Tall, Dark, and Deadly

by Heather Graham

  She was going to be sick again.

  Maggot soup.

  The body, floating, filled with muck, algae, green… headless…

  No, no. Breathe through your mouth, that’s what Rowan had told her. Breathe through your mouth.

  Although Teddy had discovered the body, he wasn’t given the case. Another team that was on duty was called in, and one of those men, a fellow named Rolf Lunden, was made lead investigator. At first Teddy wasn’t pleased. He had found the body. It might become a major case, depending on just who the body parts had once belonged to.

  All Sam wanted to do was leave. She was tired; she felt filthy from the heat and the swamp—and from the proximity of the body. She was feeling a lot stronger than she had right after her discovery. No one could enjoy finding a body, but after the first shock, she didn’t feel the need to be coddled or protected. She did, however, want to go home.

  But Teddy had been driving. He was over by the refrigerated section; she could see him arguing with one of the cops who had come to Big Al’s, and she heard someone say that reporters had gotten wind of the find, and they’d be showing up soon.

  Rowan went to Teddy. “We’re getting Sam out of here.”

  “I’m okay,” Sam said.

  He stared at her. “Want to be around when the reporters show up?”

  “No,” she admitted.

  “But—” Teddy began.

  “Hey, we’re about wrapped up for the night anyway,” Rolf Lunden said. He seemed such an easygoing man to be a homicide cop. “Teddy, don’t worry, I’ll keep you informed every step of the way.”

  “Yeah, please, do that, Rolf. I can’t help but be interested in this one.”

  “Yeah, I know. This area means a lot to you,” Rolf said.

  They had been talking about diving the next day, but it was pitch-dark out in the swamp now. There were a lot of night feeders out there. There would be little they could discover in the blackness of the Everglades.

  At last they left Big Al’s behind them. Sam was grateful.

  “What will happen now?” Rowan asked when they were seated in Teddy’s Jeep, headed back east along the Tamiami Trail, Teddy’s boat securely hitched behind them.

  “Well, what we found will go to the morgue; they’ll take what tissue samples they can scrape together—” he said, then broke off. “Sorry. Anyway, there will be an autopsy on what they do have of the body.”

  “Will they be able to find out anything from—from what we discovered?” Sam asked.

  “Sure. You heard the M.E. It’s amazing what they can discover. Of course, they don’t have a lot to work with, but… well, they’ll know approximate age, height weight. Maybe, if there are enough of the lungs left, they’ll be able to tell if the victim drowned. They’ll study the bones to see if—” He stopped again for a minute, meeting Sam’s eyes in the rearview mirror.

  “Go on,” she said flatly.

  “If her limbs were cut off or…”

  “Chewed off?” Sam demanded.

  “Yes,” Teddy answered quietly. “Tomorrow, when it’s light, police divers will go down in the area. We’ll see if we can find any more body pa— any more evidence.”

  “Oh, God,” Sam breathed.

  “Are you going to be sick again, Sam?” Teddy asked.

  “Damn it, Henley, just drive!” Rowan said protectively.

  “I’m not going to be sick,” Sam said. She hoped she was telling the truth. She swallowed hard and breathed through her mouth.

  “That would be one interesting dive,” Rowan said.

  This time Teddy met Rowan’s eyes in the mirror. “You think so?”

  “Yes. Very. I’m a licensed diver, you know.”

  “Is that right?”

  There wasn’t much more conversation between them until they reached the house. As Teddy drove into Sam’s driveway, they saw that there were two police cars and an old beige BMW parked in front of Marnie’s house. Quickly exiting the car, Teddy narrowed his eyes toward Marnie’s and said, “I wonder what the hell is going on over there. I’m going to go on over and see.”

  Rowan crawled out of the car and reached in to help Sam out. “I’m all right,” she said.

  He didn’t seem to be paying much attention to her. He was looking at Marnie’s house as well. As they looked, someone stepped out of the house and walked toward the BMW.

  “Thayer,” Rowan said quietly.

  “Marnie’s brother. Oh, God, I wonder if…”

  “Don’t start wondering things!” Rowan said firmly.

  Teddy stopped Thayer briefly. Then Teddy kept moving toward the house. Thayer continued toward his car.

  “Thayer!” Rowan called out.

  “Hi, there!” Thayer called back cheerfully.

  He would never have sounded so light and carefree if they had just found his sister’s body somewhere, would he? Sam wondered.

  “What’s going on?”

  Thayer reached the car. He looked handsome in a thin, dark, artistic way, Sam thought. He was in pressed linen trousers and a silk shirt. “I don’t know. The police won’t tell me. Teddy said they might have fingerprint experts in there… serologists… they’re trying to see what they can find, I guess.”

  He obviously didn’t know about the blood smear. “At least they’re trying to do something,” Sam said.

  “Yeah, sure,” Thayer said. He tried to sound encouraging.

  “How did you happen to be here?” Rowan asked.

  Thayer shrugged. “I haven’t seen my father in a few days now. I thought he could be here.”

  “You look really nice,” Sam said. “Very nicely dressed to go looking for your father.” The moment the words were out of her mouth, she wished that she hadn’t said them. They sounded so suspicious, as if she were accusing him of something.

  He didn’t take offense. “I have an appointment with a gallery owner. I’m going to show some of my work to this fellow who has two places, one in the Grove and one up at Aventura.”

  “That’s great,” Sam said. “Your sister would be so proud of you.”

  He laughed. “Do you think? I’m not so sure. I don’t think Marnie believes in art.”

  “I’m sure she does—”

  “Oh, come on, now, we all know Marnie here. Unless I were to sell a piece for an ungodly sum, Marnie would never care one way or the other. Hey, want to see my stuff?”

  “I’d love to,” Sam said. “Except that I really need a shower—”

  “Let’s see it,” Rowan said.

  “Sure!”

  Pleased, Thayer went around to his trunk and took out a large portfolio. Sam followed Rowan.

  Thayer opened the zipper on the leather portfolio.

  A street lamp shone down upon his first painting.

  Sam almost screamed out loud. Her fingers dug into Rowan’s arm.

  It was an oil painting, a beautiful, fascinating painting.

  Of the swamp.

  It might have been the very place they had just left.

  There were the hammocks, the water… the beautiful birds, with their multicolored plumage. In the darkness, the eyes of the alligators peered above the surface of the water. In the sky beyond was the surreal glory of a sunset.

  “My God!” Sam breathed. She felt weak.

  “There are more!” Thayer said, pleased with her reaction. “This is one of my favorites.” He slid his fingers carefully around the canvas to display the next painting, of the sun shining on a heron. In the next, an old Indian man fished in the water; the work on his face was wonderful. There was a painting of a panther in the brush. And then, a scene on the water again. This time a woman walked out of the swamp to the shore. Water sluiced from her back. She was elegant, graceful, and, other than the jewelry she wore, she was naked, cast in night and shadow, smiling. Offering the same allure, somehow, as the swamp. Beauty, and danger.

  “They’re excellent paintings,” Rowan said.

  “Do you think so? Thanks. Thanks so m
uch.”

  They were talking so casually, Sam wanted to scream. They had just come from the swamp.

  They had found a body there.

  And now it seemed that Thayer had re-created that very spot.

  With a woman walking out of the water, she told herself. He hadn’t painted any corpses.

  Just a woman.

  Naked in the swamp.

  “Did you manage to get a live model, naked out in the swamp, to pose for that painting?” Sam asked.

  Thayer laughed. “No. I was in the swamp. I’ve even been in the swamp with a few women. But no, no one posed for this. She was from memory; the swamp was real.” He offered her a boyish smile.

  “There’s something so familiar…” Rowan murmured.

  “What?” Thayer asked sharply.

  “She’s really intriguing,” Rowan said. “Anyone we know?”

  “I would never kiss and tell! Well, I’ve got to go,” Thayer said cheerfully. “I’m late for my appointment as it is.” He gazed at Sam, frowning. “Are you all right? You’re pale as a ghost!”

  She jerked her head in a nod.

  “Long day fishing,” Rowan explained.

  “Oh, where?” Thayer asked, his frown deepening. “Out on the bay? You usually get burned out there—”

  “In the Glades,” Rowan said. “A place kind of like the one you pictured in all your paintings.”

  “Oh, yeah? I love the Glades. I still go out whenever I can, despite the fact that so many people think the really ‘natural’ beauty has been so compromised. Why, there are places out there I’m willing to bet will never be really civilized. Talk about being alone, communing with nature… well, you can’t beat it.”

  Sam ground her teeth together hard. “No, you can’t beat it.”

  Thayer grinned at Rowan. “What a place to take a date, huh?”

  “Oh, yeah. What a place.”

  “Did you find something out there. Is that why you look so strange?” he queried suddenly.

  “Find something—” Sam began.

  “A body,” Rowan said flatly, watching Thayer. Did he think…?

  They didn’t even know whose body they had found! Not Marnie’s! Thayer couldn’t have had anything to do with the body they’d found…

  So why did she feel so uneasy, so afraid?

  Because he’d painted the exact hammock where they’d been. Or was it? The hammocks could look so much alike. Dark, overgrown, with beautiful birds…

  And the deadly eyes of predators.

  “A body!” Thayer exclaimed.

  “Yeah.” Rowan folded his arms over his chest and leaned against Thayer’s car, watching him. “Sam was fishing. She snagged a body.”

  “Oh, my God!” Thayer stared at them. He seemed stricken. “Not—my God, not Marnie!”

  “No, not Marnie.”

  “Thank God!”

  “What made you think it would be your sister?” Sam demanded. “She hated the swamp.”

  “Oh, yeah, I know, but my father—”

  “Your father what?” Rowan demanded.

  “Oh, when we were kids, he’d drag us out there sometimes. I always loved it. Marnie hated it. He still goes out there. When he’s really hungry, and can’t find Marnie or me to give him a handout.” He offered them a grimace. “We both give my father money. He drinks it.”

  “But you give him more?” Sam said.

  “Well, he’s my father.”

  “You think he might have gotten mad and dragged your sister out there somewhere?” Rowan asked.

  “God, no!” Thayer said, horrified.

  “But you asked if we had found Marnie.”

  Thayer lifted his hands. “I’m just glad that you didn’t. Sam, are you sure you’re all right?”

  “Fine,” she told him.

  He looked at Rowan. “Well, I really gotta go. Good night. Wish me luck.”

  He zipped up his portfolio and walked around to the driver’s seat of his car. Sam and Rowan stood back.

  Thayer waved and drove off.

  As he did so, Teddy came out of Marnie’s house. “Boy, if she is all right and comes back soon, she is going to be royally pissed off!” Teddy said. “Her place is a real mess.”

  Sam saw that Rowan had turned. An officer was coming out of Marnie’s house. His hands were still gloved in plastic.

  “Rowan, this is Officer Aldridge. Aldridge—”

  “We’ve met,” Rowan said icily.

  “Yeah, well, I guess we’re going to have a few questions again, Mr. Dillon—” Aldridge began.

  “Why? You’ll get the same answers.”

  “Yeah, well, we’d like you to cooperate. We’re going to need some samples of—”

  “I’ll cooperate. You can have whatever samples you want, but you’ve already got your answers. Yes, I had a relationship with Ms. Newcastle. No, I had nothing to do with her disappearance. No, it wasn’t serious. It was friendship.”

  Aldridge looked at Sam, as if telling her she was into a bad thing. He looked back at Rowan. “A one-nighter, huh?”

  “A friendship,” Rowan repeated.

  “I hear you were with Detective Henley today—-and found a body.”

  “I fished up the body,” Sam said.

  “Well, we will be talking to you.” Aldridge told Rowan.

  “I’m easy to find,” Rowan told him.

  “Don’t leave town.”

  “I wouldn’t dream of it.”

  “Well, then… and hey, all of you—stay out of that house now.” Aldridge walked away.

  “Asshole!” Teddy said under his breath.

  “Well… Teddy,“ Sam said. “Thanks for the fishing trip. It’s been one hell of a day.”

  “Yeah. Sorry, both of you. Thought we’d be frying up catfish. I didn’t mean to get you involved in something like this.” He slid into the driver’s seat of his Jeep and looked out at Sam. “You all right?”

  She nodded.

  “I’ll be talking to you,” he told Rowan.

  They stood together in the driveway as Teddy left. When his car was gone, Sam said, “I really have to take a shower.”

  “Yeah, so do I.”

  She turned, starting toward her house. “Wait a minute,” he said. “I’ll just go in with you for a minute.”

  “I’m all right,” Sam said, fitting her key into the lock, then tapping in her alarm code.

  “I’ll be the judge of that,” Rowan tried to sound teasing. He walked in with her, walked through the house, ran upstairs. He came back down after a minute. “It’s empty.”

  “What were you expecting?”

  “Nothing. But it’s better to be safe than sorry.”

  He didn’t seem to have any intention of leaving. “Rowan, I’ve really got to take a shower.” In her mind’s eye, the vision of the corpse was beginning to become just a bit surreal. They hadn’t found Marnie. Life had to go on. They might never know who they had found. Or how she had gotten there.

  Still, he hesitated. “Sam… you need to understand.”

  She felt a strange tension. “Oh, yeah. About you and Marnie. It was just one of those things.”

  He shook his head. “No. She was hurt. Really hurt. It happened. It wouldn’t happen again.”

  “Rowan, it isn’t any of my business.”

  “Yes, it is.”

  “Rowan, please—”

  “Yeah, I have to take a shower, too. I need clean clothes badly. I’ll call you.”

  “Sure.”

  He started out.

  “Rowan?”

  “What?” He hesitated at the door.

  “Do you think that Thayer is a homicidal maniac who hangs out in the swamp and waits for naked women to walk out of it?”

  “I don’t know what to think. Do you?”

  He opened and closed the door, leaving her.

  Laura Henley came in from shopping and heard music coming from her son’s room. Surprised, she frowned. Aidan was never home at this time of night.


  She walked to his room. Yes, Aidan was home. She tapped on the door, then tapped louder. He came and opened the door. He was on the phone, but smiling away. He beckoned her in.

  “Yes, yes. No, it’s fine, we don’t mind the short notice. No, we’ll be there. I’ll get people there, I promise.” He hung up the phone, then let out a cry of joy, throwing his arms around Laura. “Mom!”

  “What?” she demanded, pleased that he was so happy. “Mom, Mom—we’ve been asked to open for a big free concert in the Grove this Sunday!”

  “That’s great, Aidan.”

  “So great! Except, oh, Mom, help me, please—I’ve just got to get people there.”

  “We’ll get people there. Your sister will work on it, Sam—”

  “And one of you can get Rowan Dillon to show up, right?”

  “Probably.”

  Aidan kissed her on the cheek. “Everyone. I need everyone we know. Maybe Sam can get all her clients to come. And all the people from Marnie’s law office.”

  “Maybe.”

  “And Lacey will help me, of course. Except that Lacey is leaving tomorrow.”

  “Oh, yeah, I forgot.”

  “Man, big opportunities for both of us, huh, Mom?”

  “Yep.” She talked with him a while longer. She was so pleased for both her children. She really loved them; she really wanted the best for both of them. Sometimes, though, it felt so lonely. Their lives were just beginning. Hers was…

  Well, when they were gone…

  Hers would just be alone.

  She lifted her chin, told him again how happy she was, and headed out. Lacey would be off tomorrow.

  She paused at her daughter’s door, then tapped on it. “Come in!”

  She went on in. Lacey was just sitting on her bed in a pair of baby doll pajamas, looking very young.

  And lost. And frightened.

  “Did you hear about your brother?” Laura asked.

  “Yeah, isn’t it great?” Lacey gave her a big smile. Yet it faded so quickly.

  “And you—going off to New York!”

  Lacey smiled again. She looked a little pale. Laura sat down by her side. “Honey, are you sure you’re all right with money for this? I can get my hands on a little more—”