparently to be sure no one could overhear. “Don't say anything about it, all right? I don't want word getting back to Bart.”

Lina turned and scurried out of the shop, as if afraid someone would spot her and report to her boss.

Kate would have liked time to mull over Lina's sudden capitulation, but she didn't have it. By the time she'd finished with the two women, who'd seemed to expect her to remember the author of a book they'd once read that they'd really enjoyed, and if only she could tell them, they'd be sure to buy another by her.

By dint of considerable questioning, Kate was able to narrow down the possibilities to a few female cozy mystery authors, and she finally had them browsing contentedly through the shelves.

She headed back to the register, shaking her head. She had no doubt that Emily would have been able to pull the answer out of her brain, because Emily seemed to have all her customers' preferences memorized. Kate wasn't so skilled.

She cast a brief glance at the fantasy section as she passed it. Jason was the only person whose reading tastes she'd ever known well enough to guide, and even Jason had eventually moved beyond her, finding a score of favorite authors and games she knew nothing about.

That reminded her she wanted to go through Jason's journal again with Kristie's notes in front of her. She might see something she'd missed. She ought to be able to do that before Lina came over. If only he'd recorded something that final day...

Once again, the sound of the bell interrupted her thoughts, and maybe in this instance that was just as well. Allison came toward her, every hair casually in place as always.

“Kate, hi. I'm glad to see you could give up the sling. But a you sure that was wise?”

“I'm fine.” The response was a bit short, but she was beginning to tire of sympathy.

“Good.” Allison didn't seem to take offense. “I won't take up much of your time, but I did wonder if you'd like to come over this evening. My apartment is right upstairs, you know, so we're neighbors. I have some nice white wine, and we can settle down to a bit of girl talk. And absolutely no need to say anything about my future brother-in-law.”

Kate blinked. “Has he been talking?”

“Not at all,” Allison said. “And I mean that literally. But when his jaw turns to rock at the mention of your name, and you about bite my head off for a simple question, oddly enough I begin to think something went wrong between you two.”

Kate's thoughts flickered back to Allison saying she hoped Kate wasn't going to hurt Mac. That he had a tender heart. Well, as far as she could see, his heart wasn't at all affected, and she was the one who'd been hurt.

“I'm sorry, but I...”

“Listen, I meant what I said. Absolutely no talk about Mac. Just a chance to relax. You've had a rough couple of weeks.”

“Thanks. But honestly, I can't. Lina Oberlin is stopping by to see me this evening, so I'll have to stay in and wait for her.” As soon as the words were out of her mouth, she remembered Lina's insistence that no one know. Well, it was too late now. And Allison surely had more interesting things to talk about than what Lina was doing.

“Lina? Well, I venture to say you'd have more fun with me, but if you can't, you can't. Just give me a call if anything changes.” She pulled a card from the pocket of her bag. “There's my number.”

Kate took it. As far as she could see, Allison was genuine, but she wasn't sure a tête-à-tête with her was a good idea. She was bound to take Mac's side, and an evening spent avoiding the thing that was occupying her mind would be doomed to failure.

“Another time, all right?” Allison flashed her a smile.

She nodded. That was vague enough, and she doubted it would happen. Whatever Lina had to offer, she didn't think it would make a difference. It was time she was moving on, leaving Laurel Ridge and all its painful memories behind like the bad dreams of childhood.

Someday, maybe, she'd be able to think of it without this crushing sense of failure.

CHAPTER TWENTY

K
ATE
TURNED
BACK
to the video diary and Kristie's notes that evening, trying to read something new into them. But if Jason was trying to tell her something, she didn't know what it was. Finally she closed the file, running her hands through her hair to pull it back, as if that would help her think. It didn't.

She found she was doodling on the pad where she'd jotted some notes, sketching in a row of tombstones. She nearly scribbled over them but stopped, frowning.

Why the cemetery? If Jason had simply wanted to take some pills to blank out his pain, why hadn't he done it here? It seemed so improbable of him to wander into a dark cemetery.

He might have been out walking, of course. That wasn't his usual reaction to stress, but it could have happened. His car had been found here at the cottage, on the gravel strip where her own was now parked.

Idly she sketched a dragon coiling around the tombstones. And what had happened to the dragon charm? She couldn't believe he'd have thrown it away. It had been important to him, hadn't it?

Her fingers tightened on the pen, leaving a jagged mark on the paper. She'd read up on suicide in the aftermath of Jason's death, trying to convince herself it had been an accident. One comment sprang into her mind—the fact that sometimes a young person contemplating suicide might give away things that were important to him.

Kate felt as if she'd been struck in the stomach. She sucked in a breath. Was that it? Had he given the dragon charm to someone, divesting himself of the links to his past life?

It hurt too much to linger on the thought. But in a way, suicide explained other things—like the fact that Jason had left the cottage that night. He wouldn't have wanted Mrs. Anderson to be the one to find him. One last chivalrous gesture from the boy who'd wanted to be a hero.

Fortunately, there was a knock on the door before she could slide into her own depressed state. Lina came in, apologizing.

“I'm so sorry I couldn't get here any earlier. I was held up at a meeting that I thought would never end.” She set the shopping bag she carried on the coffee table. “I hope you don't mind, but I barely had time to grab a snack. I thought we could share a glass of wine and some crackers.”

“That's fine.” She didn't want wine—she wanted answers. Or maybe reassurance. But it would be rude to say so.

“I have an opener right here, if you can supply the glasses. Then we can settle down and talk.” Lina seemed unusually gracious, as if she were the hostess, entertaining a friend in her home.

“I'll get them.”

Kate headed for the kitchen and reached up to take two wineglasses from the top shelf, mentally calculating how long it had been since she'd taken one of the pain pills the doctor had given her. This morning, wasn't it? Certainly not more recently, so that would be all right.

Maybe the wine wasn't a bad idea. It might help her sleep. She hadn't had a restful night in what seemed like a week.

“That's just what we need.” Lina deftly pulled the cork. Kate saw, to her relief, that the bottle was a nice Merlot rather than something she'd have to choke down.

Lina poured the glasses, sliding one in front of Kate. Rummaging in her bag again, she pulled out a package of thin crackers and a wedge of Brie. She hesitated, looking at the cheese.

“I thought I'd brought everything, but I seem to have forgotten a knife. Do you mind?”

Kate got up again, wondering if this was really worth it. She could claim she didn't want any cheese, but she could hardly deny Lina the implement to cut it.

Finally they were settled, one on either side of the coffee table. Kate took a cautious sip of the wine and felt it warm her. “Now, about what happened at the office...” she began.

“I wish I had told you before,” Lina said quickly. “Really, I do. But it would have cost me my job.”

“I understand.” Hadn't they said all this already? She sipped again, leaning back against the cushions.

Lina gave her a stilted smile. “I know what you're thinking. If it had been you, you wouldn't have hesitated. But you don't understand my situation. I'd never get another job that pays so well in Laurel Ridge. I'd be lucky to find anything, especially if Bart said I'd let out private information. And he would.”

“Please, believe me. I'm not blaming you.” Just get on with it.

“My mother's in a nursing home here, you see,” Lina went on, studying Kate intently as if to be sure she was listening. “It would kill her to be moved now, and if I lost my job, I couldn't have paid the fees. It's all very well for you young women and your careers. You have choices. But I don't.”

If she had to listen to Lina's self-justifications much longer, she'd need more wine. Kate took a hefty swallow.

“About Jason's last days at the business...”

“Yes, well, I did notice that Jason seemed upset. For that matter, Mr. Sheldon did, as well. No one told me why, of course. When you're just the office manager, they don't take you into their confidence.”

Kate struggled to look sympathetic. “But you did know about it that last day, isn't that right? You were called in on that meeting the partners had with Jason.”

“I suppose they—or Bart, at least—wanted a witness to what happened. So that they couldn't be accused of firing Jason unjustly. Bart was very sensitive to things like that. Why, he kept a completely inept receptionist on for months, just because he feared she'd say she was fired because she was a woman.” Lina sniffed. “She was fired because she couldn't take a simple message, that was why.”

“About that last day,” Kate repeated. If the woman kept on being this discursive, Kate would be asleep before they got to the subject. Those sleepless nights seemed to be catching up to her.

“Apparently Jason said he'd found some irregularities in some of the accounts. He went to Mr. Sheldon about it, and they looked at the files together.” She paused. “Well, I think by then Mr. Sheldon wasn't really able to discern what was going on with the accounts. So he took the problem to Bart.”

“And Bart blew his top, I gather.” Kate reached for a cracker. If she were going to drink wine, she'd better have something with it. She couldn't possibly be getting light-headed on one little glass, could she?

“That's Bart's way, you see.” Lina touched her lips to the glass and then set it down. “He couldn't handle the idea that the firm had done anything wrong. Jason was the only person, other than the partners, who had access to the accounts, so he must have done it.”

Kate frowned, trying to concentrate. “But you must have access as well, don't you?”

“Well, of course. But only so I can prepare statements and that sort of thing. I don't make any decisions.” She shook her head, her gaze intent on Kate's face. “Bart took a look himself and jumped to the conclusion that Jason had been skimming from the accounts. It was a terrible scene, terrible. Bart kept making threats, like he always does. Poor Jason just got whiter and whiter.”

“What about...about Mr. Sheldon?” She shook her head, and it felt as if it would wobble right off. “Sorry. I can't seem to think...”

“Have a little more wine.” Lina leaned over to refill her glass. “That will help.”

“I don't think...” The words tapered off, and she struggled to rouse herself. “Was there really money missing from the accounts?”

“No, there wasn't. To tell the truth, I think the whole thing was a mix-up caused by Mr. Sheldon. He's not to blame. He'd just been losing his grip. But by the time we knew, it was too late.”

Too late. The words echoed in Kate's mind, repeating themselves over and over. Lina leaned over her, her eyes sharp. She looked like a ferret...beady eyes, sharp teeth... Kate found she was giggling at the thought. She tried to stop, but she couldn't.

“I'm afraid you're just the teeniest bit drunk.” Lina began putting the cheese and crackers back in her bag. “I'll just tidy up a bit, and then I'll take you outside for some air.”

Kate tried to protest, but she couldn't seem to get the words out. Lina bustled around like a neat freak, taking the glasses and knife to the kitchen and then wiping the table off thoroughly.

“Don't need...” She managed to get out, and then lost the thread.

“I like to leave everything neat. There, now.” Lina looked at her work with satisfaction. “No one would know anyone had been here.”

She put an arm around Kate, hoisting her to her feet. “Come on. We'll go outside. A little fresh air will sober you up.”

In the dim recesses of her mind, something was crying out.
Danger. This isn't right. Stop.

Lina guided her a step away from the sofa. “That's right. Just come along with me.”

Kate reached out, managing to get her fingers on her cell phone. Something...something she needed to do...someone to call. Mac. She had to call Mac.

Lina brushed the cell phone from her nerveless fingers. “Right now, let's get you out in the air.”

Her legs didn't seem to have any choice but to obey. Kate stumbled out into the dark.

Lina was carrying the wine bottle in her other hand. Funny. Did she want another drink? Kate would ask, but she couldn't seem to form the words.

Lina kicked the door closed behind them. They wobbled across the lawn. She'd been wrong. The air wasn't helping.

“Go back...” she muttered.

“We'll just go for a little ride,” Lina said. “That's what you need.”

Kate stumbled, falling against the car parked in the drive. She was vaguely aware of the door opening, of falling into the seat, of tumbling into darkness.

* * *

M
AC
REALIZED
HOW
late it was, but somehow he couldn't seem to leave the office. He'd gone through the transcripts of Bolt's statement and Larry's statement again and again, sieving the words for any hint of evidence.

They were blaming each other, of course. He was inclined to believe that Larry, in a panic, had driven his car at Kate in the Lamplight parking lot, and he'd probably been responsible for the dragon symbols that had dogged her. If he'd known Jason well enough to know about the journal, he'd have known the symbolism of the dragon, too.

And the evidence alone was enough to convict Bolt of the attack on Larry, in addition to drug dealing.

But what about luring Kate into Blackburn House? And who had supplied the drugs that ended Jason's life? Nothing he'd learned seemed to fit as an answer to those two questions. It was like constructing a jigsaw puzzle with a missing piece.

Mac pulled out his phone and stared at it. Kate wouldn't want to hear from him, he supposed. But her persistence had led them a long way toward exposing a drug connection in his town, and he was grateful. He shouldn't have been so angry about her reaction to his withholding the story Russ Sheldon told him.

As for her accusation that all he cared about was guarding his town—well, there was some truth to that. But he didn't care for Laurel Ridge as much as or in the same way as he cared for Kate.

Now that he'd actually formed the words, if just in his mind, Mac had to look at the truth. He'd only known Kate for weeks, but he had fallen hard and fast in a way he never had before. He knew her better in a couple of weeks than he knew some people he'd known all their lives.

And he didn't think she'd ever give him a chance to tell her so.

Making a sudden decision, he hit her number. He owed it to her to tell her where the case stood against Larry after today's interview. And try to apologize for what he'd said to her.

The phone rang several times and then went to voice mail. He clicked off without leaving a message and sat frowning. Maybe she'd seen who was calling and hadn't wanted to answer. Maybe.

His phone rang in his hand. Allison. He answered quickly.

“Hey, Allison. What's wrong?”

“I might call you just to chat,” she said.

“You might, but I don't think you did.”

“No, I guess I didn't. Mac, do you know where Kate is?” She sounded troubled.

“I thought she was at home. Why?” He sat up straight, coming to attention.

“I'd suggested we get together tonight, but she said Lina Oberlin was coming over. I just looked out my window—you know, the one that overlooks the side yard?”

“I know.” It also overlooked Mrs. Anderson's backyard and the cottage.

“Kate's car is there, and every light in the place is on, but I don't think she's there. Usually if the drapes are open I can see her moving around, but there's nothing. Maybe I'm making a fuss over nothing, but it just seems odd.”

“Did you notice Lina come?” He was getting up as he spoke, heading for the door.

“I happened to see the car in the driveway. I'm not spying on my neighbors, but I've been worried about Kate. Lina's car is gone now, but Kate's is still there. I think I'll go over and check...”

“Don't. I'm on my way. I'll let you know.”

He clicked off before she could respond and tried Kate's number again. Nothing. He was filled with a probably ridiculous level of concern.

Lina had been there, presumably to talk about what happened to Jason. What if she'd said something that made Kate want to confront Bart Gordon? That could have unpleasant consequences, but not serious enough to account for the level of worry he felt.

When he reached the cottage and jumped out, he found Allison standing in the yard, arms wrapped around herself.

“I told you to stay home.”

“I'm not good at following orders, just like Kate. I knocked and rang the bell, but there was no answer.”

“The Whiting boys have a way of falling for stubborn women,” he muttered, striding to the door.