Killer Secrets

by Sherrie Orvik

  He put his fingers under chin and lifted her face to meet his gaze. “I will never forget the joy you’ve brought into my life, and I am so grateful for how happy you make James. Now, I want you to smile and be happy. I am going to go take a nap. Thank you for lunch, dear.” He kissed her cheek and headed toward the other room.

  She blinked hard, trying to get her composure back. She hated seeing people she cared for hurt. Worse yet, she hated the thought that they wouldn’t always be here. She tried to shrug it off and went back to washing the dishes. The wood floor creaked, and she turned to see James walking into the kitchen.

  His shoulders hung a little softer than usual, his steps were too deliberately normal. He smiled at her, but it was a sad attempt to cover something. She wasn’t going to say anything about what had just happened with Pops. James needed her right now, and she was going to try to help him.

  She slid her arms around his waist and held him tight. “What’s going on?”

  He kissed her forehead, holding his lips against her skin a little longer than usual. He stepped back and smiled at her. His mouth curved up in all the right places, but his eyes spoke the truth. Something wasn’t right.

  “Alright, James. What’s wrong?”

  “Noth—”

  “Don’t say ‘nothing.’” She pointed at him and narrowed her eyes. “Something’s going on. Trust, remember?”

  “You’re right,” he said, walking to the table and pulling out a chair. He flipped it around and sat, his arms resting across its back. “I’m worried about Pops. His memory loss seems to be accelerating lately. When he came upstairs to get me for lunch, he forgot why he had come up. Then he forgot your name.”

  Her heart sank. After everything he’d done for her, she couldn’t help him. Not with this. She had just witnessed it for herself, and she knew it wasn’t going to get any easier.

  She sat on his lap, put her arms around his neck, and held him. She didn’t say anything. There was nothing she could say that was going to make anything better.

  “Thank you,” he said. “For lunch, for being so good with Pops…”

  Something about his tone was still not right, but he’d promised he would take care of her. If she was going to learn to trust him, she had to start somewhere.

  “I care about him. I wish I could do more. You’ve done so much for me, and I don’t know how I’m ever going to be able to repay you.”

  He frowned, his brow low over his eyes, his lips thin and pressed together. “I don’t expect you to repay me. I want to take care of you because I…”

  Her heart began to pound so loudly she was sure he could hear it. She wasn’t ready for this yet. Her feelings for him had grown so quickly it scared her. She was afraid to lose him. Afraid to get hurt again. Afraid to admit what she knew to be the truth—that she loved him.

  “I care about you,” he finally said. “You know how much. You’re important to me, and I want to take care of you because I care about you.”

  She nodded and leaned forward to put her head on his shoulder. “I care about you, too.”

  Chapter 17

  “Momma, no! I won’t leave you,” Elyse screamed.

  “You have to, baby. He’s going to kill you. Run if you want to live!”

  The bloody room suddenly filled with trees, and she ran, every pounding footstep behind her filling her with terror. Trees. Hide in the trees. She found a tree that would hide her and crouched beneath its branches.

  He was coming—she could hear the pine needles crushing under his steps. And then, silence. Darkness and silence. He was gone. She climbed out from under the pine and surveyed her surroundings, trying to get some bearing.

  “Where do you think you’re going?” he hissed, coming out of nowhere. He grabbed her by the throat and slammed her head into the jagged bark of the tree. Then he was gone.

  Her head was pounding, and she felt blood begin to trickle down her forehead.

  “You’re alright.” She heard James’ voice from somewhere in the distance.

  “James? I can hear you, but I can’t see you.”

  “I’m here, Elyse.” His voice came from behind the door that had appeared from nowhere.

  She knocked on the door, but he didn’t answer. “James?” The door creaked and opened into blackness.

  “James? Where are you?”

  She couldn’t see anything. She felt for the switch by the door, but there was no switch. There was no door.

  “James!” She cried out. Nothing.

  “Momma? Daddy? Where is everyone? The words disappeared the moment she said them, falling into silence. All she saw was darkness, all she heard was silence. All she felt was fear. She was being crushed in a room with no walls, just all-encompassing desolation and emptiness. Tears felt hot on her face.

  “Please come back! Don’t leave me alone! I don’t want to be alone!”

  Her eyes shot open and she sat up with a start. Oden was beside her, lying on the bed. She leaned over and hugged him, his fur drying the tears from her face.

  The nightmares hadn’t stopped, and now they involved James. Maybe it was time to see Manning again. Plus, being in his office again might give her another chance to snoop.

  James hadn’t seemed opposed to another appointment with Dr. Manning. Maybe she could convince him it was time to have another look around.

  He was sitting at the table reading and drinking a glass of wine when she got to the kitchen.

  “Did you have a good nap?” He flashed that amazing smile at her as she walked to the table and poured herself a glass. He probably wouldn’t be smiling when she told him she wanted to go back to Manning.

  “Not really.” She sat across from him, her gaze drawn to his beautiful eyes. She finally looked away, casting her gaze down towards her glass. “I, um…I had another nightmare. This time you were in it, though. Well, kind of. I heard your voice, but when I looked for you, you were gone.”

  James reached across the table and took her hands in his.

  “I’m here now, and—”

  “I know, but listen.” She hesitated. “I think I should see Dr. Manning again.”

  “I don’t know, Elyse. Something’s not right with that guy.”

  “He’s odd, that’s for sure. He was able to tell us a few things about Momma, though. If he could tell me why—”

  “Knowing why won’t change anything. Manning said she confessed to the killings. Maybe it would be best to let me investigate it from now on…alone.”

  Alone? What happened to the “good team” they made? She wasn’t about to just drop it and let him investigate alone. As long as she thought there was a chance her mother was innocent, she couldn’t.

  “I need to be positive she didn’t do it before I’ll be able to let it go. Maybe then I’ll stop having the nightmares. Besides, we can work it as a team again. You can get him out of the office, and I’ll do a little more”— she smiled and raised her brow—“well, let’s just call it research.”

  His lips pulled up on one side and he squinted at her. “You sure you want to risk getting caught?”

  She laughed and wrinkled her nose. “You and I are too good to get caught.”

  “Get caught at what, exactly?” Pops asked as he came into the kitchen.

  “Elyse wants to do some more investigating at Dr. Manning’s office.”

  Pops smiled at her. “You’ve got the bug, don’t you?”

  “Bug?”

  “Investigating, police work; that kind of thing. Once you get a taste, it’s hard to stop.”

  James’ phone rang. “Warrick. Yes,” he replied to whoever was on the other end. His expression brightened, and a smile turned the corners of his eyes upward. “Yes, of course, tomorrow morning. See you then.”

  He hung up the phone and grinned at Pops and Elyse.

  “I’m cleared to go back to work tomorrow!”

  Elyse jumped out of her chair and threw her arms around his neck.

  “Oh, James, th
at’s great. I’m so happy for you!”

  He pulled back, his smile faded, and he looked into her eyes. “We’re going to have to make some changes to your security—I don’t want you to be without some kind of police presence. And I’m not sure when we’ll be able to see Dr. Manning. I’ll call him and see if he ever takes appointments outside of normal office hours.”

  “Right,” she said. She had no intention of waiting. It would be nice to have James with her, but she could handle Manning on her own. He was strange, but she was pretty sure he was harmless. Besides, the hospital was a safe environment. She’d be fine.

  She would tell James after she saw the doctor. And since he was going back to work tomorrow, she would try to see Manning then.

  She hated being dishonest with James, but in this case, it would be easier to ask his forgiveness than to get his permission.

  Pops smiled and patted James on the back. “Welcome back, Sheriff.”

  “Thanks, Pops,” James hugged his grandfather, then pointed at Elyse. “Wait here. I have something for you.” She watched him walk down the hallway.

  “Excuse me, dear. It’s eight o’clock. Past my bedtime.”

  “Goodnight, Pops.” She hugged him and he headed toward his room.

  James came back and held out his hand. She held her hand out.

  “Here,” he said, setting an object in her hand.

  She laughed. “A phone? You know, most girls prefer jewelry or flowers. Can’t I just use your emergency phone?”

  “This one has my number programmed into it. You’re going to be here with a guard, Pops, Helen, and Oden, but I won’t be here to take care of you. If you need anything, you just press 1. I’ll send the closest car and I’ll be here as fast as I can.”

  She gazed into his eyes and smiled. Every day he did something that made her fall for him a little more, if that was possible.

  His neck muscles tightened as she slid her arms around him and laid her head on his shoulder. “Thank you.”

  His body was warm in her arms, and her pulse raced as he wrapped his arms around her and pulled her against him. She lifted her head to gaze at him. His eyes were focused on hers. Her lips parted in anticipation of his mouth on hers.

  His lips gently brushed hers, then pressed down as he pulled her even tighter. Her hand slid up his neck and rubbed the soft hair on the back of his head, her other hand slid under his shirt to feel his hot skin.

  He brought his mouth to her neck, making her head drop back, her breath pull into her belly. Yearning burned through every nerve in her, making her ache. She pressed her hips against him, wanting to feel him, needing him like she needed air.

  He kissed his way to her ear lobe and whispered into her ear. “We can’t. Pops and Helen…”

  She’d forgotten about Pops and Helen. She’d forgotten where she was. The only thing she could think of was the desperate need she was feeling.

  “Pops went to bed. Can’t we…go to your bedroom?” She panted, barely able to get the words out between kisses.

  “They’ll hear us,” he whispered, grabbing her and pulling her even harder against him. She didn’t care who heard them. She was going to rip his clothes off and take him right here in the kitchen.

  “I don’t care,” she softly moaned into his ear.

  He kissed her hard, and she responded by biting his lip, then grabbing his tongue with her teeth. He picked her up and set her on the counter, and she wrapped her legs around him. She pulled back enough to see his face and put her hands on the top button of his pants. There was no way she was stopping now. Judging by his breathlessness, there was no way he was stopping either.

  She kissed his neck, then moaned in his ear. “Take me to your room.”

  He slid his hands under her and picked her up, her legs still wrapped around him, and carried her to his room.

  * * *

  Beep, beep, beep…

  James reached over and pressed the button on the alarm clock. He smiled. The sun was shining, he was going back to work, and Elyse…he was falling in love with Elyse. He kissed her shoulder, then rolled out of bed and went to shower.

  When he came out, she was gone, and the smell of bacon drifted through the air. He threw on his uniform and looked in the mirror. His shirt seemed bare without his badge, but he would get that back when he got to the station.

  His stomach growled as he entered the kitchen. Elyse was standing at the stove, wearing jeans and his t-shirt, flipping eggs. He stepped behind her, slid his arms around her waist, and kissed her neck.

  “I’m not sure what looks better, you or the amazing food you’ve made.” He laughed and kissed her again. “You. You look better. You didn’t have to do this for me.”

  “I know, but you’re going back to save the world today. Heroes need food, you know. Besides,” she said, turning in his arms and kissing him, “you must’ve worked up quite an appetite last night. Go sit down. I’ll bring it to you.”

  He narrowed his eyes at her as she set the plate on the table in front of him.

  “Okay. What are you up to?”

  “What? Can’t I cook breakfast for you without being up to something?

  “Sure, you could. I just don’t think that’s what you’re doing.”

  “Of course, it is. Eat,” she said, smiling at him.

  He finished breakfast, and then kissed her goodbye and headed for the door.

  “Wait.” Elyse came running after him as he opened the front door. She threw her arms around his neck. “Being a hero is dangerous. Promise me you’ll be careful.”

  “I promise. You promise me the same. Stay inside, away from the windows. Set the alarm as soon as I walk out the door. Bailey will be parked right there until I get back.”

  She nodded and waved at Bailey as James stepped out onto the porch and started to pull the door closed.

  “James, wait. I…”

  He turned around to see her standing with tears in her eyes. Her unspoken words hung so heavy in the air he felt them, but he wanted to hear her say it, the three little words he wanted to say to her, too.

  “You what?”

  “I…I want you to come back to me. Please be careful.”

  “I promise.”

  He pulled her into his arms and kissed her. He closed his eyes and put his forehead to hers. “I’ll be back as soon as I possibly can.”

  “Good. You know I can’t resist a man in uniform.”

  He struggled to leave, but finally pulled the door closed, then stopped on the porch and listened for the beeping of the alarm. Yep. He heard the beeps as she punched in the code. Good.

  The alarm was on. She had Oden, and Bailey was parked in front. No one else knew where the safe house was. She would be safe until he got back.

  He waved at Bailey, then drove toward the station, his thoughts bouncing back and forth between concern about leaving her and complete happiness. He kept telling himself she would be fine, but he couldn’t shake the feeling that he shouldn’t have left her. The moment he pulled into the station parking lot, he dialed the number of the cell phone he had given her.

  “Hello?” She answered with trepidation, but she answered.

  “I just wanted to make sure you are okay,” James said.

  She laughed. “I’m fine. You haven’t even been gone twenty minutes.”

  “Sorry. I just had…” He stopped. She was fine, and he didn’t want to scare her. “I just wanted to make sure the phone worked.”

  “It works. Now go be the hero, Sheriff. I’m fine.”

  He disconnected the call and walked up the steps into the station, inhaling the familiar smells of pencil shavings and old brick as he entered.

  “Well, look what the cat dragged in,” Edith exclaimed as he entered. “It’s about time you ended your vacation and came back to work.”

  James smiled and winked at her. “How’s my favorite secretary?”

  She leaned forward and spoke low. “So glad you’re back. That little weasel Chip has
been driving all of us crazy. We, uh, couldn’t find the key to your office, so he’s been sitting out here, ordering all of us around like his personal police department.” She laughed as she opened the top drawer in her desk. “Well, would you look at that, here’s that key. Powell will be by later with your gun and badge.”

  James grinned and shook his head. “That’s why you’re my girl, Edith.”

  “Welcome back, Sheriff,” she called out as he walked to his office.

  He turned the key in the lock, opened the door, and went inside. Papers still sat in stacks on his desk, and he sighed, wondering how many of them were irrelevant now. He had just started going through them when there was a knock on his door.

  “Come in.”

  “Hey,” Terry said, sticking her head through the partially opened door.

  “Hey, Terry, come in. Shut the door.”

  She came into the office, her steps slow, her expression serious. She was holding a couple of envelopes.

  He hoped she had some information about the Goldman’s and their son. Based on her actions, whatever information she had wasn’t good.

  “I did what you asked.”

  “And? What did you find out?”

  “Maggie Benson gave birth when she was sixteen years old. The records were sparse, and for some reason, spread between two hospitals—I had to piece a lot of it together—but it looks like she had a son. He was adopted by Doris and Wendell Goldman, and they named him Michael. It seems he had some of the same mental illness his mother had. From the time he was young, he was in and out of psychiatric care. Once he turned sixteen, his medical records disappear. His academic records continue, though. Smart kid. He graduated high school early and enrolled in community college. He had his AA by the time he was seventeen. I talked to a few of his teachers, and they all say the same thing—model student, perfect grades, quiet, and kept to himself. Then Mr. and Mrs. Goldman died in a car accident shortly after he graduated. Except it doesn’t seem like much of an accident. Witnesses at the scene said Wendell Goldman didn’t look conscious when the car went speeding toward the corner, and there were no tire marks…he never hit the brakes before careening through the guard rail. It wouldn’t have mattered anyway—the brake lines had been cut. Their bodies were cremated immediately following their deaths—no autopsies were performed. Then there’s the hefty inheritance Michael got. Can you imagine what a super intelligent psychopath could accomplish with that kind of money?”