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

by Heather Sunseri

  I made my way to Aunt Leah’s bathroom and grabbed a clean hand towel from the linen closet. After slipping out of my dress, I laid it across the vanity and got to work lightly scrubbing the white spots out.

  I was only wearing thigh highs, panties, a bra, and my high heels when Luke appeared behind me in the mirror.

  I spun around, pulling my dress with me in an attempt to cover up.

  A smirk spread across his face.

  I realized how ridiculous I was for trying to hide my body from him. But it felt weird being half naked in Aunt Leah’s bathroom. Even though we’d known each other for nearly a year, our relationship—if I could even call it that—felt new at the best of times, and non-existent at other times. Of course, I had no one to blame but myself for that.

  Still, him walking in on me while I was wearing nothing but my high heels and undergarments threw me off balance.

  I went back to doing some final scrubbing of the dress, pretending not to be bothered by the exposure and vulnerability.

  His hands circled around my waist. “God, you’re gorgeous.”

  I stared at him in the mirror. I wasn’t sure how to respond. “What did you do with Oliver?”

  “Leah’s back.”

  “Already?” I jerked away from him and grabbed my dress. “That was fast.”

  “Relax.” He pulled me back to him. “She’s playing with Oliver. Said she needed it after seeing Penelope and Danny.”

  I tried to slap his hand away, but he only laughed and brought me closer. He leaned in and pressed his lips to mine, then let me go.

  Deciding that my dress was as clean as I was going to get it, I stepped into it.

  Luke helped me by zipping the dress up the back. “Let’s make our appearance, then let me take you back home.”

  I turned and looked up at him. “Luke, it would be so easy to just spend every night with you, but—”

  “Just stop right there. No but’s.” His face turned more serious. “I do have something I need to discuss with you, though, and I’d like to do that after the visitation.”

  “Tell me now. Does it have to do with Penelope?”

  “It can wait. It has nothing to do with Penelope or anything you need to know before the visitation.”

  “Is this some sneaky way of working your way into my bed?”

  He tilted his head side to side, but then said, “Do I really need to manipulate my way there?”

  After thinking about it for a second, I said, “I suppose not. Let’s go get this over with. I hate everything about funerals.”

  TWENTY

  LUKE

  I squeezed Faith’s hand as we entered the funeral home, and she didn’t pull away.

  Instead, she drew closer as we approached the long receiving line. “So many people,” she said softly, and I knew the large crowd was causing her discomfort.

  “You don’t have to do this,” I said close to her ear. “Penelope will understand.”

  She looked up at me with dread in those sad, brown eyes. “No. I can’t leave her. She’s been by my side through so much.”

  The funeral home was an old house converted into various sitting rooms, a small chapel, and a large back room where the family stood in front of a casket. It was an open casket, which I was not a fan of. And the home smelled overwhelmingly of flowers.

  By the looks of it, the entire town came out for the visitation. The guestbook was full of signatures. Some people were like Leah. They came early, paid their respects, gave Penelope and the rest of Steven’s family their love, then got out of the funeral home faster than they’d arrived.

  Others stood in the receiving line, paid their respects, then they grabbed seats in various areas around the funeral home to visit with each other.

  Funerals were a social event in a small town, I was learning. I’d go as far as to say, some people actually enjoyed funerals.

  It was a way for members of the community to catch up on the latest gossip over the investigation. And it was gossip. I’d been watching for the state police to release details of the murder, and so far, they’d been tight-lipped on specifics. And I didn’t have to live in Paynes Creek to know that the people here lived like people from all small towns. If they didn’t get the information they needed, they’d take whatever tidbits of news available and fill in the blanks with their own versions of the truth.

  This funeral was different, of course, in one particular way. It was for someone taken “way too early” and “before their time.” Low murmurs about Danny having to grow up without a father could be heard as Faith and I walked slowly along the receiving line.

  Whispers about Penelope’s guilt or innocence also wafted through the air like a foul odor. However, most people at today’s service would say they “didn’t believe Penelope to be capable of murder.” There were always a few that played devil’s advocate to that, though.

  “These people are monsters,” Faith said. She was obviously hearing the same negative buzz that I was.

  “Just remember,” I said. “Not everyone here is a monster. Just the ones who talk the loudest. There are many here who truly support Penelope, Danny, and the rest of Steven’s family.”

  Rounding the corner, we spotted some friendlier faces. I pulled Faith over to where Coop and Lily were standing.

  “Hi, Faith,” Lily said in greeting. “It’s so nice to see you.” She grabbed Faith’s hands and squeezed. “I know I saw you yesterday, but I’m glad to get to say hello, today.” Leave it to Lily to find a way to sound sincere even after seeing Faith being led out of the Farmer’s house by the lead detective on the investigation.

  “Hi, Lily. I heard you moved back to Paynes Creek. Congratulations to you and Coop on the engagement. I think everyone predicted your engagement when we were still in high school.” Faith smiled at them both.

  Coop put an arm around Lil and brought her closer. “Yeah, it took me more than a decade to actually get a ring on her finger.” He kissed the side of her head.

  “Engagement looks good on you both,” Faith said.

  “Thanks,” Lil beamed. “We need to have you both over for dinner one night. I know you and I weren’t that close in high school, seeing as we weren’t in the same class, but we should get to know each other now.”

  Faith shifted uncomfortably and looked up at me.

  “Don’t look at me,” I said. “I’m going with or without you. I never turn down a meal from Lil. She learned from Barb Kaufman, my favorite woman in this town… Besides you, of course.”

  We all laughed quietly.

  Faith turned back to Lil. “I would like that very much.”

  I was going to accept that as a win. Faith actually seemed comfortable to even be considered as my date to dinner. That was definitely a step in the right direction.

  “Well, well, well… Look at what we have here,” a gravelly voice said behind us. Faith and I turned to find Paula Shepherd standing with a hip jutted out, her arms crossed, and a foot tapping. “If I didn’t know better, Faith, I’d think you’d started a campaign to corrupt the entire town, starting with our very own federal agents.”

  A few people had taken notice and were watching to see what was about to unfold.

  “Miss Shepherd, this isn’t the time or place to cause a scene,” Faith said, as if she knew Miss Shepherd’s intentions.

  “Listen here, missy, you don’t get to tell me when to make a scene or not. I’m going to be mayor, and it’s my business to make this town safe from people like you and your family. How are your brother and uncle, by the way? Are they bunking together in prison? That would be convenient, I suppose.”

  I reached for Faith’s hand. It was shaking and balled into a fist. This time, instead of holding my hand for support, she pulled away. She took a step toward the old hag and was about to say something, when Lil stepped forward.

  “Miss Shepherd,” Lil said with a smile. She hooked an arm with Miss Shepherd’s and led her away. “Tell me how your campaign is going.
I’ve been seeing your signs everywhere.”

  “Oh. You have?” Miss Shepherd said, all too happy to talk politics, her favorite topic since the divorce.

  “That woman has spent all of her ex-husband’s money on her fruitless campaign to lead this town,” Coop said in a lowered voice. “It’s sad, really.”

  I looked to Faith. “You okay?”

  Faith managed to smile at me and Luke. “I’m fine. I just need a minute, and then I need to see if Penelope is okay. Looks like her in-laws decided to show up, but by their body language, things are tense.”

  “Want me to come with you?”

  “No. I’ll be fine.”

  Coop stepped forward and put a gentle hand on Faith’s arm. “No one believes what that woman says,” he said. “You are not your brother or your uncle. Their crimes are not yours.”

  Faith nodded. “Thanks, Coop. But people do believe it.” Faith turned and headed in the direction of the hallway, to what I assumed was the bathroom, to cool off before she went to find Penelope.

  “She’ll be fine,” I said.

  “You don’t have to convince me,” Coop said. “Like Lil said, we’re older than Faith, but this is a small town. I’ve known Faith a lot of my life. She’s had to deal with a lot. There’s some strength in her character to be able to come back to this town, knowing that there are always going to be toxic people like Paula Shepherd.”

  “Think she’ll stick around this time?” I asked.

  “I think you’ll help her stick. She’s got real friends here. She just needs to figure out who they are.”

  It didn’t take long for Faith to pull herself together and make her way over to Penelope. How she was able to fight back emotions, given her hyperthymesia condition, I would never know.

  All I knew was that it was just one of the many reasons I wanted her to stick around in Paynes Creek. But even more, I wanted her to stick to me.

  I spotted Myra Harlowe sitting in a winged back chair flanked by matching peace lilies. I skirted around a group of EMTs in uniform, obviously friends and coworkers of Steven’s who were taking a break to pay their respects. One of the women in the group was crying on another’s shoulder.

  “Miss Harlowe?” I said as I approached.

  “Special Agent Justice.” She stood.

  “Luke, please.”

  “Of course. And please, call me Myra.” She looked around the room. “God, I hate funerals. Too easy to say the wrong thing in a room full of people mourning.”

  “Well, you’re safe with me,” I said.

  “I’m sorry if calling you the other night wasn’t the right thing to do.” Her eyes didn’t quite meet mine. Instead, she seemed to glance toward Faith.

  “Why would you say that?”

  She met my gaze this time. Her eyes were a bright blue outlined by a diameter of midnight. And when she looked at me, she seemed to analyze me the way a jury might judge a defendant. “It’s been a while since Faith and I’ve spoken about you. I wasn’t sure if she would welcome an intrusion from you. But she was inconsolable, and I’m just not good with that.”

  “I’m glad you called me.”

  “No offense, Luke, but you’re not my concern. Was Faith glad I called you?”

  My smile grew bigger. “You are direct. I like that.”

  “Really? Or are you just saying that?”

  “It’s refreshing. But I think you’re safe. Faith wasn’t exactly thrilled I came to her rescue at first, but I’m like a large pot of chili in the fall. I get better the longer I’m around.”

  She chuckled. “Faith never said you were funny.”

  “What has Faith said?” I quickly held up a finger. “No. Forget I asked that. I sound like a teenager looking for affirmation.”

  She shook a finger at me. “I may be direct, but I’m not loose with the tongue.”

  “That’s a shame.” I smiled. “I thought, being one of Faith’s closest friends, you’d give me some encouragement.”

  “You’re a charmer, Luke Justice.” Myra returned the smile. “I like you.”

  “What’s not too like?”

  “Look, I won’t break Faith’s trust or confidence, but I will offer you a nugget of encouragement.” Myra placed a hand on my forearm. “Don’t give up on Faith. Even if she pushes you away, she needs you. Now, if you’ll excuse me, it looks like Penelope is stepping away for a break, and I need to talk to her.”

  “Before you go,” I said, my voice taking on a more serious tone. “Faith got the impression that the police might have found some forensics that would lead them away from Penelope. Any idea what that might have been?”

  “No, but I’m told they’re hoping to get some of the labs back by the end of the week. They’ve scheduled a press conference tentatively for Thursday at noon.”

  “Thank you,” I said and watched her head off toward a back room where I assumed family members could take a break from the receiving line.

  With Myra gone, I took the opportunity to read the room. Detective Fish and her partner were standing off to the side, attempting, very poorly, to blend in. Anyone who knew that they were detectives knew that they, too, were studying everyone in attendance.

  The way they were eyeing the crowd told me they were looking for suspects among the good townspeople of Paynes Creek. So, I, too, looked for someone who appeared suspicious.

  Instead, my eyes landed on Marla Manfield walking toward me.

  Fuck, I thought. The last thing I wanted was to have a conversation with a member of the media, especially Marla Manfield.

  “Special Agent Justice,” she said. “Or can I call you Luke?”

  “What can I do for you, Miss Manfield?” I asked, refusing to give her permission to know me on a first name basis.

  “Honestly, it’s what I can do for you.”

  I felt eyes on me across the room. When I looked, Faith was staring at me while talking to Penelope’s mother. She didn’t smile or react. Faith was not one to show—or even feel—jealousy. But she didn’t have room in her life for a pariah like Marla Manfield—an attention whore who made her living exploiting people like Faith and family members of criminals and victims alike. She was what some called a true crime aficionado, or junkie. And she used her media credentials to get information others might not.

  “Did Faith tell you that the police questioned her?”

  I just stared at Marla without answering.

  “Well, they most certainly did. And my source tells me that they’ve successfully connected Faith to the murder.”

  “Meaning?”

  “That’s all I know. My source, who’s very well connected, is supposed to meet me later to provide proof.” She leaned in and lowered her voice even further. “Wouldn’t it be a crazy twist to find out Faith helped Penelope off her husband? That would make for a juicy true crime novel, don’t you think?”

  I ignored Marla’s outlandish theory, but my curiosity was piqued. “Do you trust this source?”

  “If he gives me good information, I’ll trust him.”

  “And where is this source planning to meet you?”

  She smiled. “Agent Justice. Surely you think more highly of me as a journalist than that.” She moved closer and ran a manicured finger down my arm. “But if you’d like, I can call you after. You could buy me a drink, and I just might share the tea with you.”

  I looked from her hand that was brushing my arm to her face. She was smug and heavily made up. She wore a lot of makeup even when she wasn’t on television.

  I pulled a card from my pocket and handed it to her. “You think you have credible information about Steven Champagne’s murder, you call me.”

  It wasn’t my case, but I wouldn’t turn away useful evidence or information. Especially because I was legitimately concerned someone wanted to connect Faith to the murder—just not in the manner Marla thought.

  “But Marla,” I said, pinning her with a hard stare. “Be careful.”

  “Aww, Special Agent Just
ice. Are you concerned about me? That’s sweet.”

  TWENTY-ONE

  FAITH

  “What am I going to do?” Penelope asked in a voice that oozed pure exhaustion. She stuck a piece of a miniature pimento cheese sandwich cut into a small triangle on white bread into her mouth. Another funeral staple placed in the small break room for the family.

  She and I sat in a couple of metal chairs at a small kitchen table. I touched her free hand. “You’re going to take one moment at a time, for now,” I said. “And you’re going to be there for your son.”

  “How can I possibly be a good enough mother to Danny? I’ll never take the place of his missing father.” She grabbed another triangle. This time it was olive nut, and I resisted curling my nose.

  “He will miss his father, there’s no doubt. But you will continue to be the best mother that you already are. I know you can do this. You know why?”

  “Why?”

  “Because you’re the strongest woman I know. And because you have so many people who are going to be here to support you and Danny.”

  Tears escaped her eyes and ran down her face. She looked down at the small sandwich. “Whoever invented olive nut deserves a life of sadness.”

  We both laughed through tears. “It really is disgusting,” I agreed, then stood and held out my hand for her to place the half-eaten triangle. Once she had, I tossed it in the trash. “Who brought this food anyway? So much cheese.”

  “The church ladies.”

  “Of course.” I remembered the food at Mom’s and Eli’s double funeral. “Why eat this when you have a plethora of delicious casseroles waiting for you at your mom’s?” We laughed again.

  “Thank you, by the way.” She swiped at the tears dampening her face.

  “For what?”