Unlocking Shadows (Keys to Love, Book Four)

by Kennedy Layne

  Gwen couldn’t help but laugh at the mental picture of Beth Ann sitting at her desk and holding her nose in response to the rancid odor of a fried egg sandwich drenched in mayonnaise.

  “Plus…” Beth Ann’s smile she’d given in return slowly faded, finally confirming to Gwen that something more was the reason for this interview. “Things haven’t been the same there since Noah and Reese found Sophia Morton’s body stuffed in a wall in their house.”

  Gwen was already running on caffeine alone. She wasn’t sure she was ready for where this conversation was heading. For the first time since she’d branched out on her own and opened her own business, she wanted to be anywhere else. Her new home had been vandalized, and Mitch seemed rather confident it wasn’t some teenager on a bender having a bit of fun at her expense.

  She didn’t truly believe that scenario, either.

  The dull throbbing that had been relatively consistent in Gwen’s temples became a bit more noticeable.

  “Ma’am?”

  Gwen welcomed the interruption by the technician she’d paid an additional fee to come out on a Sunday so that she could be up and running by tomorrow morning. She gave Beth Ann what she hoped was an apologetic expression before standing from the temporary grey metal desk built by the bureau of federal prisons that had been left behind by the last tenant. It was the standard fare for government offices everywhere around the country.

  “Beth Ann, I won’t be but a minute,” Gwen assured her, rolling back in the matching chair and gratefully stretching her legs as she joined the technician in the main area for a discussion.

  Some of the technician’s questions she was able to answer, but a few were going to have to be addressed by the software companies she used for one of her trading platforms. He hadn’t been a fan from the start of using shielded Cat 5e Ethernet cabling everywhere. It required some minor additional work to install, but it reduced interference and was more secure from signal interception.

  Gwen used the brief interruption to gather her thoughts on what she was going to do about the position she needed filled sooner rather than later. Beth Ann was the logical choice in terms of experience, though the ramifications for her in the local community could be staggering.

  And why did Beth Ann have to bring up Harlan’s odd behavior? That wasn’t very professional of her. Gwen needed someone who she could count on to keep business matters to herself. The personal finances of her customers were private…period. A breach of that confidentiality would undoubtedly close the doors on her firm.

  A quick glance around the empty offices gave Gwen a sense of purpose. The server had been set up in a ventilated closet on a standard nineteen-inch rack assembly. The different blades of the system all had a series of blinking lights indicating processor status or connectivity with the various systems.

  Not only were the server blades installed on the rack, but the modem and router were rack-mounted, as well. All in all, it was pretty impressive-looking.

  The main room off the entrance provided for a small open waiting area with an oak railing separating it from the receptionist’s desk. Of course, Gwen had ordered specific office furniture that would complement the oak wood. Along the other wall was a small kitchen area in its own alcove created by the server closet and the back wall.

  There were two empty offices beyond that area, with Gwen having taken the larger of the two. She didn’t need to bring anyone else on at the moment, but that could change should she see a need for someone with their insurance licenses.

  “Do you want the software programs loaded on this station?” David asked, pointing toward the desk her assistant would take out front. “I’m already done in both offices. I also left some zip ties on the windowsill for when your office furniture comes in and you need to route the cords through the desks. We call it dressing the cables, but it’s really something you can do yourself when the furniture arrives. Unfortunately, we would have to charge extra for another service call.”

  “That computer doesn’t need the trading platform, but would you please make sure the phone system’s software is loaded onto the desktop? And please label the server blade that was set aside for voiceover IP and phone system management.” Gwen gave him a bit more instructions on what needed to be accomplished today before handing him the list she’d made earlier of miscellaneous programs she’d like installed on the server for easy access. “I appreciate all this detailed work, David.”

  “No problem,” the technician replied with an infectious smile. He was in his early twenties and had more knowledge about computers than most of the IT guys she’d worked with back in the city. “I’m going to take lunch soon. Is there anything I can bring back for you?”

  “Want a job as my personal assistant?” Gwen joked around as she set her hands on her hips.

  “Oh, I could never live in a town this small,” David replied, causing her to reevaluate her opinion. “I stopped to get coffee at the diner, and the waitress there grilled me like I’d committed those murders up at the lake.”

  Gwen realized that David hadn’t meant to cause any offense with his offhand remark, but that didn’t mean he should be so dismissive of those who lived in the area and had lost young girls so dear to them. She chalked it up to his young age and inexperience. She decided to let it go without comment.

  “Is there anything else?”

  Gwen decided she’d rather be dealing with Beth Ann than get into a discussion where she felt the need to defend Blyth Lake.

  “Nope, I’m good for now.”

  Gwen headed back toward her office, wishing she’d been able to schedule the office furniture delivery for today. No amount of compensation she offered could get the store to change their mind about not hiring a driver and an additional mover for the weekend schedule.

  “Sorry about the delay,” Gwen apologized to Beth Ann, who was glancing at the display on her cell phone. “Beth Ann, I’m still not sure it’s such a good idea for you to leave Harlan.”

  “I know the other woman you interviewed this morning. I also know that I have more experience than her, hands down.” Beth Ann had straightened her shoulders, ready to fight for the position. Gwen couldn’t help but admire her go-for-it attitude. “I’m looking for another job regardless if you hire me or not, if that makes any difference to you.”

  It did, but only in terms of Harlan’s resentment being directed at someone else. Gwen wasn’t so sure she wanted to be on the receiving end of his wrath. It wouldn’t be his alone. In small towns, almost everyone took sides on nearly every issue. She didn’t want her homecoming to end up on the receiving end of some feud that she had the ability to stop before it ever began.

  “Does Harlan know you’re looking elsewhere?” The slight hesitation in Beth Ann’s response told Gwen the answer to her question. She tried a different tactic. “Have you thought of who would replace you? I understand that it isn’t your responsibility, but we’re talking about Harlan. You do owe him some loyalty. I don’t believe that you would leave him in such a difficult position.”

  “Mindy Lipton. She quit her job up at the lake after everything that happened,” Beth Ann said, leaning forward and lowering her voice as if she didn’t want the technician to hear their conversation. Gwen hadn’t closed the door, but it was doubtful that David could have overheard them anyway. “She’s younger and probably wouldn’t mind the smell of those sandwiches since she worked as a hostess.”

  “Have you spoken to her?” Gwen could see this working out for both her and Harlan should Mindy want a job inside the town limits. “Is she interested?”

  Gwen didn’t know Mindy Lipton, but the last name did ring a bell.

  “Yes, I have talked to her about it.” Beth Ann held up her phone. “I told her I’d let her know how this interview went before giving her a call later tonight.”

  Gwen sat back in the old grey chair that had been left behind with the government desk, ignoring the squeak that occurred every time she shifted on the grey vinyl c
ushion. Beth Ann had taken the initiative to see to it that Harlan wasn’t left in a lurch. That meant that she had a sense of pride, as well as a streak of loyalty to the man who’d given her a paycheck for the last ten years.

  “How about we do this…” Gwen began to suggest, truly wanting this mission to find an assistant who was eager to learn the ins and outs of the financial world to come to an end. The reality was that there wasn’t a lot of resumes to choose from. “You go and speak with Harlan, explain that you’re looking to grow your career, and then give me a call after the conversation to let me know if you’re still interested in working for me.”

  “You’re worried I’ll change my mind after speaking with Harlan.”

  “I am,” Gwen replied gently, not wanting to set her hopes up that she’d filled the position. “Beth Ann, you’ve worked with Harlan for so long. Do you really want to leave just because of an egg sandwich?”

  “You really don’t know what it’s been like here, do you?”

  Beth Ann was no longer worried about the interview. After all, Gwen had all but assured her the position would be hers should she still want it after talking with Harlan. No, this was about something bigger.

  “Beth Ann, you—”

  “Did you know that Harlan was brought in for questioning because he was the realtor for every single property involved in the murder investigation?” Beth Ann shook her head in a rather hopeless manner. “It wasn’t only Harlan, but Calvin and Chester, too. It shouldn’t have been a big deal, right? But Harlan and Chester were holed up in the office for hours the day after Clayton Schaeffer was arrested out at your brother’s farm. And then the warrant came from Detective Kendrick to see the firm’s file on every sale of property over the last fifteen years. Harlan was beside himself. Do you know what it’s like to go to work every day for a man who’s on edge like that? I love him like a second father, Gwen, but I just can’t take watching him stress out anymore.”

  Gwen pressed her fingers into her right temple, wishing she could stop the residual pounding that not even acetaminophen could eradicate.

  “Did you tell this to Mitch?”

  “Tell him what?” Beth Ann’s brows lowered in frustration. “That Harlan was bursting at the seams that the police suspected him of murder?”

  When Beth Ann put it like that…

  Gwen would have pushed the issue that Harlan was still technically acting out of character, but she once again had to remind herself not to get involved in the investigation. The graffiti on the barn made that objective harder to achieve, but Gwen had pointed out to Mitch that it was a stretch to believe that a serial killer would come out of hiding to spray paint a message on the side of a barn. It could have been anyone caught up in the high drama of the investigation.

  “You’re right,” Gwen replied, dropping her hand and deciding that she’d let Mitch know about Harlan’s behavior. That didn’t require involvement if she let it slip during Sunday dinner. “And let me guess. You’d feel disloyal to disclose that information.”

  “I already feel disloyal for meeting with you, but I need to do this for my own wellbeing.” Beth Ann glanced over her shoulder to the open space that would be her domain should she still want the job after discussing the change with Harlan. Her green eyes were alit with excitement when she finally settled her gaze back on Gwen. “You said there was room for advancement, and that you’d cover the exams should I decide to take any of them.”

  “That’s right,” Gwen agreed, allowing a smile to form on her lips at the enthusiasm for which Beth Ann displayed about working in the financial industry. “But let’s cross that hurdle when we come to it. First, speak with Harlan and make sure this is what you really want.”

  Beth Ann grabbed her purse and stood, not bothering to offer her hand. Instead, she came around the desk and hugged Gwen tight.

  “Thank you,” Beth Ann whispered, holding onto Gwen longer than necessary. She patted the redhead on the back in return. “I’ll call you tomorrow, after I talk with Harlan.”

  “Make sure he has his coffee first,” Gwen suggested with a light laugh, feeling slightly more confident that Beth Ann would follow through. And with this done right, it could work out for everyone without Harlan holding any grudges. “If I remember correctly, didn’t Harlan and Chester always to go into the diner before work for—”

  The jingle of a bell reverberated through the office. This space had been used for some type of government farm subsidies with the Department of Agriculture before Gwen had acquired it, and she’d yet to have the bell removed. All eyes were drawn to the man who’d entered her new storefront—a federal agent.

  “Oh, this can’t be good,” Beth Ann whispered, pulling her purse tighter against her side. “That’s the agent who came into The Cavern last night.”

  “I’ll take care of it,” Gwen replied with a tight smile, gesturing for Beth Ann to step out of the back office. “Please keep me updated on the results of your meeting.”

  Beth Ann took her lead, which boded well for their future working relationship.

  “Of course. And thank you for meeting with me. I’ll be in touch very soon.”

  Beth Ann gave David a wave before nodding a greeting toward the agent. Gwen doubted that David would now leave for lunch on his own volition, considering the noteworthy confrontation that was about to ensue. As a matter of fact, the technician wasn’t even pretending to be interested in his job loading software.

  “Agent Thorne.” Gwen took a step forward, pleased that the man blinked in surprise a couple of times before shaking her hand. Good. She wanted the advantage. “It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

  “Detective Kendrick warned me about small towns.” Agent Thorne reached into his suit jacket after releasing her hand and pulled out a business card. Was that a small notepad inside the interior pocket of his jacket? She respected such organizational skills. “I just had an interesting conversation with your uncle—Jimmy Webb.”

  Gwen could play this meeting multiple ways, but the smartest decision would be to have this discussion in a public area. Technically, she should have a lawyer present. Had the circumstances been different and she’d been involved in this investigation in any way, she wouldn’t have hesitated to shut this interview down.

  “I haven’t had lunch yet. Have you?” Gwen didn’t wait for Agent Thorne to answer. She went back to her office and collected her purse, taking a moment to text Mitch. No matter that the feds had jurisdiction over this investigation because it had crossed state lines in regard to the victims, this was still Mitch’s town. She slid her cell phone into the side pocket of the oversized bag that contained her day planner before walking back out of her office. There were still quite a few items on her to-do list, but she could check off lunch while talking to Agent Thorne. “I’m ready.”

  “Let me guess,” Agent Thorne said with a not-so-humorous smile. He had the appearance of every other federal agent she’d met while in the service. With that said, he was here to do a job—to capture a serial killer who’d unknowingly terrorized young girls for over a decade. That alone deserved respect. “You would like to go to Annie’s Diner.”

  “I might have just gotten back to Blyth Lake, Agent Thorne, but there are some things that never change here.” Gwen rummaged through her bag until she found her sunglasses. She slid them up the bridge of her nose before continuing. “If you’d rather we do this in private, I would insist that we do it at the sheriff’s office with my brother present. But if you want answers, you need to go to the one place where there are no secrets…and that’s the diner.”

  Chapter Eleven

  Chad wiped his forehead with the plaid shirt he’d taken off an hour after arriving at Gwen’s place this morning. He’d been working since breakfast without a break, grateful that he wasn’t just sitting at home watching sports on the tube.

  All he’d be doing in his mind was going over and over what he’d heard Jimmy Webb say to Agent Thorne at the diner—he stood by his account
that he saw Emma Irwin running down Seventh Street the night she’d gone missing.

  “Damn it,” Chad muttered, tossing his shirt to the floor before reaching for the jug of ice water he’d brought with him.

  It hadn’t been enough that he’d lived with his role in Emma’s disappearance for over a decade. He now had to relive the remorse practically every day. Gwen had mentioned last night that if he hadn’t thrown that party, someone else certainly would have.

  Bottom line?

  It hadn’t worked out that way, and he would forever see Emma’s smiling face as she headed off into the woods toward Seventh. The only saving grace was the fact that her body had been recovered, and she’d been given a proper burial after all these years.

  Emma Irwin and the rest of the young girls who had lost their lives far too soon could now rest in peace. The murderer’s killing ground had been discovered with all the bodies recovered for identification and internment.

  Chad had been about to strap on the kneepads he used when working on floors right as the sound of a vehicle breaking through the trees came from the window he’d opened earlier for some fresh morning air. The temperature was in the high fifties, but the sun shining through the windowpanes had heated the room up by a substantial amount.

  He recognized Gwen’s V6 engine on the Jeep, but there was another barely distinguishable muffled four-cylinder engine on her tail.

  Chad stepped to the window, his already sour mood turning more so with the sight of Agent Thorne parking his pea soup green government owned vehicle (GOV) behind Gwen. He was half-surprised the GOV made it up the drive. They tended to buy the worst performing American sedan they could find. Many of the G10 sedans didn’t even have basic amenities other than an AM/FM radio.

  What the hell did Agent Fife want now?

  Chad certainly hoped the bumbling idiot kept his bullet in his pocket for the foreseeable future.