No One Left to Tell

by Karen Rose

  Grayson shot her a that’s-not-funny look before going back to his conversation with the detective, leaving Paige to her laptop screen.

  Which did have a browser window in which she’d typed Winston Heights 1973. Which she’d get back to in a minute. She’d been running another search earlier, as they’d driven from Betsy’s to talk to Rex. The results had just popped up as Grayson stopped in front of the McClouds’ building, so she hadn’t reviewed the information.

  She did so now, toggling to the background search on “Judy Smith.” She’d heard Lisa’s husband call Grayson’s mother by name the day before. Handy, as a search on “Grayson’s mother” would probably not have yielded much. Unfortunately, neither did the search on Judy Smith. Grayson’s mother was very low profile. She’d lived at the same address for twenty-eight years. Grayson was thirty-five. She knew that from one of the articles she’d pulled before Elena was killed.

  That meant Judy had lived over the Carters’ garage since the time the picture under the palm trees was taken. A search on palm trees revealed Florida to be the only mainland state where coconut-bearing palms grew. Specifically, the southernmost tip. Miami.

  Here goes nothing, she thought and typed St. Ignatius Teacher Miami along with the year Judy Smith had moved above the Carters’ garage and the two years preceding. It was all she had.

  But her finger hesitated, hovering over the “submit search” button. It was an invasion of privacy. Grayson hadn’t wanted her to see that photo. It had been hidden.

  Yet she had seen it, through no nefarious intent of her own. She’d made the decision to start the search based on a simple question.

  When did you become wonderful?

  She wanted this man. Not only for sex, although her body was primed and ready because he was totally magnificent and it had been so long. But she also liked him. Admired him. Respected him. That wasn’t a combination she’d found in a long time.

  She sensed that he wanted more, too. But it wouldn’t happen if she walked away, which she’d have to do soon or risk falling into bed with him.

  So just do it. She held her breath and hit “submit search.” Let’s see what pops up.

  What popped up was… more than she’d hoped to find. Paige glanced over at Grayson, who was on the phone with Stevie, his eyes firmly on the road. He was deep in conversation, telling Stevie about what had just happened with Rex and his grandparents. For the moment he wasn’t paying any attention to Paige.

  Later. Do this later. But she could not bring herself to turn away. The picture that filled her screen compelled her to look. To read on. To understand.

  Her search had returned a grainy newspaper photo of Judy Smith, the same age as she’d been in the school picture. But her eyes were haunted, her face drawn. There was no sign of the happiness she’d shown the day under the palm trees. Whatever had happened, had happened.

  Paige scrolled down to the headline—ST. IGNATIUS TEACHER AND SON DISAPPEARED, PRESUMED DEAD. Her heart began to beat hard and fast as she read. And read.

  And then she understood. Oh God. She understood.

  Oh, Grayson. He’d lived with this… this, all these years. He was just a little boy. She continued to stare at the screen, her heart breaking.

  The car stopped. “Paige?”

  Oh God. She understood why he couldn’t risk telling anyone. Anyone.

  “Paige?” He grasped her shoulder, massaging gently. “We’re at the restaurant.”

  She closed the laptop, making her expression as blank as possible, steeling herself not to give anything away. “I’m ready.”

  He tilted her chin, swept his thumb over her lip. “You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”

  She searched frantically for something to say. “An article on Elena’s death. I… It all came back.” She wanted to wince at the lie, but she was numb. “Let me put on my lipstick.” She actually managed to get the lipstick on her lips, even though her hands wanted to shake.

  “You don’t need lipstick.” He touched her face with a gentleness that broke her heart even more. “You’re beautiful the way you are.”

  She closed her eyes. Tried to calm herself, but she trembled. “Thank you.”

  His hand slipped beneath her hair, gently massaging her neck. “My mother won’t bite you,” he said. “You don’t have to be afraid of her.”

  She let him touch her, let the comfort he didn’t know he was giving seep in. “We should go. I don’t want to keep her waiting.”

  Wednesday, April 6, 7:55 p.m.

  Grayson hadn’t expected Paige to be so nervous. Then again, meeting a man’s mother did seem like a big deal. He got out of the car, told the waiting valet to leave his car as he wouldn’t be staying long, then helped Paige to her feet.

  She looked up at him, her eyes wide. She was still pale. “You’re not staying?”

  “I’m going home to walk Peabody, remember? I’ll be back soon.”

  “Peabody can wait a little while. Just stay here. Please.”

  Her plea squeezed at his heart, but he had things he needed to do. He and his mother had arranged this when he’d called her from the hotel, right after Anderson had dropped his bomb. “We may not have time to walk him after dinner. We have to get to the nursing home in time for Brittany’s shift.”

  “Oh. Right.” She nodded unsteadily as he walked her under the awning. She seemed dazed and he frowned, a little worried.

  “Are you okay?”

  She looked up, uncertain. “Yes. Of course.”

  He threaded his fingers through her hair, cradling her head in his palm. “Relax. She’s going to like you. And I won’t be long. I promise.”

  He brushed his lips gently over hers, calming her. She shuddered and lifted on her toes, following him, continuing the kiss when he would have pulled away. Forgetting where he stood, he threaded his other hand through her hair and took control, tilting her face so that their mouths fit. Perfectly. She fit him perfectly.

  “Grayson?”

  The familiar voice cut through the fog and he broke the kiss, lifting his head only enough to see Paige’s face. Her eyes were closed. Her lips beautifully plumped. Her cheek a little red from the burn of his five-o’clock shadow. He kissed that, too, running his lips over her skin. She was warm and smelled so good. Mine. All mine.

  “Grayson!”

  He jerked away. His mother stood behind Paige, looking both amused and exasperated. “Mom?”

  “Mom?” It came out of Paige’s mouth in a squeak and she whirled, hitting him with her backpack. “Oh sh—” She cut herself off, her cheeks blushing a deeper red.

  Grayson’s mother extended her hand, lips curving. “You’re Paige. I’m Judy.”

  “I’m sorry,” Paige blurted, shaking his mother’s hand. “I… We just… Never mind.”

  “Don’t think a thing of it. I’m freshening my lipstick and what should I see?” Her eyes twinkled. Oh, his mother was enjoying this way too much. “I’ve got a table, dear. Why don’t you sit and wait for me? I need to talk to Grayson for a moment, if you don’t mind.”

  Paige shot him a nervous look over her shoulder. “I’ll just… go in. There.”

  “There’s someone waiting for you,” his mother said to her. “Holly begged to come. I hope that’s okay.”

  His mother was a goddess, he decided, because she’d not only solved a sticky situation for him, she’d also managed to put Paige at ease.

  “It’s totally okay,” Paige said, visibly relieved. “I’ll go find her.”

  He waited until she was gone. “Thank you,” he said.

  “Uh-huh,” his mother replied blandly. “She’s very pretty.”

  He let out a breath. “Yes, she is.”

  Her expression grew sober. “I figured I’d keep Holly with me while you talk to the family.”

  “It’s a good idea. They’ll want to decide how much to tell her. And how. And when.”

  “I should be there with you. This is my doing. My fault.”


  He grasped her shoulders and squeezed lightly. “It’s your doing that we’re alive and well. You did what you needed to do to protect us. To protect me. And don’t think a day goes by that I don’t thank you for it, even if I don’t say the words.”

  She drew an unsteady breath, her eyes glittering. “I can’t cry. I just put on mascara.”

  He gave her his handkerchief, watched as she dabbed her eyes. “What I’m about to do, to say… This will change everything.”

  “I know,” she said. “I told you not to be afraid to tell, just yesterday, but now that the moment’s come… I’m scared to death. Tell Katherine that if she wants me to move out of the apartment, I will. I’ve hated every day that I’ve lied to her.”

  He knew the feeling. Still he shook his head. “She loves you like a sister. She’s not going to make you move. That apartment’s been your home for almost thirty years. Katherine would smack you for even suggesting it.”

  “I know. I just had to say it aloud. Though I have to tell you, if I ever get my hands on that boss of yours, I’ll be doing the smacking.” Her eyes now snapped with rage. “He’d better never show his face. Blackmailing my son. Of all the outrageous things.”

  “Well, it’s a whole lot more than just us,” he said. “He knew about other things. Things that could get him disbarred if I’m able to prove them.” Hopefully more than disbarred. Hopefully behind bars for a long time.

  “Then prove them. Son of a bitch,” she muttered.

  “Mom. Language.” He kissed her on the cheek. “Go on now. I’ll call you when I’m done to tell you how it went. Have a nice dinner. And sit away from the window.”

  “I already asked for a table where your Paige will be safe. You stay safe, too.”

  Wednesday, April 6, 8:01 p.m.

  Paige was escorted to a table where Holly sat, looking preoccupied. And worried.

  “Hi, Holly.” Paige joined her, then covered the young woman’s hand with her own. “What’s wrong?”

  “I’m so glad to see you,” Holly said urgently. She looked around. “Where is Judy?”

  “Outside, talking to Grayson. What’s up?”

  “Well, you know how yesterday you said you could teach me? You know, karate?”

  “Yes.” Paige leaned closer. “What’s happened, Holly?”

  “I just need to learn. Fast. Now.”

  “Somebody bothering you, honey?” Paige asked soberly.

  Holly nodded. “There are these guys.”

  A cold shiver snaked down Paige’s back. Women like Holly were even more vulnerable. “Where?” she asked, keeping her voice calm. “And who?”

  “At my center. I go there after work, to see my friends. I went last night.”

  “Do these guys go to the center?”

  “Yes. They’re jerks,” she said angrily.

  “Did they hurt you?” Paige asked, heart sinking at the shadows that filled Holly’s eyes.

  “They push me. They… poke me. They grab, sometimes. You know.”

  “You know about sex, right?” Paige asked, and Holly’s cheeks went pink.

  “Yes. But they didn’t do that. They talk about it, though.” Her mouth firmed. “A lot. They laugh and say what they’ll do if they get me alone. I used to have Johnny. He was my friend. He would make them stop.”

  “Oh,” Paige murmured. “But he died, didn’t he?”

  Holly nodded miserably. “He was my friend. He kept the bad ones away from me.”

  “Now you’re afraid.”

  “Yes. I want to be able to kick them and make them stop. Teach me. I can pay you. I have my own money.” She frowned, worried again. “How much do you cost?”

  Paige hated the thought of taking Holly’s money. Still, she understood about pride and Holly was entitled to hers. “You’ll be able to afford me, I promise you that. I need you to do something for me first, though. I need you to talk to your doctor and have him sign a paper that says you’re healthy enough to train.”

  “That’ll take days. I need to learn now, Paige.”

  Paige smiled at her gently. “It’ll take years to learn.”

  “Years?” Holly paled. “I don’t have years. I’m afraid now.”

  “We need to address that. Have you told the manager at the center?”

  “Yes,” Holly said, tears forming in her eyes. “He talked to them. They said they were just playing around. But they’re not. He believed them. Not me.”

  Paige made a mental note to have a chat with that manager. “Well, I believe you. And it’s always better to be safe than sorry. How about if Joseph takes you to the center next time you go? He could tell those guys to back off.”

  Holly shook her head. “No, you can’t tell Joseph. He’d… he’d be mad.”

  “At you?”

  “No.” She said it like Paige was silly. “At the boys. Joseph would hit them and he’d get into trouble. He could go to jail. That’s why I couldn’t tell anyone. They always tell Joseph. He can’t go to jail. He’d lose his job.”

  Bless Holly’s heart. “That would suck,” Paige agreed. “How about if I go with you?”

  Holly’s eyes widened. “You’d do that?”

  “I absolutely would. I hate a bully.”

  Holly considered. “Would you teach the other girls, too?”

  Something fell into place. A sense of completion, the knowledge of what she’d been missing. She’d been focused on herself for months. Had felt sorry for herself. Poor karate master, foiled. Beaten. Humiliated. Now it was time to look outward again.

  “I absolutely would. We’ll figure it out. We need to tell your folks, though. And until we get this sorted out, I don’t want you going there alone, okay?”

  “Going where alone?”

  Paige looked up. Judy Smith had just stepped up to the table and she’d been listening. Judy didn’t look much older than in the pictures Paige had seen and for a moment all Paige could think about was the articles she’d read. The sheer hell Grayson’s mother had been through. Then her mind cleared and Paige could see the woman Judy had become. She’d survived. Warmth bloomed, pride for another woman who’d suffered and come out stronger on the other side.

  Paige leaned close to Holly and whispered in her ear, “It’s up to you. Tell or don’t.”

  Judy sat down and gave Holly a motherly chiding look. “I will find out. You know that. You also know you can trust me. I hope I’ve earned that.”

  Holly blinked, surprised. “I trust you, Judy. I just don’t want to make Joseph mad.”

  Judy patted Holly’s hand. “That boy was born mad. You leave Joseph to me.”

  “Okay.” Holly told her while Paige watched Judy’s face. The older woman was furious that someone would threaten her child, as she obviously considered Holly. Paige imagined she’d reacted the same way twenty-eight years ago when her little son was in danger. This was a mother bear who protected her cubs, no matter what.

  Paige liked her already.

  “We need to stop those boys from coming to the center,” Judy declared.

  “That’s a place to start,” Paige said. “But there will always be bullies, no matter where Holly goes. Don’t you think it’s better to prepare ourselves—and our families—to face dangers every day?”

  Judy nodded, her gaze going faraway for a moment. Then she focused sharply. “So what’s our plan, girls?”

  Holly’s chin lifted, ready for an argument. “Paige is going to teach me karate. Me and all my friends. It was my idea. We’ll be able to beat up the guys that bother us.”

  “Self-defense within karate,” Paige said. “You probably won’t ever be able to beat up a guy. They’re just stronger. But you will learn balance and awareness and ways to get away if you’re attacked. Which is the best defense.”

  Holly frowned. “Can I still wear an outfit?”

  Paige smiled. “A gi? Of course. You’ll earn belts, too. But you should never forget that karate is a defensive art. Not for beating people up. Even when they
deserve it.”

  Judy put her napkin on her lap with a snap of linen. “I think a self-defense class is a very good plan, Holly. You’re wise to think of it.”

  Holly beamed. “Thank you.”

  “I might even come,” Judy said. “If Paige can teach this old girl a few new tricks.”

  Paige regarded her for a moment. “I’d be more than happy to try, but I think you’ve done pretty well on your own. All of these years.”

  Judy’s eyes registered shock and Paige could see that Judy knew she knew. Judy recovered, admirably. “I still want a gi of my own.” She opened her menu and frowned. “I’ve left my reading glasses in my car. Holly, can you be a dear and go get them for me?” She dug her keys from her purse. “You remember where we parked, right?”

  “Sure. I’ll be right back.”

  Judy waited until Holly was out of earshot before turning to Paige. In a heartbeat she went from affable to terrifying. “Paige, you’ve got about three minutes. Talk.”

  “I know what happened to you and Grayson in Miami. It wasn’t hard to find.”

  “How?” It was an agonized question, incredulously asked. “I left no trace.”

  “People always leave some trace, Mrs. Smith. Yours was a photograph Grayson keeps on a shelf over his computer monitor. He was seven, you two stood in front of St. Ignatius Catholic School. It was a simple search. Took me less than an hour.”

  “I didn’t know he kept it,” she murmured. “Foolish of him.”

  “I’d say it’s a moment in time he never wants to forget. His mom, when she was happy. And not afraid.”

  Pain tightened Judy’s face. “What do you plan to do?”

  “This was what Grayson asked you not to tell me, wasn’t it?”

  Anger mixed with the pain. “What do you plan to do?” Judy asked again.

  “I’ll never tell. You have my word. But I got the impression that this was keeping him from forming attachments. Of a romantic nature.”

  Her eyes narrowed. “And you want such an attachment? Of a romantic nature?”

  “Yes, ma’am,” Paige said with all the longing in her heart. “But I want it to be with the right one. That may not be your son, but I want a life with someone. This secret of his is going to keep me from finding out if he’s the one.”