The Sound of Secrets

by Irene Brand

  But more than anything else, the quiet retreat provided ample time to reflect on her relationship with Drew, which had definitely taken a positive turn. Could they possibly make a happy marriage? He was small-town; she was city. He didn’t have a college education; she had graduated from Yale. Drew came from a poor, uncultured family; for centuries, her family’s roots had dipped deeply into Maine’s highest social and cultural background.

  Stop it! she scolded herself. You’ll never build a relationship with negative thoughts. Consider what you have in common.

  They both loved the Lord, and that was an adequate foundation for any marriage. Even though Drew admitted that he’d strayed away from the Christian teaching of his childhood, in the few days she’d known him, she’d definitely seen his thoughts turning toward God.

  They had both been scarred by incidents in their childhood. His father had been abusive and had abandoned him, and her father had never shown any affection for his daughters. In fact, after this episode, Rissa had the feeling that her father would disown her, which would place her and Drew on the same level.

  Both of them were eager to sacrifice to reach goals they’d set for themselves. They enjoyed the other’s company. When they were together, she never considered that she and Drew were of a different class. By the end of her tenure at Hideaway, Rissa knew that she loved Drew. Based on love and their Christian faith, she believed they could make a life.

  When Drew came to pick Rissa up, he wore a pair of jeans and a plaid flannel shirt. He didn’t have on a badge or a revolver. She had been worried that Drew might have been fired because he had helped her escape from the hospital, and the absence of his uniform made her concerned that had happened. Of course, it might be that he just wasn’t on duty now.

  “You look great,” he said as they drove away from the safe house.

  “And I feel rested and ready to take on the world again. I’ve come to the conclusion that my depression has stemmed from the pressure of last-minute preparations for the opening of my show. Coupled with all the problems we’ve had at Stoneley since the first of the year, I had more than anyone could bear.”

  “I don’t want to upset your newfound euphoria, but you can’t forget that somebody tried to kill you, so you have to be cautious. In fact, two people have made attempts on your life—I’m sure that hitman was after you. So you’re a threat to somebody.”

  “But I don’t know anything!” she protested.

  “Whoever is responsible for the murder of your mother doesn’t know that. I wish you would go back to New York and stay there until this crime wave at Stoneley is over. I’ll miss seeing you, but I want you to be safe. And you aren’t safe at Blanchard Manor.”

  “I won’t leave until after my mother’s funeral, but I will go then if the police release me. I noticed the absence of your cop regalia. What’s happened?”

  “I’ve been suspended from duty without pay for a month. It may be an indefinite suspension after that.”

  “And it’s all my fault.”

  “Don’t flatter yourself,” he said, but his warm smile took the sting out of his words. “I knew what I was doing.”

  “You don’t seem much concerned about it.”

  “I think the chief is on my side and certainly most of the department is rooting for me, but he had no choice except to suspend me. I broke the law, and I need to be chastised. But I’d do it again in a heartbeat. To see you looking as serene as you do today has paid me in full for any problems I have.”

  Drew drove slowly, not at the breakneck pace he usually traveled, and Rissa told him about her experiences in the safe house and her plans for the future based on that.

  “I needed some time away from everyone to sort out my future. I’ve never felt closer to God than during the time I was cut off from the rest of the world. He’s given me direction for the future.”

  “Does that future include me?”

  “Probably—if you want it that way,” she said, and there was a gentleness in her voice.

  “And I do. Although I’m not sure how I’ll fit in your life.”

  Rissa placed her fingers over his lips. “Don’t even think it! That’s one of the things the enforced solitude brought to my attention. We need to focus on the positive. I did and was amazed at how much we’re alike.”

  “God has been directing my thoughts along the same line. The past several days, we’ve worked together as a team. I’ve helped you—you’ve helped me. I would never have subdued that hitman if you hadn’t banged him on the head.”

  “What did you find out about him?”

  “Not much. They booked him by the name of Conrad Keefer, which turned out to be an alias. He still sticks to his story that he was only passing through Stoneley. He says he had never heard of the Blanchards, but that he saw my uniform and thought I was going to kill him. He’s spent more time in jail than out for the past ten years. He’ll be taken back to the state prison in a few days, for he’s broken his parole by carrying a firearm.”

  “And you still think he was trying to kill me?”

  “Yes. I’m not exactly a novice in law enforcement, and I know he wasn’t pointing the gun at me, but at you. Whoever threw you over that cliff sent that man to kill you. I’m convinced of it.”

  “But how could he have known where to find me?”

  “That’s been puzzling me, too. Nobody knew except me. I’d made arrangements to bring you to the safe house, but I hadn’t told anyone. I didn’t even tell my accomplice in the hospital what I intended to do. I just persuaded him to play blind for a short time.”

  “I suppose the gunman could have followed us to the safe house.”

  “Maybe, but I didn’t waste any time. If he followed us, he couldn’t have gotten there before we did. Somehow that man learned where I was taking you and got there before we did.”

  “Maybe he was hiding in the hallway and overheard what you said to me.”

  “That’s as good an explanation as I can imagine. I only know that someone means harm to you, and I can’t seem to protect you. I wish you could have stayed at the safe house until after your mother’s funeral. I’m worried about you, and I can’t watch you all the time.”

  “I know this sounds strange, because I was so fearful before, but because God has protected me through several incidents, I don’t believe He will let anything happen to me.”

  Drew’s eyes were gentle and contemplative. “You may be right.”

  “I’m convinced of it. In the past few days, I’ve been delivered from death twice. I read a lot of Psalms while I was in the safe house, and I kept coming back to a psalm written by David when he was being pursued by his enemies. He praised God’s deliverance by saying ‘They spread a net for my feet—I was bowed down in distress. They dug a pit in my path—but they have fallen into it themselves.’ I’m confident that the mystery is going to be solved without any further harm coming to me.”

  “I pray that’s true, and I believe it is, but I still can’t help but worry that something will destroy our happiness. I’m not very good at this proposing business—I’ve had no practice at it. What I started to say was that we do have a lot going for us. I want to marry you, Rissa. If you feel the same way, we’ll work out the why and wherefores later.”

  Her heart swelled. “I want to marry you,” she murmured tenderly.

  He stopped the car, pulled to the side of the road. His hands slipped up her arms and brought her closer.

  “This is pretty public, isn’t it?”

  Laughing into her hair, he said, “Who cares? I’d just as soon shout it from the housetops, but I suppose we’ll have to wait a little longer.”

  She settled against him, savoring the feel of his arms around her. She had never felt so secure in her life. Burying her face in his neck, she breathed a caress there. When she lifted her face to him, Drew’s kiss touched her like a whisper.

  Sighing, he released her and scooted behind the wheel. “I can’t help wondering if I’m h
allucinating or dreaming,” he murmured. “But my dreams have never been as pleasant as this.”

  “Are you going to ask Father, or will we just tell him?”

  “Knowing what I do about him, I’m sure he will never give his blessing on a marriage between us. As far as I’m concerned, I’d just as soon tell him after we’re married.”

  “Maybe we could have a double wedding with Mick and Portia.”

  “We can’t decide on a date until I’m sure I have a job. The last two days I’ve been preparing a résumé to be sent to police departments in the New York City area and also to neighboring New Jersey. I won’t send it until I know what the outcome of my suspension is.”

  “I’m sure you can get a job there.”

  “You know my interest in airplanes. I’d like to connect to a department where they have helicopter patrols. I’ve thought that my dreams to fly would never happen, but after I’ve met you, I’m ready to reach for the stars.”

  “My goal is to become successful in the city’s show business. So we’ll reach for the stars together.”

  “Suits me. I’ll gladly enter your world.”

  “Maybe diversity is a good thing in a marriage. I’ll enjoy introducing you to my life.”

  Blanchard Manor came in sight and Rissa was amazed at how little the stern facade intimidated her today. Would marriage to Drew finally break the hold that had tied her to the past?

  “I’m going in to help you face the music, but now that I’m no longer on the force, there will be other officers watching the family. You can call me when you have an opportunity.”

  “I may leave with you,” Rissa said, and the thought didn’t bother her at all. “I wouldn’t be at all surprised if Father forbids me to enter the house.”

  Laughing, he opened the car door for her. “That doesn’t seem to bother you.”

  She squeezed his hand. “Thanks to you—nothing bothers me today.”

  Apparently no one was aware of their arrival, for the door didn’t open. Rissa punched in the code and walked before Drew into the hallway. An officer waved to them from his chair next to the stair steps.

  “Aunt Winnie,” Rissa called.

  Her aunt came to the top of the stairs, and Portia and Juliet rushed out of the living room. Whatever the others thought, these three were glad to see her. They gathered around Rissa to welcome her home.

  “We’ve been so worried about you,” Portia said. “Do you really think someone tried to kill you?”

  Drew turned toward the door, and Winnie said, “Mr. Lancaster, thanks for bringing Rissa home.”

  “My pleasure,” he said and left the house without a backward look.

  Portia put her arm around Rissa and drew her into the living room. “We want to hear about everything that happened to you.”

  “Why didn’t you tell us you were being treated for depression?” Aunt Winnie asked.

  “Because it was just a mild case and there was no reason to worry you. I have no idea how those hallucinogens got in that bottle, but it had to be done by someone who wanted to make me think I was crazy. I’ve never taken anything except what the doctor prescribed.”

  “So you did hear a woman wailing?”

  “I’m sure I did, but why I would be the only one in the family to hear that, I don’t know. I didn’t imagine that note, either. And because nobody except Drew believed me, I didn’t tell you that someone had also put a picture of you and me, Portia, and our mother in my dresser drawer.”

  “Is someone in this house responsible for all that’s happening?” Juliet asked. “It scares me just to think about it.”

  “I’m not convinced that it’s anybody who lives in the house. As smart as this person seems to be, they would be crafty enough to disable our security system and get in the house without us knowing it.”

  “Do you think the person who threw you over the cliff was the same person you saw in the library?” Portia asked.

  “Whoever it was wore a similar mask and dark robe. That’s all I know.”

  Miranda and Bianca came into the room, and Rissa stood to give Bianca a hug. She had always admired her because she had defied her father’s wishes and had attended law school and become a successful lawyer. Observing her performance in the courtroom, no one would suspect that Bianca was the shyest of all the sisters, but since her romance with Leo Santiago, an executive at Blanchard Fabrics, Bianca had blossomed from the happiness she had found with him.

  “Sit down,” Aunt Winnie said. “Rissa is ready to tell us what’s happened.”

  Rissa settled on a settee beside her aunt, while the sisters gathered close. Juliet and Portia sat on the floor, but Miranda and Bianca took their places on the other settee.

  Starting with her trip downstairs for a midnight snack, she told them about the people she’d heard conspiring, and her sudden decision to follow the person leaving Blanchard Manor and going into the woods.

  Shuddering, Portia said angrily, “Why didn’t you wake me so I could go with you? To think I slept through all of that!”

  “I acted in haste, without thinking, I’ll admit.”

  “Stop interrupting,” Miranda said, “and let her finish.”

  Rissa told them about the harrowing experience that had almost taken her life, not once but twice. Her tone must have softened when she spoke of Drew, for Miranda and Bianca exchanged skeptical glances. Portia giggled, and Rissa’s face flushed when Juliet said, “Don’t tell me we’re going to have another detective in this family!”

  She was saved from more razzing from her family when the front door opened and Ronald entered the foyer. He started down the hall to his office, but paused when he saw his family assembled in the living room. His roving eyes settled on Rissa.

  “So, you’ve finally come home! I wonder how you had the nerve to darken these doors with your presence when you’ve added another reason for this community to ridicule the Blanchards.”

  “Would you have preferred that I let someone kill me or lose my mind in that psych ward? But I’m ready to go home—I can leave today if you want that.”

  “I doubt that Rissa’s experience can make the gossip any worse than it is already,” Juliet said, quick to champion Rissa as well as cast a barb at her father.

  “At least the local authorities knew enough to bust Drew Lancaster for his role in your escape,” Ronald said in a pleased tone. “That will be the last time he’ll play cop and robbers.”

  Rissa clamped her lips tight to avoid a retort.

  “But I will say that I was pleased with his effort to save your life.” His lips trembled slightly. “I wouldn’t want to lose any of my daughters.” He cleared his throat and looked down. Apparently embarrassed at his display of sentiment, he abruptly changed the subject.

  “I’ve just come from the funeral home. Your mother’s body is ready for viewing. We’ll go at six o’clock as a group to a private viewing. The funeral home will not open to the public until after we’ve been there. The casket will be closed during the funeral tomorrow.” He surveyed the room. “Hasn’t Delia gotten here yet?”

  “She called from New York. She’ll arrive this afternoon.”

  The experience of seeing her mother in the casket would remain in her memory as one of the worst moments of Rissa’s life. The eight family members were taken in the limousine to the back door of the funeral home, where they were admitted by the funeral director. They followed him in a deathly silence down a hallway—Ronald and Winnie leading the way, and the six sisters in birth order behind them.

  Organ music played softly as they entered a small room. Portia and Rissa clasped hands as they waited their turn to file by the casket. An arrangement of Easter lilies and greenery was draped over a nearby table. Ronald had carried the ostentation even to the floral display—the arrangement would cover the entire casket.

  He smoothed Trudy’s hair, rearranged a diamond necklace—a Blanchard heirloom—lying on the white silk dress that had been ordered from a boutique in
Boston. He bent and kissed her cheek.

  Standing behind the twins, Juliet muttered in disgust. “How can he be such a hypocrite?” she whispered in Rissa’s ear.

  Aunt Winnie laid her hand on the handcrafted wooden casket and seemed genuinely sorrowful to see the face of the woman whom she had considered a sister and a friend. Miranda and Bianca, the only ones who could remember their mother and had mourned her death all of their lives, wound their arms around each other and sobbed. Rissa didn’t know Portia’s sentiments, but she felt nothing. If it hadn’t been for Trudy’s marked resemblance to Juliet, she could have been looking at a stranger.

  Delia paused only momentarily before she walked to a chair and sat down.

  Juliet had walked alone into the funeral home, and Portia and Rissa stood on each side of their youngest sister as she looked at her mother. Juliet had always blamed herself for their mother’s death, because until they’d learned that their mother had still been alive, the sisters had all thought their mother’s death had been indirectly caused by the postpartum depression resulting from Juliet’s birth.

  Rissa couldn’t comprehend how her youngest sister must feel, so she put her arm around Juliet’s waist and squeezed tightly. That was all she could do, but it seemed to be enough, for when they walked away from the casket, Juliet kissed Rissa’s cheek.

  Although she had slept well at the safe house the night before, in spite of her feeling that all was at peace in her heart, Rissa slept very little that night. Her whole being seemed poised, as if she waited for the funeral so she could put this death behind her and return to her life in New York. But how could she leave when so many issues were still unresolved?