Buried Truth

by Jannine Gallant

Her legs slid out from under the steering wheel, and she landed on top of him. When they fell backward against a boulder, Barney danced and barked in a circle around them.

  Ryan kissed her forehead and let out a shaky breath. “When your car smashed against the rocks like a squashed tin can, I nearly had a heart attack. Jesus, Leah.”

  “You saw me go over the cliff?”

  He nodded. “I’d just gotten to your house, and Barney was running around the yard, acting all hyper. I planned to take him for a quick walk and had just started down the trail to the beach when I heard a loud impact. I glanced up as your car broke through the guardrail.”

  “It all happened so fast.” She pressed her face against his shoulder. “I didn’t have time to be frightened until it was over.”

  In the distance, a siren wailed, growing louder.

  She huddled closer to Ryan’s chest as his arms tightened around her. “Someone must have called nine-one-one.”

  “I reported the accident while I was sprinting up the beach.”

  “Did you see the man running away from my car?”

  Ryan jerked back. “No! What the hell?”

  She nodded. “A plow truck rammed me. Then the freak driving it climbed down to search for those pictures. He was shocked to find me still alive.”

  “Who was he?” Ryan bit off each word. “Give me a name, and I’ll kill the bastard.”

  “I don’t know.” Her words ended on a tearful sob. “I only saw the fluorescent vest he was wearing. Then you shouted, and he ran off. But I couldn’t make out any details through the shattered windshield.”

  “I was focused on the trail when I yelled. I didn’t want to fall on my face. He must have stayed close to the base of the cliff to avoid being visible.”

  The sirens suddenly cut off, and loud voices drifted on the breeze.

  Ryan kissed her again, a gentle caress. “I’m just so damn thankful you survived that crash.” He shifted out from behind her. “Stay put while I go talk to the emergency responders, then we’ll get you out of here.”

  The next two hours passed in a blur. The paramedics assessed her injuries and concluded she had a badly bruised knee and diaphragm, a gash at her hairline, and possible internal injuries. Once they hauled her up the cliff face in a sling, Leah agreed to go to the ER. After being subjected to a series of tests, the doctor in charge determined her spleen was bruised but not ruptured. The nurse cleaned and bandaged the cut at her temple and iced her knee. Pronounced fit to go home, she leaned back in the wheelchair as Ryan pushed her toward the exit.

  “Leah, are you feeling up to giving me a statement now?” Chris Long stood near the sliding glass doors leading to the parking lot. “I wanted to question you earlier, but the staff refused to let me go back there while you were being examined. I know you’re probably exhausted and in pain, but I need your account of the incident.”

  “Can we do this back at Leah’s house?” Ryan asked abruptly.

  Chris gave her another quick once-over and must have decided she looked like crap. He gave a quick nod. “Fine. I’ll follow you there.”

  “Thank you. I appreciate that.” Leah reached up to pat Ryan’s hand. “Let’s go, but you’ll have to keep it under eighty since we’ll have a cop on our tail.”

  The officer cracked a smile. “At least you can still joke. I’ll see you shortly.”

  After Ryan helped her into his Jeep and returned the wheelchair, she settled carefully against the seat and forced her mind to go blank. For the length of time it took to drive home from the hospital, she didn’t want to think about . . . anything. Ryan seemed to understand. He kept quiet as he started the engine and pulled out of the parking lot onto the road. They’d gone a good five miles before she opened her eyes to stare out into the dark. The headlights slashed through the night, illuminating the winding road ahead.

  “Thank you for being there for me through this. Odd, but that’s what I was thinking when that homicidal maniac slammed into my car. You’ve been a rock when I needed you.” She waved a hand toward the three stone monoliths in the cove, outlined in the moonlight. “As steadfast as one of the Sirens.”

  “Hopefully I haven’t been the one drawing you closer to disaster. I don’t know why that asshole went after you instead of me. Why did he think you were the one who had the pictures?”

  “Kind of makes sense.” Leah sighed. “I had the film originally, and you turned over two of the prints to the cops in Coos Bay.”

  “So, he reasoned you were holding on to any remaining photos.” He slammed his hand down on the steering wheel. “Damn, I hate this.”

  “Me, too.” Her head ached, and thinking was an effort. “What should we tell Chris Long?”

  Ryan glanced over before returning his attention to the road. “A version of the truth, I guess.”

  “And if his dad is involved? What if Chris is willing to do anything to conceal his father’s crime?”

  “Then we’ll cover our asses and call the police chief ourselves. We’ll tell Long we want Chief Stackhouse to hear what happened straight from us.”

  “Smart. Very smart.” Leah pulled her phone out of her purse, thankful she’d had the presence of mind to ask Ryan to collect all her belongings before she abandoned her car to the wrecker. “I have his personal number. I’ll call him right now.”

  By the time they parked in her driveway, Chief Stackhouse had assured her he was on his way. She dropped her phone back in her bag and glanced over her shoulder as Chris Long pulled up behind them.

  “Don’t move. I’ll help you inside.” Ryan opened his door. “I don’t want you putting any pressure on that knee.”

  She nodded and waited as he hurried around to her side of the car. “Good thing I have a pair of crutches in one of the closets from when my grandpa had hip surgery a dozen years ago.”

  “I’ll find them for you after the cops leave.” Ryan slid his arm around her waist and fended off Barney, who barked and jumped in excitement. “Do you have your keys?”

  Leah sorted through her bag and handed them over before sliding off the seat. Leaning on him, she limped into the carport. Behind them, a door slammed and gravel crunched. She turned and forced a smile as the officer approached.

  “I’ll be happy to have this over with. I gave Chief Stackhouse a call.” Her mouth strained to keep the smile in place. “I didn’t want to have to repeat the whole story again.”

  The officer nodded and eyed the dog when Barney growled and stared out into the dark. “Good idea.”

  Ryan unlocked the kitchen door, pushed it open, then reached inside to flip on the light. He took one step and stopped so fast, Leah smacked up against him.

  “Holy hell.”

  “What?” She peered around him and gasped.

  “Someone trashed the place. Again.”

  Chapter Twenty-three

  “Where, exactly, are the rest of the photos now?”

  Ryan gripped Leah’s hand as he faced the police chief across the coffee table and lied through his teeth. “That’s the thing. There aren’t any more pictures. The film was damp, and most of the roll was unsalvageable. I gave the only two prints I was able to recover to Detective Stannard.”

  Officer Long glanced up from his notepad. “And the negatives?”

  “I had them in a folder open on the counter, and I’m afraid I splashed coffee on them. I chucked the ruined negatives in the trash before I took the prints to Stannard. Otherwise, I would have given those to him, too.”

  Stackhouse glanced from Ryan to Leah and back. “Now, why is it you drove all the way down to Coos Bay to turn over those photographs when you could just as easily have given them to Chris here, or to me?” The chief hunched forward and planted his elbows on his knees. “Am I missing a piece of the puzzle?”

  “Curiosity.” Leah gave a nervous laugh. “And you know what they say about curiosity killing the cat. I think I used up one of my nine lives today.”

  Stackhouse frowned. “I’m afrai
d I don’t understand.”

  Ryan jumped in before Leah could speak. “My mom told me about the detectives who questioned Mrs. Winston, our school principal, back when we buried the time capsule. I got to wondering about that, since those photos were so strange.”

  “You said the pictures showed men in hooded cloaks around a bonfire.” Chris Long frowned. “Sounds like a Halloween party to me.”

  Ryan squeezed Leah’s fingers so hard she winced. “Except there was a naked woman stretched out in the center of the ring.”

  The clock over the mantel ticked loudly in the ensuing silence.

  “Jesus,” the younger cop said softly.

  “As I said, strange and . . . disturbing.” Ryan let out a breath and relaxed his grip on Leah’s hand. “Our curiosity was roused, so I talked to Mrs. Winston. She mentioned the hitchhiker who’d vanished that October, the girl she’d passed, out on the highway. I couldn’t help wondering if there was any connection between her disappearance and the photos on the film buried in the time capsule. I figured taking the pictures to the original detective in charge of the case was the right move.”

  “Except the pictures were stolen out of his possession.” Stackhouse grunted. “I would have been more careful with evidence.”

  “Honestly, at this point, I couldn’t care less. They’re gone for good.” Tears thickened Leah’s voice. “I just wish whoever wants the damned things knew we don’t have them anymore so he’d stop trying to kill me.”

  Officer Long glanced at his superior. “Chief, maybe we can try to spread the word. I don’t like the idea that someone might come after either Leah or Ryan again.”

  “That might work. This is a small community. If all my men drop a casual comment here and there around town, the news will spread faster than fleas on a hound.” His lips curled as he gazed at Barney, scratching furiously behind one ear. “My guess is you’ll be safe enough in short order.” His attention returned to Leah. “You’re certain you aren’t able to identify the man who ran you off the road?”

  “He was probably of average height and weight. He wore jeans with a fluorescent yellow vest over a dark shirt, and gloves. That’s all I saw.”

  “What about his voice?” Long held his pen poised over the notebook. “He spoke to you, so possibly you noticed something distinctive.”

  “He was yelling. Swearing. I was so scared I didn’t pay much attention to his diction.” She closed her eyes. “No odd accent, I’m certain of that. People sound different when they shout—high and whiny—and he only said a few words. I don’t know if I’d be able to identify him if he spoke in a normal tone, but I’d certainly be willing to try.”

  The officer closed his notebook and slipped it into his pocket. “If you remember anything else, call us.”

  Stackhouse rose to his feet and smiled at Leah. “We’ll need to process your home for evidence. At least the perp didn’t make as big of a mess this time. I assume you have someplace you can go for the night?”

  “My mom’s house.” Ryan released her hand and stood. “I’ll go get Leah a change of clothes and a pair of crutches, if that’s okay, and then we’ll get out of your way.”

  “I’ll come with you.” Chris Long followed him from the room and up the stairs.

  Ryan found the crutches in a closet in one of the spare bedrooms, then efficiently loaded an overnight bag with the bare essentials. At least he hoped he’d gotten everything Leah would need. Officer Long leaned against the doorframe while he packed. To make sure I don’t sneak the missing photos into the bag along with her clean underwear? He had no idea if the two cops had believed his lies, but he sure as hell hoped so.

  “That should do it.” He shut the dresser drawer and lifted the crutches off the bed.

  Long straightened. “Great. We’ll do our best to keep the mess to a minimum when we dust for prints, but it has to be done. Hopefully the perp screwed up this time and left evidence.”

  “The guy seems pretty damned cautious. I’m surprised he spoke in Leah’s presence.”

  “Could be he wasn’t planning to leave her there alive, but you screwed up his plans.”

  A chill blasted through Ryan as he snapped off the bedroom light and headed downstairs with the cop following him. “You mentioned earlier this freak just walked onto the lot where the road crews leave their vehicles and drove off in one of them?”

  “Yes. A few of the men we questioned admitted to leaving the keys in the ignition of the trucks since the gates are locked after hours.”

  Ryan stopped at the foot of the stairs. “But this SOB swiped the plow truck before they closed the gates and probably wore the vest so a casual observer wouldn’t see anything unusual.”

  “Pretty damned smart,” Long agreed. “They’re easier to catch when they’re stupid.”

  “I imagine. You’ll contact us if there’s any news?”

  “Of course.”

  As the cop turned toward the kitchen, Ryan hurried into the living room. Approaching the couch, he held out the crutches to Leah. “Here you go.”

  “Thanks.” She rose with a slight wince to take them from him, then glanced over at the chief. “Unless you need anything else?”

  “Not right now.” He patted her arm. “I’m sorry you were hurt, but after a crash like that, I’d say you were pretty fortunate it wasn’t a whole lot worse.”

  “I guess so, but I certainly don’t feel lucky. Thanks for coming out to personally supervise my case. I appreciate it.”

  “You bet. Take care, Leah.”

  Ryan nodded as he passed. With a moan, Barney surged to his feet and followed them out of the house into the chilly night air.

  “All I want is to wake up in the morning to discover this whole day was nothing but a nightmare.” She leaned against the Jeep, head hanging, as he unlocked the door.

  “We’ll deal with all the complications.” He raised her chin with a gentle hand and dropped a kiss on her lips. “Together.” After Barney jumped into the back, Ryan stowed the crutches before helping Leah onto the passenger seat. “I know it sucks. The last time I felt like my life was this out of control was when Jay stole Intersect out from under me.”

  She glanced over and smiled. “I guess that didn’t turn out so badly.”

  “No, and we’ll get through this ordeal, too.”

  “One can only hope.”

  * * *

  “You know I can’t simply run away from all my problems, right?” Leah rolled down the window and breathed in the scent of pine as they bumped down the narrow road. “Not that I wouldn’t like to.”

  “We’re simply putting them on hold for the weekend. No harm in that.”

  Ryan drove into a small clearing and parked in front of an adorable cabin that reminded Leah of a fairy-tale cottage. In the distance, the Three Sisters towered over the forest of evergreens that backed up to Ryan’s property.

  “I love your home.” She opened the door, then grunted when Barney jumped across the center console onto her lap before leaping to freedom. “Do you have seven dwarves stashed somewhere?”

  “Funny.” Ryan climbed out and lifted the cat carrier from the back seat. “My house is small but functional. Charlie and I don’t need a lot of room.”

  “I don’t know about that. Charlie’s presence is immeasurable, despite his physical size. Barney is terrified of him.”

  “Your dog’s a big chicken.” Ryan released the latch on the gated front of the container and lifted his cat to the ground. Charlie strolled toward the cabin, tail twitching as Barney backed cautiously away.

  “Apparently, Barney knows who’s boss.”

  Ryan circled the Jeep and slipped an arm around her waist. “Let’s head inside. I’ll get the bags later.”

  “I wish I could go for a hike in the woods with you. It really is beautiful here.” Leah clamped her teeth together as a twinge of pain zinged through her knee.

  “Next time.” Pulling the keys from his pocket, he unlocked the front door and wai
ted for the cat to precede them inside. “You should still be using those crutches.”

  “My knee feels a whole lot better, the swelling has gone down, and after a full day of walking with crutches, I’m over the damned things. I know it’ll be a while before I can do anything strenuous, but I can get around the house unaided.”

  He squeezed her to his side. “I like aiding you, but I’d rather take you rock climbing. That’ll have to wait.”

  “For me, yes, but I know you’re dying to go.” Leah glanced around the main room of his perfectly tidy cabin. “Wow, I really am an unorganized mess. I’m surprised you can stand hanging out in my house.”

  “I’m learning I can put up with a lot when I have the right motivation.” He led her to a stool at the kitchen counter. “Sit.”

  She followed orders. “Should I be flattered or appalled that I’m corrupting you?”

  “Flattered. Shall we have lunch?”

  “After that huge breakfast? I’m not hungry.”

  His gaze slid toward the ropes and harnesses and other paraphernalia hanging on hooks in the mudroom. “We can play cards or work on a puzzle or—”

  She dropped a hand onto his arm. “Go. Do your own thing. Please. I agreed to come with you because I needed a break from stressing over who might try to kill me next.” Her grip tightened. “But if you hover over me all weekend, I may scream.”

  He grinned. “Can’t have you turning into a raving lunatic. Fine, I’ll go. I expect you can entertain yourself.”

  “Thank you.” She rolled her eyes. “I’m a big girl now.”

  “Funny.”

  “I try.” She waved a hand. “We can go out to dinner after you get home, since I doubt you have much food in the house. Then maybe stop by the store for milk and eggs and a few other necessities.”

  “I have nonperishables in the pantry. You can heat up a can of soup if you get hungry later.” He cupped her face in his hands and kissed her. “You rock. You know that, right?”

  “What, because I don’t cling? That’s not my style. Have a good time, but try not to hurt yourself. Can’t have both of us gimping around.”

  He grinned. “I do love your sense of humor.” He kissed her again. “I’ll change, grab a couple of protein bars and my equipment, then I’m out of here.”