How Secrets Die

by Marta Perry

  “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.

  * * *

  MAC 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.

  “I heard that,” Allison said, right behind him.

  He rapped loudly. He could see what had bothered Allison. Lights were on in every room, all the curtains open, and no one was visible. He rapped again and then tried the knob.

  The door wasn’t locked. He opened it and paused, halfway in. “Kate? Are you here?”

  No answer, and all his instincts were telling him something was wrong. He strode inside, calling her name again. Then he made a quick circuit of the rooms. Nothing. A couple of wineglasses stood in the dish drainer, still wet.

  He headed back to the living room, where Allison stood looking as if she needed something to do.

  “What’s going on? Where did she go?” Worry sharpened her tone.

  “Allison, look up Lina Oberlin’s number in the phone book and call her, will you? If she’s home, find out when she left here.”

  Nodding, Allison pulled the phone book out from under the landline phone on the end of the table. Mac prowled around the living room, looking, not touching.

  Kate’s cell phone lay on the floor. Her bag was on the sofa, her keys lying on top of it. The silver dragon seemed to look at him. Reproaching him for his failure. Warning him.

  He moved to the table, where Allison had dialed the number. She listened for a moment and then held the phone out so he could hear. It rang over and over, and he could picture it ringing in an empty house.

  His gaze fell on papers lying next to the computer. It looked as if Kate had been watching the tapes again. Kristie’s notes lay open beside it. On top of the Kristie’s report was a pad, with several of the obscure references jotted on it.

  Below the notes, a small row of tombstones stood, a dragon coiled around them.

  Mac spun, heading for the door.

  “Mac, wait! Where are you going?” Allison followed him, hurrying to keep up. “Let me go with you.”

  He hesitated a moment, then nodded. Allison would be another pair of eyes, at least.

  They ran to the police car and slid in. “Where are we going?” Allison asked.

  “Following a hunch.” Quickly he rang Foster. If they ended up searching the cemetery, he needed more people.

  If. It was crazy. How would Kate have gotten there? Surely she hadn’t set out to walk half a mile in the dark. Not a city girl like her.

  But it wasn’t just a hunch, it was instinct—instinct that said he’d find Kate where they’d found her brother.

  * * *

  SOMEONE WAS SHAKING HER, pulling at her. Kate struggled to wake up—to find out what the urgent person wanted.

  “Come on, I can’t carry you.” The voice sounded annoyed. “You can stand up if you try. I’ll help you.”

  Better to make the effort than let the person keep on shaking her. Kate found she had her feet on a gravel surface. The driveway? Was she home? She pushed herself up and felt an arm go around her.

  “That’s right. Had to park out here on the gravel where my tires won’t leave a trace. That’s why we have to walk so far.”

  The words didn’t make sense to Kate. Of course they wouldn’t drive on Mrs. Anderson’s nice lawn. She’d be furious if it was torn up. She managed to put one foot in front of the other. She could walk to the house.

  “Better. You’re doing better.” The voice had become a little breathless, hadn’t it? “Right this way.”

  “Silly,” she said, pleased she’d gotten the word out. Naturally she knew the way into the house.

  “Silly, is it? Well, that’s okay. We’ll be silly. A little farther now.”

  Kate stumbled on, finding it harder and harder. “Tired,” she muttered.

  “You’ll be able to rest soon. Rest for a long, long time.”

  It was a woman with her, Kate realized. Who? She couldn’t seem to think. She could only follow the pressure of the arm, leading her on.

  “Good thing it’s been so dry. We won’t leave any tracks in the grass. Keep going now, through the bushes.”

  A branch hit Kate in the face, rousing her slightly. She tried to pull back, but the woman’s grip was iron.

  “Just a little farther. There
now.”

  They were on smooth grass again. Kate forced her sluggish wits to work. Where were they? Not at the cottage. She tried to lift her head. It was so heavy, but she kept forcing it. Trees. A tower. Tower with a face, looking at her. The moon—full, so big, too big. What was it doing so close?

  She cringed away from it, and the supporting hands lowered her to the grass. Damp, chilly. She didn’t like it. But she leaned back, too sleepy to get up. Something hard and cold behind her back. She’d just rest for a moment, and then she’d leave.

  Her fingers were forced to close around a bottle. “You have a drink. That will make you feel better.”

  A face loomed over her, looking bigger and bigger, growing until it was the size of the moon. The bottle was pressed to her lips.

  “Drink,” the voice commanded.

  Kate tried to shake her head, to get away from the pressure of the bottle. She put a hand behind her to push against the chair and knew that it wasn’t a chair. Stone, cold as death.

  She was in the cemetery, in the place where Jason died.

  Jason seemed to fill her mind, as young and alive as he was the last time they’d been together. Run, Kate, run. You have to get away from her. It’s Baldicer. She’s evil. Get away.

  Jason’s face, Jason’s voice, so clear that they compelled her vision to clear, too. She saw the row of rounded tombstones, the full moon shining down with its cold light, the figure that bent over her, forcing the bottle against her lips—

  “No!” She lunged out, shoving with all her strength. Surprised, the woman fell backward. Kate struggled, trying to get to her feet, trying to cry out, but the woman was on her, knocking her to the ground again, coming at her. She’d never be able to tell the truth about Jason, never be able to tell Mac what she felt...

  Lights pierced the darkness, voices calling out. Then strong arms going around her, Mac’s voice telling her to be still. Her vision cleared a little, just enough to make out his face.

  “Thank goodness you came.” Lina said. “I found her trying to kill herself, just like her brother did.”

  Kate braced herself against Mac’s arm. “Liar,” she said, and then she slumped against him.