Secret is in the Bones (Paynes Creek Thriller Book 3)

by Heather Sunseri

  I put Oliver down in his crib, then returned to enjoy a meal with my aunt.

  We sat at the kitchen table and chatted about the cute things Oliver had done in the last week and about how quickly he was changing and growing.

  When Aunt Leah couldn’t stand it anymore, she said, “I know you have a lot on your mind. You can talk to me.”

  “I don’t want to burden you, Aunt Leah.”

  “You think I’m not already burdened with news of Penelope and Steven? I’ve known those two all of their lives. And I worry about you every day. You’re the daughter I never had.”

  “You’re right. I’m sorry. It’s just… It doesn’t look good for Penelope. And I’m not sure I can help her.”

  “What does Luke say?”

  “It’s what he didn’t say after we left Penelope’s house. He didn’t offer his opinion on his first impression of the crime scene, which tells me it’s not good. And I’m not a fan of trusting law enforcement to get to the truth these days.”

  She pointed her fork at me. “Don’t you let what your Uncle Henry and Chief Reid did ruin the reputation of the good cops that are out there.”

  “They covered up the truth of a crime, Aunt Leah. The public is supposed to be able to trust our public servants.”

  “I know,” she breathed out. “I feel betrayed, too.”

  “Of course you do,” I said.

  “But sweetie, Luke didn’t betray you. Let him help you. Between the two of you, you’ll make sure the detectives assigned to Steven’s and Penelope’s case get to the truth.”

  I stared hard into her eyes as she spoke. Hadn’t Luke betrayed me? He’d come all the way to Colorado to tell me that Ethan wasn’t the one who had been stalking me. And every time something strange happened while I was on the road, Luke assured me it wasn’t Ethan. Yet, I continued to get phone calls and small trinkets left around my trailer that only pointed to my stepbrother.

  “I don’t know if I can trust Luke,” I said. I didn’t think Luke would ever intentionally hurt me, and he knew me better than anyone had in a long time, but to trust him with my heart was a huge step.

  She patted my hand. “You’ll figure things out. With Luke and with Penelope. You and I both know she didn’t kill her husband. But we also know she’s going to hurt for a long time, and she has a child to think of.”

  “Yeah,” I sighed. “And she’s going to need all the support she can get.” I stood and carried my dishes to the sink.

  As I rinsed and placed the dishes in the dishwasher, there was a soft knock on the front door.

  I turned to Aunt Leah. “Are you expecting someone?”

  “That would be Luke. He texted and asked if you were still here while you were putting Oliver down.”

  “You didn’t think to tell me this?”

  She walked to me and placed a kissed on my cheek. “Accept his help. You’ll never know what might have been if you don’t.” She then turned and went to let Luke in.

  When they both entered the kitchen, I was putting Aunt Leah’s dinner dish in the dishwasher. When I reached for a glass storage container for the leftover spaghetti sauce, Aunt Leah quickly took it from me. “I’ll finish up. Let Luke take you home. Get a good night’s sleep. You’re going to need the rest before you ready your trailer to move back to Paynes Creek.”

  SEVEN

  J.P.

  J.P. had hit the jackpot. He lurked at the edge of one of Leah Nash’s neighbor’s houses while he watched Faith through the kitchen window. Her hair hung like a curtain on one side of her head, and he wished like hell he could sweep it to the side and tuck it neatly behind her ear.

  The thought of touching her before he handed her over to the person to whom she truly belonged had him needing to adjust his pants.

  He couldn’t believe his luck when Faith had showed up at the Champagne house earlier that day. Assuming she was still somewhere out west, he figured it would be days before she barreled into Paynes Creek after hearing the news of her friend’s husband.

  He’d only hoped to get a sense of which detectives the Paynes Creek Police Department assigned to the case earlier that day. And right before his eyes, Faith Day appeared at his murder scene.

  From behind the police barricade, he couldn’t stop smiling. It had worked.

  Not everything had gone according to plan, of course. Penelope Champagne was supposed to be dead. But he didn’t care who died as long as he got to kill someone. And as long as Faith returned, which she had.

  It did piss him off, however, when that fucking jerkoff Special Agent Luke Justice had driven her to his scene of horrors. How had that happened? He didn’t think the two of them were still in contact.

  And now, hours later, it sickened him to watch Justice arrive at Leah Nash’s house to console Faith after that ridiculous altercation at the grocery store.

  “Fuck off, Justice,” he muttered under his breath. “She doesn’t need you.” He’d take care of the stuck-up bitch who gave Faith a hard time.

  Faith was washing dishes in the kitchen sink when Justice walked in. Was she happy to see him? J.P. couldn’t tell. It wouldn’t matter to him in the long run, but J.P. would punish Faith if she played with his feelings by keeping Justice around too long. Justice wasn’t part of the plan.

  “You little devil,” J.P. said. “You were already in Kentucky.” He pulled his truck into an unused camping spot that gave him a perfect vantage point to spy on Faith and that asshole, Justice.

  J.P. started the day hoping Faith would return to Kentucky to console her friend. He ended the day realizing she was already here.

  “You’ve just been hiding,” he muttered to himself behind a pair of binoculars.

  He watched Justice pull up beside Faith’s Airstream inside the campground at the Kentucky Horse Park, and he could hardly believe his eyes.

  It was always difficult to ascertain how long Faith had been settled in any one given spot, because she was so quick to pack up and move when necessary. J.P. had learned that firsthand when he was watching her in Colorado.

  But if he had to guess, Faith had been in Kentucky a while by the look of her furniture around a small fire pit, the clothesline she’d strung from her trailer to a nearby tree, and the two flower pots that flanked her door.

  Luke held open her door as Faith stepped up into the trailer, and he entered after her.

  “You better not be fucking staying,” J.P. muttered under his breath.

  He wished like hell he could get close enough and eavesdrop on their conversation, but he’d done enough for one twenty-four-hour period by putting one man in the morgue, his wife in the hospital, and bringing Faith back home to Paynes Creek.

  And, of course, he’d managed to take care of some old gang business.

  There were people who were going to be very pleased with his work.

  He sat up on the hood of his truck with his legs crossed and kept watch as he imagined his next step. He could move his plans into the next phase now that Faith was here.

  It wasn’t fifteen minutes before Luke exited the Airstream again.

  J.P. sat up straighter and watched him walk to his truck. “Kicked you out, didn’t she, you son of a bitch?”

  At least Faith was making smart decisions.

  The aching desire to wait for Faith to go to sleep and sneak inside her trailer was strong, but J.P. had to show more discipline than that. He’d see Faith up close and personal soon enough.

  EIGHT

  FAITH

  I woke the next morning, exhausted.

  I’d stayed up half the night thinking about the scene I examined and photographed at Penelope’s. I wish I’d been able to explore Penelope’s house more closely.

  I cupped my hand over my forehead and massaged my temples while staring at the ceiling. “What the hell happened there?”

  Luke offered no thoughts as he drove me home last night.

  He also hadn’t pressed me further about my living conditions or why I’d kept my
location a secret. He’d just made polite small talk and gushed over Oliver.

  Add to that the fact that he had moved into Cooper Adams’ barn apartment permanently while I was away and had begun working for the FBI out of Lexington and Louisville on a more permanent basis.

  If he’d been reassigned to Kentucky, why not live in Lexington, or Louisville, where the regional office was located?

  I supposed moving into Coop’s apartment wasn’t all that permanent of a decision. Maybe he didn’t plan to stay long.

  A pang shot through my chest at the thought, but I quickly forced away the anxiety.

  For now, I had to focus on getting my trailer ready to move, which I could do in under an hour. I’d become that good at making fast getaways. I had neither the time nor energy to worry about where Luke Justice had decided to take up residence.

  Gus hopped up on the bed. “Hey, girl,” I said, scratching behind her ears. “You ready to go home?”

  She pushed her head further into my palm, purring loudly.

  “Well, let’s get ready.”

  As I pushed the covers back and climbed out of bed, Gus meowed, and sprinted toward her food bowl.

  After filling her bowl, I started the coffee.

  My cell phone rang. When I saw Penelope’s smiling face flash on the phone, I answered quickly.

  “Hey, how are you feeling?”

  “Faith,” came the small voice on the other end—a direct contradiction to the picture on my phone. “The police are insisting that they question me.”

  “Okay, hang tight. I’ve got a call in to an attorney for you. I’ll try her again.”

  “Alright, but I don’t have anything to hide.”

  I hated to put anything but optimism and support behind my words to Penelope, but I had to be honest with her. “Can you give the police a clear picture of what happened? Who might have killed Steven?”

  “No. I told you. I don’t remember anything. I just know I didn’t take any Ambien.” She went quiet on the other end of the phone for several seconds. “Which is why I should have an attorney present. Is this attorney good?”

  “She’s the best. Her name is Myra Harlowe. I’ll call her again this morning. Tell the detectives that you want to help them in any way that you can, and that as soon as your attorney is there, they can ask you all the questions they want.”

  “Okay. Please hurry.”

  I hung up and immediately called Myra.

  “Faith,” she said as an answer. “I got your message. It’s been a while since I’ve heard from you. You okay?”

  “You know me…” I said.

  “I do know you. Lately, you only call me when something’s wrong.”

  I winced at her harsh words. She couldn’t help it though. I met Myra through a support group we were both forced to attend weekly when I was eighteen and she was sixteen. Our connection ran deep, and it was intensely personal.

  “I’m sorry for that,” I said.

  “I know you are. Tell me, what’s going on?”

  “You been watching the news?” I asked. “Did you see anything about the murder over here in Paynes Creek?”

  “With the EMT? He was stabbed to death. Yeah, I saw it.”

  “The wife was treated at the hospital for chasing a lethal dose of Ambien with a big glass of wine.”

  “That’s not a good mix.”

  “I’ve seen the crime scene, and I’ve spoken to the police, sort of. The wife was covered in blood when they arrived.”

  “Okay… Sounds pretty straightforward.”

  “She didn’t do it, Myra.”

  “And you know this how?”

  “I just do. She needs you. The police need to question her, but she doesn’t remember much.”

  “Which just adds to her appearance of guilt. As does the fact that she’s stalling.”

  “I know.”

  “I’ll get ready. What’s her name?”

  “Penelope Champagne.”

  “That’s quite a name.”

  “She’s quite a woman. And one of my best friends.”

  “And she’s at Paynes Creek Memorial?”

  “That’s right.”

  “I’ll make some calls and let the police know she’ll be ready for questioning this afternoon. The news said that Paynes Creek relinquished the case to the state’s detectives. Is that right?”

  “Yes.”

  “I’ll be at the hospital by 1:00 p.m.”

  “I’ll meet you there. And Myra?” I needed to apologize for not keeping in touch. She’d done so much for me, but I’d deserted our friendship. For now, I simply said, “Thank you.”

  “See you this afternoon.”

  Three hours later, I turned into the long driveway that led to my family’s land where I’d grown up.

  I stopped my truck and just stared at the sight in front of me. I dreamed of this place often—of having a house sitting exactly where my childhood home once sat before being consumed in fire with both my mom and stepfather inside.

  I had expected to see an overgrown piece of property that I’d failed to maintain since I’d been traveling across America.

  I grabbed my phone and called Leah.

  “Good morning,” she said. “You settled yet?”

  “Not yet. Just calling to thank you.”

  “For what, honey?”

  “For finding someone to mow the entire area in front of the woods.”

  “I didn’t. I thought you had, and just forgot. I called Otis yesterday, like you asked. He said he drove out to mow the section for the Airstream, but that the yard had already been taken care of.”

  “Who would have mowed it?”

  “Seems to me you have someone watching out for you.”

  “I suppose,” I said. “I’ll call you later.”

  I hung up and continued up the drive. I had just enough time to park, hook up the water, and make sure Gus had food and water before I headed back out.

  Once everything was settled, I raced to Boone’s Taphouse, hoping to beat the after-church lunch rush. Walking into the restaurant, my eyes were immediately drawn to my handsome friend and owner of Boone’s Taphouse, Caine.

  “Holy shit, if it isn’t my long, lost friend, Faith Day!” Caine rushed over, scooped me up in his arms, and twirled me around. “Where the hell have you been, pretty lady?”

  I shrugged. “Oh, ya know. Here, there, and everywhere.”

  “I want to hear about every place you’ve been. I know you must have tons of epic photos. I want to see them all.”

  “Caine, honey!” a man called from the door to the kitchen. “We need you in the kitchen. There’s a problem with the lunch special.”

  I placed a hand on Caine’s arm. “Honey? How long have I been gone?”

  Caine smiled at me, and I realized that he seemed far cheerier than he’d been the last time I’d seen him. “We have a lot of catching up to do.”

  “Clearly. Something does seem different about you. You seem way more… optimistic. It looks good on you.”

  His smile faded. “Shit, I’m so sorry, Faith. I can’t believe I didn’t ask. How’s Penelope? Have you talked to her?”

  “She’s not good.”

  “Of course not. That was a dumb question.”

  “Caine,” the man sang from the kitchen.

  “You go. I’m actually meeting Penelope’s brother here.”

  “I’ll send some menus over. And when things calm down, I’ll have you over to meet my Bastien.”

  “Bastien, huh? French?” I glanced toward the kitchen. “Ooh-la-la.”

  “His father’s French. His mother’s from Quebec.” He blew me a kiss as he backed his way into the kitchen.

  As Caine disappeared, Penelope’s brother, Marcus Farmer, appeared in the entrance to Boone’s. He approached me, and though we’d only met once, he wrapped me in a hug that was clearly more for him than me.

  Marcus, like Penelope, was a redhead. His hair was cut short, and his handsomely chi
seled jawline and upper lip were covered with a sexy red stubble.

  “Thank you for calling,” he said. “Mom said she’s having trouble getting any information from the police, and they’re making it difficult for either of us to see Penelope.”

  “But you did see her?” I asked.

  “I was able to see her for ten minutes before the doctors came around and kicked me out. The police insisted that the door to her room stay open while I visited.” He stared hard at me. “She’s not good, Faith. She knows how the police are looking at her.” He paused a moment, then added, “They think she did this, don’t they? She didn’t.”

  “Of course she didn’t.” I grabbed his hand, squeezing it reassuringly in a rare show of support, and led him over to a booth. Touch was certainly not my method of comfort. I always found that action went a lot further to help victims in need. “I called the best attorney I know. Myra Harlowe. She’s on her way from Lexington. We’re going to meet her at the hospital.”

  “Okay.” He seem to let out a sigh as he took a seat. “You’re sure she’s good?”

  “The best. And I told Penelope not to speak to anyone until Myra is present.”

  “That’s what she told me. She’s scared, Faith. No one will tell her exactly what happened to Steven. They won’t even let her make funeral arrangements. And Steven’s parents haven’t come to see her.”

  I felt eyes on me before I turned and saw Luke standing just inside the door, looking straight at me. Coop was with him, and they were both dressed in suits, including ties. They were clearly on duty. Coop motioned with his hand to the hostess, directing her that he and Luke were going to take seats at the bar.

  Though I stiffened, I quickly looked away from Luke and focused on Marcus. “Let’s order some club sandwiches to go. Maybe Penelope will eat something other than hospital food, and I’m sure your mother needs to eat.”

  “That’s a good idea. I’m not sure either of them have eaten since all of this went down.”