“But you--”
“I’ll be all right,” Nora said. “I’ll be waiting for you.”
*****
Chapter 26
She didn’t go home that night. At least not immediately. The first place she went to was the station, where Dean Elbert, Detective Rudy and Detective Jason were all sitting in a circle, having a beer.
“Nora?” Jason looked surprised. “What brings you here so late?”
“Sean,” Nora said.
“Well, that’s no surprise,” Jason winked and nudged Rudy. “See? You owe me ten.”
“You were betting on us?” Nora said.
“This town’s a little boring, we spiced it up by betting on couples,” Detective Jason said. “Harvey was Rudy’s pick for you, and Sean was mine. Guess I win.”
“Boy, you lose. You lose big time,” Nora said. “Sean has never been interested in me because Sean is dating Wallis’ wife Karen.”
Dean spluttered a little and almost fell out of his chair. Jason and Rudy only froze for a moment, before raising an eyebrow, giving each other a look, and then staring at Nora.
“You’re saying he murdered Wallis?” Jason asked.
“I’m saying his alibi is full of holes and he should not be handling this case,” Nora said. “Sean told me himself that he’s in love with Karen. He’d do anything to protect her.”
“You know this about Sean?” Dean asked, still sounding shocked.
“It’s true,” Nora said. “He was with Karen, in the woods when he found Wallis’ body. He isn’t lying about being hit in the head, at least I don’t think he is, but he’s lying about a lot of things so that her reputation isn’t harmed.”
“So why would he tell you about it?” Jason asked.
“Because I caught them together,” Nora said. “Because I found out. He begged me to keep it a secret, and he promised me that he’d do his best to find Wallis’ killer. Only I don’t believe him anymore. Not after what he did, or what his father possibly did.”
“Dracon Senior?” Jason looked surprised. “What did he get up to?”
“He may have been the one that killed the girl that Wallis’ Aunt was sentenced to life for,” Nora said.
Jason laughed. The spell seemed to break. Dean and Rudy laughed too.
“What is it?” Nora asked, furious. “I’m telling you, Wallis was investigating it. He swore his Aunt Maude was innocent.”
“Wallis was a nut,” Jason said. “Well, that’s not fair. He wasn’t a nut. He just couldn’t accept that his precious aunt was anything but guilty, even when all the evidence was pointed against her. We know already that he was trying to prove her innocence. He had her case file, and stayed up many nights studying it, Dean told us.”
“It’s true,” Dean said. “He was bent on rescuing her, as he saw it. He thought it was a tremendous miscarriage of justice. But I’ve read the files myself and they had a watertight case against Maude. Wallis was blinded by emotion. Finally, Sean had to ban him from accessing the files, because we were afraid he might damage some of the evidence.”
“Sean banned Wallis from accessing a file that could have revealed proof Sean’s father did it,” Nora said. “Don’t any of you find that odd?”
“That’s… Nora, have you been listening to Alan?” Dean asked. “For goodness’ sake, you know Alan’s a drunk. He makes up these things sometimes. There’s no proof that Helen was ever involved with Sean’s father. Even if she was, do you really think that he would be able to access her food long enough to slowly poison her? No, it was Wallis’ Aunt, who hated Helen, and she killed her. It’s tragic, but it’s true.”
“I see you’re determined to think that,” Nora said.
“We’re telling the truth,” Dean said. “Why won’t you believe that? What could we have to gain by lying?”
“What would you gain by telling the truth?” Nora said. “Maybe it’s in all your interest that Sean becomes Sheriff again. That way you, Jason and Rudy can go back to your city department and you, Dean, get your old mentor back.”
Angrily, Dean said, “I’m not as evil as that, Nora. You think I’d let Sean back in here if I thought he’d killed Wallis?”
“Maybe he’s protecting the murderer,” Nora said. “Ever think of that?”
“Sean told us about Karen already,” Rudy said, gently. “He told us, he told our higher ups too. He’s being made to write a report about it. We’ve been told to stay in town another day. We’re also going to question Karen. But so far, we believe that he’s telling the truth.”
“He came to you already?” Nora asked, a little deflated.
“He did, yes,” Rudy said. “I’m sorry, Nora. Your theory’s all wrong. He said that he felt guilty about hiding the truth and would take whatever punishment was doled out to him.”
“So why did you act so surprised?” Nora asked.
“We were surprised you knew,” Rudy said. “Given how sensitive the matter is, we wanted to make sure that… unnecessary rumors were avoided.”
“You’re saying I’m not to tell anyone in town about this?” Nora asked. “I’m just to accept that Sean is reinstated?”
“Well… the department has made a decision to observe his handling of the case closely,” Rudy said. “That’s all I can say. He’s told us enough that makes us believe him. We’ve also had forensics check his wound and we know for a fact that the injury he received is in line with the story he’s telling. Karen and he stumbled on Wallis’ body, but she went away, and then the killer attacked Sean.”
“What if they’re making up the entire story?” Nora asked. “This one’s a little unbelievable.”
“If they were making up a story, it would be less convoluted,” Rudy said. “We’ve made him take a lie detector test, Nora. He’s telling us the truth.”
“Aren’t those machines notoriously unreliable?” Nora asked.
“Look at it this way. If Sean was the person who killed Wallis, wouldn’t you be dead too? Why would he come to us and confess? He’d simply murder you instead,” Dean said.
Nora shivered at his words.
“Makes sense to me,” Rudy said, taking a swig of his beer. “Nora, relax. Please don’t involve yourself in this case any more than you have already. It’s taken care of.”
“So the case will be closed, and Sean will be sheriff?” Nora asked, disgusted.
“No, the case is open, and Sean will find out who the killer is,” Rudy said. “Unless, of course, he doesn’t, in which event it will sadly become a closed case.”
“I can’t believe you people,” Nora said.
“That’s common,” Sean said, walking into the station. “You can’t believe me either, can you?”
Nora whirled around, and there he was, filling the doorway with his powerful shoulders, his eyes cutting as shards of glass.
“Sean,” she said.
“I asked you to trust me,” Sean said. “I begged you to. But you don’t.”
“You bet I don’t,” she replied. “I believe I’m going to join Harvey in petitioning this town to get a new sheriff.”
“You’ll regret that,” Sean said. “I’m the best sheriff for Milburn and you know it.”
“You’re… emotional at best, corrupt at worst,” Nora said. “I wouldn’t want you here any more. Nor, I think, would the rest of town once they know about you and Karen.”
“Do you have to bring her into it?” Sean thundered. “Ruin my reputation if you like, burn down my house if you have to, but leave Karen alone. She’s already in a world of pain. Her ex-husband is murdered, she finds out he left her nothing but debt, and now she’s got to have her reputation flung in the mud?”
“He left her a house and an amazing guitar collection,” Nora said.
“The house is mortgaged and will soon be foreclosed,” Sean said. “The guitar collection is missing its key piece. Presumably, it burnt down with him on the Viking boat. You’ll be kicking Karen when she’s down if you tell the town about her
and me, and I promise you I will never forget it.”
“I have to,” Nora said. “I can’t keep this a secret any more. It makes me feel dirty. Like I’m being an accessory to the crime.”
“Didn’t you do enough meddling with Ricky?” Sean asked. “Look what it got you. Do you really want to meddle in this case more, Nora? The next person to get hurt might be you.”
“Is that a threat?”
“It’s… advice,” Sean said. “If you’re smart, you’ll take it.”
“Real smooth, Sean, reminding me of Ricky,” Nora said. “But do you cops remember him? Or is he less of a victim because he was only a poor drifter, while Wallis was a deputy? Ricky’s dead too, which means the murderer is still in Milburn, and--”
“Ricky was a drifter,” Sean said cruelly. “Do you know how many drifters die each year? Violence is very common in their circles. Someone may have robbed him, or maybe he did talk a little too much and the murderer got him. Either way, Wallis’ death is the bigger picture here.”
“Then solve the case,” Nora said. “Solve it by being objective, by starting at the one woman who is probably behind it. Sean, you can’t be so blind. Wallis cheated on Karen repeatedly, and then was making trouble when she was with you. He stood between her and her happiness one too many times. She might have killed him in a fit of rage.”
“She was with me when Wallis died,” Sean said. “She and I were … kissing. So unless she could be in two places at once, or unless you think I’m a liar, she didn’t do it.”
Defeated, Nora backed away. “I’m going back to Harvey,” she said. “The one man who’ll see this the way I do.”
“You’re a fool, Nora,” Sean said. “But go ahead, go back to the man who’s so obviously cheating on his girlfriend with you. Or didn’t you think the whole town knows about it?”
“Leave Milly out of it.”
“Oh, look at that. Protective about her instead of him,” Sean laughed. “Why? Because she’s one of your favorite film stars? She’s just a washed up actress. She’s got two prior convictions in other states, you know that? If it weren’t for her father’s money and lawyers, she’d be in a filthy jail instead of enjoying herself here in Wyoming.”
“She’s recovering from alcohol abuse,” Nora said. “She’s done some things she’s not proud of, I’m sure, but Milly has bounced back.”
“Sure she has,” Sean laughed. “Now let’s see how fast she bounces out of here once Harvey loses interest in her.”
*****
Chapter 27
Determined to leak the news about Sean and Karen, Nora was planning to head to Harvey’s house. Halfway through, though, something changed her mind and she went to Karen’s instead. When Karen wasn’t home, Nora thought for about thirty seconds before realizing where she would be, and went to Wallis’ old house instead.
“Sean told me you might come here,” Karen said.
The house was a mess. Unlike the neatness order it had been in during the wake, it was now chaotic, with clothes, furniture and baggage strewn about. Nora watched Karen carefully as she took out a drawer, emptied the contents into a garbage bag, and tied it up.
“Wallis was never a neat man,” Karen said. “Always leaving debris behind him, emotional and physical.”
“Sean said you were with him when he discovered the body,” Nora said. “The police believe him when he says you didn’t kill Wallis, that you were with him all along. But I thought that it’s only fair to Wallis that someone else investigate his death. I can’t let Sean be reinstated. I hope you know that.”
“I do, yes.” Karen said. “I think it’s fair too. You do what you have to, Nora. I and Sean will do what we have to.”
“What’s that mean?”
“We’ll admit our sins,” Karen said. “To be honest, all this sneaking around was Sean’s idea. It was election year and he was worried. I’ll receive a lot of flak and sideways looks, but it’ll be a relief to be able to finally walk into town with my hand in Sean’s. It’ll be a relief to admit that I love him, out loud, for the world to hear. So in my own way, I’m actually glad that you’re doing this.”
She didn’t look at Nora, but continued on, moving to the bookshelves, and sweeping all the books into an empty suitcase.
“The house is set to be foreclosed next week,” Karen said. “I could have used some money to save it, but Wallis was a big spender. He probably sold off some of the finest pieces from his guitar collection, or maybe they burnt in the Viking boat. All I know is, his current collection has no value, and his house is falling apart. Still, its up to me to take what I can and give it to charity.”
“Very… noble of you,” Nora said, feeling awkward. She hadn’t expected this reception from Karen. She’d expected Karen to hate her, or to curse her, or to try and threaten her like Sean had done. Instead, Karen had received her with neutral politeness, and general indifference.
“So it doesn’t make a difference to you that I’ll probably shatter your reputation,” Nora asked.
“Sean was always big on reputation,” Karen said. “Personally, I don’t care. I know how little it matters what people say. You think it was easy being Wallis’ wife? With his reputation for carousing with women? Even at the fair, there were rumors about his newest candy girl. I don’t care. I know I love Sean for who he is, a good, kind man.”
“I used to think Sean was a good, kind man,” Nora said. “Lately, I just don’t know. He’s changed.”
“He’s protective of me,” Karen said. “I love that about him. Though I wish he’d not think that I’m fragile. I’m really not. In a way, Sean is as old-fashioned as a knight of the middle ages. He talks about protecting my reputation as if reputations even matter in this day and age. So people will find out about me and Sean, and it’ll be a scandal. So what? In less than a year, I’m betting things will be fine again. Only now, instead of hiding, I’ll be able to date Sean the way I want to. Yes, people will whisper behind my back all my life, but they already do, that’s what Sean doesn’t understand. I’m used to those kind of whispers from years of being married to Wallis.”
Unable to formulate a reply, Nora simply nodded.
“So that’s it then,” Karen said. “If you came here thinking that I’d be angry, and that’d make it easier for you to hate me. too bad. I’m giving you permission to do what you like, Nora. In fact, I’m encouraging it. I only hope this doesn’t hurt Sean.”
“It will,” Nora said.
“Well, then, we’ll get over it together,” Karen said. “Now there’s the one question you’ve been meaning to ask me, but haven’t yet. Spit it out.”
Emboldened, Nora did. “Did you?” she asked.
“Did I what?” Karen said, her voice almost teasing.
“Did you kill your ex-husband?”
“I should have,” Karen said. “He beat me, he cheated on me, he treated me like dirt, and then he made me feel guilty for not loving him anymore. I should have killed him for the kind of pain he inflicted on me.” She stopped moving about, and stood, her eyes locked firmly with Nora’s. “But I didn’t. Do you know why?”
“Why?”
“Because once I fell in love with Sean, there seemed to be no point in holding on to grudges anymore,” Karen said. “I saw what Sean doesn’t, that Wallis was a damaged man in his own way. My job, as a human being, was to limit his damage from spreading. I wanted nothing but love and happiness in my life once I finally decided to break free from Wallis. I wanted peace, and I’m going to get it.”
Despite herself, Nora felt a twinge of admiration for Karen. “Sean’s right,” she said. “You are a special woman. Not too many people think the way you do.”
Karen laughed. “There’s nothing special about me,” she said. “But you on the other hand, Nora Newberry. I’ve often wondered about you. Sean’s told me a lot.”
“Good things, I hope,” Nora said, with a slight laugh. “Though I doubt it.”
“He told me you’re c
onsumed by a fire you don’t even recognize is lit,” Karen said. “He told me you hunt for answers to questions you don’t even know.”
“What does that mean?”
“It means, have you realized yet why you’re so upset about Wallis’ death? Or Ricky’s?” Karen asked. “Why are you leaving your job as a chef, to pursue the solutions?”
“I’m… interested,” Nora shrugged. “There’s no answers as to why.”
“Yes there is,” Karen said. “I recognize myself in you, Nora. I was escaping from things once upon a time. Back when I didn’t want to recognize the kind of pain I and Wallis caused each other. Back when I tried and fooled myself that my marriage made me happy. You’re fooling yourself now.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Nora said.
“Don’t you?” Karen asked. “So why are you doing this?”
“I’m doing this because the truth matters,” Nora said. “I’m doing it because killers deserve to be punished and their victims deserve justice.”
“That’s the police’s job, though,” Karen said. “Delivering justice.”
“It’s every human being’s job,” Nora said. “It’s one of our primary duties, ensuring that our society is just.”
“But that’s not what you’re doing,” Karen said. “Don’t fool yourself that you’re doing this because of rational or idealistic reasons. Ask yourself why you’re really doing this?”
“Why, then?” Nora asked. “Since you have the answers.”
“Because you think it will make you hurt less,” Karen said. “Because you think it’ll resolve you of your guilt about Raquel’s death.”
“I don’t have any guilt about Raquel’s death.”
“No?” Karen asked. “Then why aren’t you starting your diner, Nora? I’ll tell you why. It’s because you wish Raquel was still alive. You think that you don’t deserve to start this diner, that you don’t deserve to fulfill your dreams because Raquel died and you lived.”
Nora’s face drained of color, but she said nothing.
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