Dust and Obey

by Christy Barritt

  The only possible safe conversation was to talk about the investigation. Apparently, Riley agreed because he jumped in before I could.

  “I heard an update today.” Riley glanced at me. Heaviness weighed down his words. “I wasn’t going to tell you now, because I know you have a lot on your mind. But the more I think about it, the more I realize you’d want to know ASAP.”

  Curiosity pulsed in my blood. I had to tell him about my conversation with Rae also. I wanted to keep this weekend focused on the investigation. I was hereby resolving to keep my distance from all things Riley Thomas. “What is it?”

  “I called the hospital today and asked about Ginger. I ended up talking to Jim. Ginger died last night, Gabby.”

  I gasped. “No . . .”

  He nodded grimly. “I’m sorry to be the one to tell you. But now we have two murders on our hands.”

  “Maybe three,” I said.

  “What do you mean?”

  I explained my phone call with Rae Gray to him.

  “That’s crazy.”

  “There’s more. I decided to look into the death of Dr. Turner’s wife. She was killed because of a hit-and-run driver. The weird thing is that the police never discovered who killed her. The case is still open.”

  “What are you getting at?”

  “I just wonder if she’s connected with all of this somehow.” It was just a vague theory, and I had nothing to prove it. I had to consider it as a possibility, though.

  “It’s a stretch, but maybe. I want to go back to something you said earlier. Blaine used to be Dr. Turner’s patient?”

  I nodded. “Apparently she does okay when she’s on her medicine. But, otherwise, she’s obsessive with an attachment disorder.”

  “It appears we have a new suspect then. But what about the boat? And finding her locked in the shed? If she’s guilty, how do those things fit?”

  “I’m not sure.” I stared pensively at the window a moment, trying to process everything. “Our window of opportunity for solving this case is rapidly closing, though.”

  This was the last weekend of the retreat. Three women were dead. If I ruled out Dr. Turner’s wife, what did Anna, Ginger, and Khloe have in common?

  The answer hit me like a Mack truck. Why didn’t I see it earlier? I knew the reason those women were murdered.

  “What’s going on in that brain of yours, Gabby?”

  “I think I have a motive.” I shook my head, trying to process it. “Riley, all three of the women who died were unfaithful to their spouses. That’s what links these women together.”

  “You think someone is killing because of that?”

  I shook my head again. “It’s the only thing that makes sense.”

  “Why isn’t someone killing the men who’ve been unfaithful?”

  “I have no idea. But I think I know how we can test my theory.” I rattled off a plan for Saturday evening. I had to collect some more information first. I had to know what I was getting into before I made myself an open target.

  “It might work, but it sounds dangerous,” Riley said.

  “It may not be as dangerous as we think. If I can get this person to confess, then we can end this once and for all.” My mind continued to turn everything over. My theory made sense. My plan could work, and if my hypothesis was accurate, putting myself out there wasn’t entirely foolhardy. The problem came only if my assumptions proved incorrect.

  How confident was I?

  “There’s only one way this will work,” I finally said.

  “How’s that?”

  “On a wing and a prayer.”

  Riley groaned. Yes, I’d used a bird reference. Maybe Dr. Turner was wearing off on me.

  ***

  That evening at dinner, Riley and I were seated with Bo and Angelina. The men started talking about football, so I decided to take the opportunity to see what Angelina knew.

  Anxiety churned in my stomach. There was a lot that could go wrong. But I was closer to finding answers than I’d been before. I just had to plan each of my moves carefully.

  “Have you heard anything else about Leroy?” I asked, lowering my voice. Another man I’d never seen before had escorted us across the water today. Apparently, Dr. Turner had hired him out of one of the local marinas until he could find a permanent replacement.

  Angelina’s eyes lit with an excitement that only gossip could bring. “I heard the police let him go. I mean, he still has to have his day in court, but he’s out on bail now.”

  “It’s scary all this stuff happening, isn’t it? Too many eerie things for my comfort.” I took a bite of my prime rib with garlic mashed potatoes and lemon-drenched green beans.

  “Tell me about it. Even the rich have their problems. Maybe even more than regular old folk like me.”

  “To be truthful, I grew up poor.”

  Angelina’s eyes widened. “Shut up. I would have never guessed.”

  “There’s probably a lot about me that would surprise you.” I realized I was coming a little too close to the truth. “I feel like I can relate to you more than I can some of these other snooty people here. Growing up, my dad didn’t even make twelve thousand dollars a year.”

  “Well, if I’d had to pay, I would never be here,” she whispered.

  “I thought everyone had to pay?”

  She leaned back, a smug smile on her face as she shrugged. “When you have a big, brilliant brain, you can think of ways to get around these things.”

  I made sure to look impressed. “How’d you do it?”

  She looked around briefly before leaning closer. “Between you and me, I found out something about Dr. Turner.”

  Excitement spiked in my blood. “What’s that?”

  “I ran into a man at the gas station where I work. It turned out he was dating Dr. Turner’s wife.”

  “What?” My voice croaked out about five levels higher than normal.

  She nodded. “It’s true. They were having an affair.”

  She couldn’t be telling the truth. It was like saying Mother Teresa harmed animals in her free time. The mental picture just wouldn’t form. “Not Dr. Turner. He said he had a great relationship with his wife. All his books say so.”

  “Well, that’s what he wants us to believe. Truth is, she was just as unfaithful as any of these other women here.”

  “How did that equate to you getting in here for free?”

  “Well, I was going to go to the media with the story. They love stuff like that. Marriage guru fails at marriage. Doesn’t that smack of irony?”

  “But you went to Dr. Turner instead?”

  “It was Bo’s idea. We just prodded him in the right direction. He paid us a nice little check that will ensure a great vacation and let us come to the retreat.”

  “You got money. Why come here?”

  “The chance to get away from our kids for a few weekends while being waited on hand and foot? Why would we pass that up?”

  There were some people I’d never understand. “You mean you aren’t having marriage troubles?”

  She laughed loudly, before putting a hand over her mouth. “Not like these people! Honey, Bo and I leave here feeling better about our marriage. We know we’ve got it good after hearing all the problems some of these people have.”

  “Why was Dr. Turner so desperate to conceal his wife’s affair?”

  “Isn’t it obvious? His credibility would be ruined, plus he said he wanted to preserve his wife’s reputation. Isn’t that sweet?”

  I nodded. Well, I’d solved one mystery. The mystery of Bo and Angelina.

  But another disturbing thought barreled into my mind. If Dr. Turner’s wife was unfaithful, what if her death was somehow connected here also?

  If that was the case, there was only one person I could think of who would be responsible. Someone who was obsessive, maybe even possessive.

  Blaine Stewart.

  CHAPTER 41

  “Since you seemed interested in that skeleton we fo
und a couple of weeks ago, I thought you might also be interested in an update,” Dr. Turner said before the evening session started.

  Riley and I were sitting on our couch in what was beginning to feel like a normal part of my routine. I straightened at Dr. Turner’s proclamation, trying to forget what Angelina had said about the doctor earlier. That just couldn’t be true. But it would explain his passion for strong marriages.

  “I’d love an update,” I said, remembering the skeleton. “I find anthropology very interesting. Probably because I’ve watched too many episodes of Bones.” That sounded like a viable excuse, right?

  “It turns out her name was Anita Nottingham. She was a housekeeper here on this island.”

  “Wow. That’s pretty amazing,” I said.

  Dr. Turner nodded. “State authorities took some of the old records from the island with them during their investigation. They were able to do some DNA tests and match what happened with the records.”

  I was fascinated—not so much by the death, but by Anita’s story. “Do they know how she died?”

  “Apparently, she was dusting one of the bookshelves and was high on a ladder when she lost her balance. She hit her head and died instantly.”

  “Housework can be deadly,” I mumbled. I was trying to be cute. Really, I was.

  Dr. Turner did not look amused. “I believe marriages are happier when the woman takes on the duties of the house.”

  “That might be true in some cases, but not every woman was created to clean houses.” My words sounded funny to my own ears, since I’d basically made a living by cleaning for the past several years. But Dr. Turner was essentially saying that women should cook and clean and look pretty for their husbands. While I couldn’t say there wasn’t merit in some of those things, I didn’t like to pigeonhole people.

  “I sense that your independence may tear your marriage apart,” Dr. Turner said.

  My jaw came unhinged. “Me again? Why is every problem in this . . .” I glanced at Riley, at a loss for words. “. . . in this marriage my fault?”

  “I’m just giving you something to think about.”

  Riley put his hand on my arm, obviously trying to get me to settle down before I said or did something I regretted. As Dr. Turner moved on, I was still fuming.

  Riley looked halfway amused. “What? You don’t want to rub my feet after I work long and hard all day to pay the bills?”

  “It’s not even that,” I muttered. “If that’s what a person’s marriage personality looks like, then fine. But I really get the feel from him that women are inferior.”

  “He grew up in a different age. A lot of marriages thrive under a more old-fashioned role model.”

  “Is that what you would want from me if we were married?” I’d lowered my voice.

  “I’d respect whatever you want to do, Gabby. I know God created you to do big things. Maybe that will be through your career, through raising kids, or both. Only you will know that when that time approaches.”

  My racing heart slowed a moment. Until Riley leaned closer.

  “And our problems were my doing, not yours,” he whispered.

  His words did something to me. They made my bones feel like jelly. They made months of worry and guilt and burdens disappear.

  I knew it took two to tango. But I’d needed to hear what he’d said. I needed to know that he understood what his leaving had done to me.

  He did, didn’t he? Was that what he’d been trying to tell me this whole time?

  ***

  After our session, Riley walked me back to my room, silence falling between us as well as tension.

  He stopped outside my door. “You remember that homework Dr. Turner gave us?”

  I nodded. “How could I forget?”

  “I wanted to share a few things that I love about you.” Riley pulled a piece of paper from his pocket and cleared his throat. “Things I love about Gabby. The way she quotes musicals. The goofy T-shirts she’s so fond of. Her hair, especially when it’s curly. Her steadfastness. Her work ethic. Her determination. The way she’s real. When she enjoys her food and lets it show in its entirety. How she’s not afraid to look crazy for the greater good. Should I go on?”

  My resolve was crumbling and quickly. Did he really love all of those things about me, or was he just playing along? I couldn’t be sure.

  “That’s . . . that’s really sweet, Riley.”

  “Thanks for not totally writing me off. Not many people let their exes come back into their lives. You’ve stood by me, and I just wanted to say thank you.”

  “Then there’s something I need to tell you.” I reached into my pocket also and pulled out my list. I’d had it on hand in case Dr. Turner asked for it. I licked my lips before starting. “What I love about Riley Thomas. He has my back. He makes me feel safe. He pursues what’s right over what’s profitable. He’ll fight tooth and nail for what he believes in. He loves Jesus. He took in a stray parrot. He’s friends with people who aren’t just like him. He looks after the least of these.”

  I glanced up, and the look in Riley’s eyes took my breath away. He appeared transfixed. For a moment, it seemed like old times. It felt like he should lean closer and give me a goodnight kiss.

  But Angelina and Bo clattered into the hallway at that moment and broke the spell. Riley took a step back and ran a hand through his hair. “I’ll see you in the morning.

  I nodded. “Right. I’ll see you then.”

  I went into my room and changed into my yoga pants and a T-shirt and washed my face. I tried to get Riley out of my mind. So, of course, I thought about the investigation instead. It was my safe place.

  This was my last shot to get this right. If I didn’t find the killer this weekend, then Brad would never have answers. I’d feel obligated to give his money back. And I wouldn’t get that new car I needed.

  My suspect list was being narrowed each day. Only two of three people stood out in my mind now.

  I was going to figure this out.

  I pulled my covers back, ready to get in bed. What I saw under the covers made me freeze.

  It was a snake.

  A water moccasin, if I wasn’t mistaken.

  It stared right at me, ready to strike.

  CHAPTER 42

  Steve successfully captured the snake and carried it out of my room an hour later. I’d run to get help, and a whole army of people ended up in my suite, trying to figure out the best way to remove the snake from my bed.

  Finally, Steve had grabbed a box and a stick. He went into my room alone, made a lot of noise, and emerged successful.

  Praise Jesus.

  “This old building. That snake must have been living here before this was refurbished,” Dr. Turner said before turning to leave with the rest of the men.

  But I wasn’t so sure about it. I would wager someone had put it there on purpose. Maybe someone who knew who I really was? Someone who wanted to get me off this island. The same person who’d been following me.

  Steve seemed surprisingly at ease in handling the snake. Could he have anything to do with this? I wasn’t ruling him out yet.

  I stared at my door after everyone left, hesitant to go back inside. What else might someone have left there for me? Did I really want to find out?

  At that moment, Farrah stepped out of her room with binoculars around her neck and a notebook in her hands. She must have heard me gasp because she jerked her head toward me.

  “I thought there was another snake,” she said with a feeble laugh.

  “I’m just a little jumpy.” I nodded toward the equipment around her neck. “Hot date?”

  She laughed. “Secret hobby, actually.”

  “What’s that?” Spying on people? Plotting out murders?

  “I like to bird-watch.”

  “What?” Certainly I hadn’t heard her correctly.

  She nodded. “This island is incredible when it comes to waterfowl. I’ve seen egrets, herons, osprey, and a warbler. I just can’
t get enough of this.”

  “You’re full of surprises. First, I find out you’re a pediatrician, and now that you’re a bird-watcher. What will I learn next? That you went to the Olympics when you were younger.”

  “No, that would be my younger sister.”

  I raised my eyebrows. “Fascinating. So is this really the only enjoyable part of this retreat, or was that an exaggeration?”

  Farrah frowned and shrugged. “It’s hard to say. Sometimes I want to believe that things can be like they used to. Other times, I feel like our marriage is hopeless and that I just need to accept that. If Atticus doesn’t want to change, then none of this is going to work.”

  “Do you think he wants to make it work?” I pulled my legs under me, feeling a heart-to-heart talk coming on.

  “He claims he does. I just don’t know if I can truly believe him or truly trust him. He’s powerful. He thinks he can get away with murder.”

  Her words made me shudder.

  “Or affairs. Or living however he wants, really.”

  “Is he still seeing other women?”

  “He claims he’s not, but he’s the only one who really knows that.”

  “How’d you hear about the retreat center anyway?”

  “We’ve had several friends who’ve gone through this program. It’s the ‘in’ thing in our circles back at home.”

  A realization began to beg for my attention. “You know other people who’ve gone through this? You mean, people from up in Baltimore?”

  She nodded. “Yeah. We have our AA meetings, our spa days, and our therapy.”

  “I heard there was another incident up at his second retreat center. Something about a woman named Khloe?”

  Farrah went pale. “You know about Khloe?”

  I nodded. “I have a few friends up in Baltimore also.”

  “Blaine asked us not to tell anyone. We were actually good friends with Khloe and her husband. It was devastating when we heard what happened.”