Grave Secrets

by Trout, Linda

  And the company had thrived. Eventually, her visits had become more and more infrequent. He’d insisted she had better things to do than sit in the mostly deserted offices on a Saturday morning. So she’d stayed in her mostly deserted home or attended charity events. Although worthy causes, she’d preferred to write a check as opposed to sitting through countless luncheons, bored out of her mind.

  She rolled her shoulders in a futile attempt to ease the tension. She’d put this off long enough. Time to deal with reality. Not giving herself a chance to think, she walked briskly to the building. A guard met her at the front entrance.

  “Mrs. Adams. Good to see you.” He smiled as he held the door.

  “Walter, it’s nice to see you, too. How are Mary and the kids?” She took his big beefy hand and squeezed. He had been instrumental in organizing the children’s games at the company’s annual picnic.

  He folded her hand between his. “They’re just fine. Kids getting bigger every day. Thank you for asking.” He released his grasp, walked her to the elevators and pushed the button. When the doors opened, he turned serious. “You make sure you take care of yourself. And don’t you worry; your little one will turn up. I just know it.”

  His concern touched her raw nerve endings. She swallowed the lump in her throat and stepped into the elevator. “Thank you. Your faith means so much.”

  He gave her a slight nod as the doors slid closed, shutting him out.

  The elevator moved swiftly and for once, she wished it wouldn’t. All too soon, she found herself in the lobby of the Executive Offices. Striving for calm, she made her way toward the door at the end of the hallway. She’d been to Board meetings, but had deliberately stayed away from Jason’s—now Leo’s—office. As she neared the closed door, she was startled when Maxine jumped from behind her desk in the outer office.

  “Sara! Oh, my, it’s good to see you.”

  Before she could respond, Maxine had embraced her in a brief but firm hug. Like a large number of the employees, Maxine had been with the company for years and felt like family. They’d have a hard time replacing her when she retired.

  “I’m sorry I haven’t been to visit, but it gets so hectic around here and by the time I get off, all I want to do is go home. I hope you can forgive me,” Maxine pleaded.

  “There isn’t anything to forgive, and you know it. Everyone has their own life. Besides, you blink and find another month has passed. Don’t think anything about it. If you do find yourself in the neighborhood, please feel free to stop in. I’d love the company.”

  Maxine nodded, then squeezed her hand before stepping behind her desk. “Let me buzz Leo and tell him you’re here.”

  “All right.” Sara was surprised at the queasiness in her stomach. She’d come to terms with Jason’s passing, so it shouldn’t be this hard. Steeling herself, she attempted to keep the smile in place. Partially for appearances sake, but mostly to regain her equilibrium.

  “You can go on in,” Maxine said as she gave her a brief smile.

  Sara sucked in a deep breath, took the last few steps to the door, then paused. The gold name plate now read, Leonard Martin, President. A stab of pain hit her at seeing someone else’s name on the executive’s door. Of course Leo’s name would be displayed instead of Jason’s. Why hadn’t she been prepared for it? Before she had a chance to get her emotions under control, Leo swung the door open.

  “Sara? How wonderful to see you.” He ushered her into the room. “Maxine, would you bring some tea for Mrs. Adams?”

  Like Jason, he worked with his shirt sleeves rolled up. It was a family trait passed down from their grandfather. Leo’s hair was shorter and his gray suit appeared new, but other than that, he was the same as he’d been the day he’d reluctantly taken over the helm.

  She stopped in the middle of the office. It was as if Jason had simply stepped out and was due back any minute. His plaques, awards, and certificates still hung on the walls. The potted ivy was on the credenza, the furniture the same, even the knick knacks scattered throughout the office were in the same place.

  An eerie sensation crept down her spine. She turned to Leo. “I don’t understand. Why haven’t you changed anything?”

  Leo took her elbow and guided her toward the couch. “I’m sorry. I should’ve warned you. Jason was the lifeblood of this company, and I haven’t been able to remove anything. To be honest, I take comfort knowing some of his personal belongings are here. Whenever I’m facing a tough decision, I always ask myself what he’d do. I apologize if it’s upsetting.”

  Sara realized how foolish she was being and straightened her spine. “I’m a grown woman. I can deal with it. Jason is gone and this is your office now. You should make it yours by more than just putting your name on the door.”

  “Are you sure?”

  “Absolutely. You’re head of the company, and this is the executive office. If you’ll pack everything, I’ll pick it up in a few days. Then after you’ve redecorated, I’ll come back and check it out. How does that sound?” At least she could make a definite decision about this issue. She’d put all of Jason’s things from here in either the office at home, or in storage. Regardless, they didn’t need to be in Leo’s way anymore.

  He faced her and took both of her hands in his. “We’ve been family a long time, and friends even longer. This is still your company, Sara. Yours and Jason’s. I’m just here to keep things on track for when you feel up to taking over yourself. You know that.”

  She squeezed his hands. “What would I have done without you all these months?”

  “You’re a strong woman. You would’ve made it just fine. And I’m serious. This is simply a temporary position for me until you decide what to do. Okay?”

  A slight knock at the door sounded. “Come on in, Maxine.” Once the secretary had brought the tea, then left, he said, “Now tell me what all this business is about with them exhuming Jason’s body. What in the world ever prompted them to do such a thing?”

  She really didn’t want to discuss the topic. Besides her and Kaycee, Leo was the only relative Jason had left. “It’s some silly misunderstanding—one that will be cleared up shortly, I’m sure.” She picked up the cup and took a sip, trying to postpone the discussion. Maxine hadn’t forgotten how she liked her tea.

  He turned his head to the side and narrowed his eyes. “If you didn’t come to talk about that, then why are you here? Is something else wrong? Just let me know, and I’ll fix it. All you have to do is ask.”

  “I know.” She replaced the teacup and faced him squarely. “I don’t think there’s an easy way of saying this, and believe me, I didn’t think I’d ever say it…”

  When she trailed off and didn’t continue, he prodded her. “What are you talking about? Are you in trouble? Whatever it is, let me help.”

  She gave him a tentative smile before turning serious. “Leo, I want you to buy me out.”

  For a fraction of a second, something dark flashed across his eyes. Then it was gone. Perhaps she imagined it. He leaned back against the cushions and crossed his legs casually, but his brows had furrowed.

  “You don’t mean that. This company is your life.”

  “No. It was Jason’s life. There isn’t anything left for me here. I’ve come to the realization it’s time to let it go and move on. You’re the only family member left, so it should belong to you one-hundred percent.”

  He was quiet for a long moment. “This is connected to the exhumation, isn’t it?”

  Jason and Leo had been close, so the news must have upset him a great deal. She wasn’t sure how to reassure him. “Actually, I’d been thinking of doing this before—I just needed to come to terms with the decision.”

  “And if I do, what will you do then?” His voice had a sharper edge to it.

  She looked away from his penetrating gaze to survey the room. “You said you’ve kept this office as if Jason were coming back. He isn’t. And I have no intention of taking over. I’ve been living in the past
for too long now. Except for searching for Kaycee, I’m moving on with my life. Once I find her—”

  “Do you really think she’s alive?”

  She hitched a breath. “You don’t,” she whispered. Not once had she considered he might have doubts, and the knowledge cut her to the core.

  He must have seen the anguish on her face, because he leaned forward, taking her hand again. Gone was the hard businessman, replaced by the concern of her longtime friend. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said that. Of course you’ll never give up hope until you know for sure.”

  Even though he was being contrite, his words still stung, and Sara found it hard to let go of those feelings. However, for old time’s sake, for friendship sake, and for the sake of family, she’d try. “You were only voicing what everyone thinks. Leo, you have to believe me, Kaycee is alive. I just have to find her. I’ll never stop looking. Not as long as there’s breath in my body. I just wish you felt the same. I understand you can’t control your feelings.” She hesitated when he started to protest. “But I do want to move forward. I’d like you to buy my shares of the company. I feel like an outsider now, and I’ll sleep better when one-hundred percent of the stock is back in the family. Once Kaycee’s home, I’ll sell the house too, and move. I want to cut all ties to the past.”

  There. She’d finally said it. A weight lifted off her shoulders with the declaration.

  Leo had the oddest expression on his face before he turned his head away.

  “You’d really leave?”

  “Yes. I need a fresh start—someplace where I don’t see Jason at every turn in the house.” A chill slid down her spine, catching her unaware. Trying her best to not let it show, she hurried on. “Don’t worry, I’ll stay in touch. We’ve been friends a long time, and I don’t want to lose you, too. After all, we’re the only family we have left. We have to stick together.” For a brief moment, a pang of sadness assaulted her. This was the right thing to do. She knew it in her heart.

  Abruptly, he glanced at his watch, then stood and went to his desk. “I’m sorry, Sara. I have a meeting. I’ll have the attorneys draw up the necessary papers and get back with you.”

  She got to her feet. Instead of going to the door, she walked behind the desk, touched his shoulder, then leaned down and gave him a kiss on the cheek. “Nothing’s going to change. Except you’ll have sole responsibility for this place. And I’m sure you can handle it. After all, you’ve been doing it for months now. This is your company Leo, your legacy.” He looked at her, and the old familiar smile was back in place. Squeezing his shoulder, she turned and left.

  When the door clicked closed behind her, Sara felt refreshed. Saying her good-byes to Maxine, she headed for the elevator.

  Step one.

  ****

  It had been a week since Cat had left, since Sara had had the dream about Morgan. Charlene had called a few times to give her an update on the lack of progress, but at least she knew he was working on her case. She hadn’t seen him, and in all honesty, she missed him. Especially after that dream.

  She’d like to see if there was more of an attraction between them or if it had all been in her mind. The night he’d taken her to Slim’s, when they’d stopped in the road for the deer, he’d looked at her as if he could devour her right there on the spot. He almost did before he left her house later. She touched her lips, the feel and taste of him burned into her mind from his kiss. It had been so long since she’d been single she wasn’t quite sure how she was “supposed” to act. Pretend nothing had happened?

  She’d told herself that hiring him had been her sole purpose in going to his office. Except it really hadn’t been. She’d wanted to see him again and had found it hard to ignore what they’d shared. Even across the desk she felt the electricity sizzling. At least on her part. While with Morgan, she could let down her guard. Partially at any rate.

  However, for the last several days, she’d been sitting around the house a lot and either she was losing her mind or walking in her sleep. Both of which made her shudder. The vase in the foyer now sat on the drawing room mantel, a crystal decanter from the drawing room had been moved to the middle of Jason’s desk. She didn’t remember moving them. Every morning she made a game of searching the house, to find each item not in its original location. After identifying them, she left them where they were, afraid if she touched them her fractured nerves would shatter.

  Her making a joke out of it had lessened the stress to a certain degree. Only now there were too many things she couldn’t control and her hold on reality was slipping. Finding ways to distract herself had become more difficult as the days wore on.

  She’d made the mistake of going to the Country Club once. In the ruse of concern, her so-called friends had asked why Jason’s body had been exhumed. One woman had blatantly told her everyone thought she’d killed her husband and wanted to know why. What did she have to gain? Then she’d asked if the police were going to arrest her. That was the last time Sara had been to the club.

  Out of desperation, she decided to go for a drive. She’d told Cat she’d take the T-Bird out periodically to keep the battery charged and the fluids flowing, promising to continue the regular tune up’s and service appointments. It felt odd sliding behind the steering wheel of the vintage car. As soon as she turned on the engine, heavy metal music blared from the speakers. She quickly switched the radio off. How in the world could Cat listen to this type of racket? And so loud? Sara had no idea her friend liked the stuff. Then decided everyone had their own tastes, and it wasn’t any of her business what kind of music Cat listened to. At least she didn’t make Sara listen to it. Just like Sara didn’t force Cat to go to the opera with her. She grinned. They were certainly a strange pair.

  Sara turned the radio back on, leaving the volume low as she searched for something more soothing. Finally locating her favorite classical music station, she shifted the car into reverse. She hadn’t gone three feet before she jammed on the brakes, then switched the radio off again. Odd. She couldn’t remember a time when music hadn’t been part of her life. Now it irritated her, grinding on her nerves. She didn’t want to hear happy or soothing. In fact, she didn’t want to listen to it at all.

  After she sat and collected her wits, she finally pulled out of the garage. Enough of the depressing thoughts. To compensate in the other direction, she lowered the top, tied a scarf around her hair, and wore the largest sunglasses she owned. Just like Thelma and Louise. Forcing a smile, hoping she’d eventually feel a little better, she set off at a leisurely pace, determined to enjoy the sunny day.

  The dreams had become more frequent. And hearing Jason’s voice… She knew he was dead, yet she kept hearing him. Always accusing her of his death. How could that be? She hadn’t even realized he’d had a heart problem until the night he died. He should have told her. Wasn’t that what couples were supposed to do? Confide in each other? It was too late now so no sense in torturing herself with “what ifs.”

  She wound up at the river walk. She dropped her purse in the trunk and put the car keys into the pocket of her khaki colored Capri’s, glad she’d worn flat sandals. The day was almost too warm and muggy after the rains a few days earlier. The water level was still up, but flowed at a slow lazy pace, belying the treacherous underlying current of the river.

  Kind of like her. On the surface she seemed calm and serene. Underneath, her emotions were a swirling turmoil. She ached for her daughter, to have a bit of normalcy back in her life.

  No one knew just how close she was to cracking. Perhaps it was the sleepless nights she’d been having since they’d exhumed Jason’s body. Maybe it was the waiting for the results to come back. Or fear of what those results would be—what secrets they would tell. Or if they told anything at all.

  A woman with a stroller jogged passed her, the youngster inside happily bouncing with the mother’s pounding feet. Sara drew in a deep breath, held it as her heart skipped a beat. A simple outing with your child—so mundane, so n
ormal, that the wonder of it goes unappreciated.

  Until you lose your child. Then every small act becomes a cherished memory.

  Struggling to maintain her composure, she forced herself to turn away, to stop staring at the woman now disappearing around the far bend in the path. Sara’s chin quivered. Without Kaycee, she felt empty, barren. After several moments, she resumed a normal pace, resolutely ignoring the in-line bladers, bikers and joggers. Thank God there were no more babies in strollers.

  For a brief moment, she wondered what secrets others on the river walk might have? Did the dark-haired, middle aged woman’s spouse beat her? Why wasn’t the teenage skateboarder in school? Or had he flunked out? Had the last jogger just lost everything he owned and came here to sweat out his troubles. No one knew what lay under the surface of their fellow human beings, what horrors they might have experienced.

  Like having your dead husband talk to you.

  “Sara.”

  She shrieked. Jerking around, she halfway expected to see Jason looming over her in some form of an eerie apparition.

  Morgan. Thank God. Her heart pounded against her chest. “Don’t do that!” She was harsher than she’d intended. In reality, just the sight of him warmed her. He had on faded and worn jeans with a pale yellow button down shirt, making his dark looks seem even more mysterious and darker. He’d rolled the sleeves partway up his arms, adding to his casual appearance. His gaze, though, was just as dark and penetrating.

  “Sorry. Guess you were deep in thought and didn’t hear me come up.”

  She raised her eyebrows as if to say, obviously not. “How’d you know I’d be here?” Had she sent out some weird ESP signals or something? Or had he followed her again? It had been days since she’d seen or talked to him. Yet here he stood as if she’d summoned him out of thin air.