Killer Romances

by Dana Delamar, Talullah Grace, Sandy Loyd, Kristine Mason, Dale Mayer, Nina Pierce Chantel Rhondeau, K. T. Roberts, H. D. Thomson, Susan Vaughan

  Pete slid a sideways glance at Meg.

  Damn. She fumbled for inspiration. "I wanted to take pictures."

  "Then how come I can't have my cell phone so I can take pictures?" Janelle jumped over the few stairs and strode down the path, muttering, "Unfair."

  For all her best intentions, Meg couldn't hold back a heavy sigh.

  "Are you sure you want to raise her?" Pete asked, yet again.

  "Yes," Meg said firmly. "Besides, there is no other family member that can." And Meg loved her niece.

  "She could go to your brother. Or even into foster care." Pete nodded down the pathway, "At the rate she's going, she'll want to go in the system."

  "Only because she doesn't know how bad it can be." Meg stood up, irritated at Pete's suggestion. She was unwilling to get into another argument on that same issue again. Janelle was her niece and Meg was happy to have her live with them. In truth, she was delighted. She missed her brother. The grief was a deep ache that never seemed to go away. And Janelle had already wormed her way into Meg's heart. The months of getting to know her before her brother's death had been a gift. It would have been so much harder to have her come to them as a stranger. This way, the bonds of love and friendship had already been established.

  Even if Janelle was lashing out in anger and saying some of the most hurtful things Meg could have imagined a child saying, she knew she was reacting to the terrible situation and major change in her life. She understood, even if Pete didn't.

  Still, the constant warring, the constant finding of herself in the middle of the two of them and the constant role of peacemaker was wearing her down.

  Not for the first time, she wondered what final toll her brother's death would really take on her own life. She'd thought she'd been through the worst – now, she was beginning to realize that the turmoil had only just begun.

  ***

  "What if I don't want to go fishing?" Janelle asked, her body rigid, glaring at the sun on the lake water. "I hate boats. I hate the woods. This trip is stupid."

  "That's enough." Anger vibrated through Pete's voice as he snapped at her. "We came here to enjoy ourselves, not put up with more whining from you."

  Meg winced and stared up at the sky. She closed her eyes at the soft sniffles from her niece. Janelle went from anger and disgust to tears and heartbreak in a snap these days. Right now, Meg had to admit she'd like a good cry herself.

  "Then go without me," cried Janelle. "I'll stay here."

  "No." Pete's voice brooked no argument. "Get in. We're here. The least you can do is go out for an hour and give it a try." Disgust laced his voice as he gazed down at Janelle. Pete had never been around kids much and his first foray into them hadn't been easy. Meg was about ready to step in yet again when Pete added, his voice softer, calmer, "You've never even been in a boat. How can you say you hate it? Come on, just think of all the stories you can tell your friends when you get home."

  Janelle perked up.

  Meg closed her eyes on a whispered sigh of relief.

  Another situation had been averted.

  "Meg, you look tired. Why don't you have a nap while we go out in the boat?"

  Surprised, Meg stared up at Pete. Normally, he'd never voice such a suggestion. Inside, hope bloomed. An hour alone would be wonderful. She not only needed a break, she needed peace of mind. And that meant going back to the spot she'd marked with her GPS.

  Pete stepped closer, whispering, "You know, she behaves differently when it's just her and I. Let me try this. Maybe we can get on a better footing. Just think, we might actually enjoy the weekend after all."

  He leaned over and kissed her gently.

  Janelle, now with her lifejacket on, climbed into the boat, then Pete pushed off. Janelle didn't look back at Meg.

  Maybe that was a good thing. She was still dealing with his first kiss in over a month.

  In fact, it might have been much longer than that. Her heart was breaking as she watched her partner and niece paddle out to the middle of the water. It was just another sign of all that had gone wrong in her life. Maybe, just maybe, they'd hit a point where they could turn that around.

  Feeling better than she had all day, she waved at Pete and strode back up the path to the cabin. She retrieved her cell phone and brought up the coordinates of the site she'd entered.

  Knowing her time was short, she picked up a light jacket and a couple of plastic food bags, wishing she had gloves with her. Hoping to avoid problems, she entered the coordinates of the cabin so she could find her way back. With a last look at the lake where she could see Pete and Janelle's heads close together, with rods in their hands, she took off into the woods.

  The sun was bright and strong when she left the cabin, but once into the deepest part of the treed area, the sun couldn't penetrate and there coldness ruled. She closed up her jacket and picked up the pace. If things blew up between Pete and Janelle, they could be back in half their allotted time. She had no excuse for not resting up. At least, not one she wanted to share with those two.

  She checked her cell phone. She had to be damn close. Sure enough, the location should be just off to her left. She glanced around. The area did look familiar, but not so familiar that she could have found this spot without having marked it first as she was approaching it now from a different direction.

  Please let this be a rock. She'd seen too many horrific things in her life to not check it out. Besides, death was her job. She dealt with it every day. But as the last month had proven, dealing with dead bodies that you didn't know was a whole different process than dealing with the death of a family member. She'd never seen her brother in the morgue or dealt with the process of identifying his bones like she'd done with bodies in Haiti and so many other countries. In those cases, the people had been dead a long time. The hole they'd left in the families was already closed and healed over. In many cases, the families themselves were deceased too.

  She took several more steps to the left, shifted around a tree and stopped. Yes. This was the right place. Taking her time to observe the area, she clambered over a fallen tree, feeling her fingers slipping deep into the moss growing over the top. This was such a rich and different world from what she was used to.

  Long green vegetation hung from branches high overhead. The leaves underneath her feet were spongy, decomposed. She knew the weather had changed over the last few years. What had once been dry and hazardous seventeen years ago, had now become moist and musty. Heavy rain falls and strong tree growth that had blocked out the sun, had resulted in the ground becoming more boggy than dry in the lower lying parts. Looking up the steep incline behind the area, she could see an old slide had taken a corner of the cresting hillside above.

  Carefully she worked her way closer to where she'd seen the odd bleached item. Her fingers clenched, making her realize how sweaty and nervous she'd become. Please don't let this be human remains. Not this weekend.

  There was so much at stake. And keeping death away from her personal life was hugely important right now.

  She navigated under a low hanging branch to a small hollow.

  There.

  She'd found it. Turning around, she checked to make sure she was still alone. She was, but what was it about being out in the middle of nowhere, in a dark lonely place, to make someone worried that they were being followed? Her rational mind knew she was alone, but her emotions were all over the place.

  Giving her head a shake, she surveyed the thick humus around her. Nothing looked any different from what she'd seen on her way over here. Now, to double check that all was good and get back before the others noticed she'd left.

  Still seeing nothing out of the ordinary, she closed the distance between her and the rock in two large steps and then bent down.

  Shit.

  Rocks didn't have sutures holding the skull together. Neither did they have occipital orbs on the front. This one did. It was definitely a skull.

  Having almost convinced herself it would be nothin
g more than a weathered rock, she gulped for air while her mind automatically catalogued the find.

  Skull, small, a vertical forehead and rounded, so it was a female, likely Caucasian. The lower jaw bone lay twisted slightly to the side. In spite of the moss and humus, she could see that the teeth were intact. They should be able to get DNA and decent photographs to match dental records. And that's just what she could see on the surface. Tiny bits of material peeped through the dirt. There would be more, lots more.

  She stared off into the horizon and swallowed several times. Her initial glimpse said a young adult female lay before her.

  She closed her eyes and whispered, "Oh dear God."

  It couldn't be. And yet...given the moss and condition of the skull, these remains had been here a long time. But seventeen years long? Possibly.

  Surely not, but inside, she hoped so. Please, let this be Cia.

  She pulled out her cell phone to check for reception. She had less than one bar. Like that would do much. Still, she had to try. She quickly grabbed the GPS location from her cell phone and sent it to Chad Ingram at the Seattle police station. Knowing the chance of her message getting through wasn't good, she didn't waste any effort on typing a lengthy message.

  Her fingers fumbling, she finally managed to get down the words, Body at location, please come.

  CHAPTER 3

  Meg carefully made her way out of the immediate area, then unable to help herself, picked up her feet and ran back the way she'd come. Inside, her heart was pounding, while outside, her skin chilled with the breeze as she raced from the scene behind her.

  Damn it.

  Why here and why now?

  Pete was going to be so pissed off when he found out. He'd blame her. Last year, he wouldn't have. He'd have laughed it off and said, 'trust you.' Not this year. He had so many good points, been so accepting for so long, but Janelle's arrival had changed so much.

  Or was it Meg who had changed so much. She had to admit that was very possible. She was not the same person she'd been a year ago either. And maybe she wanted different things herself now.

  How much difference a year could make…

  She reached the cabin, hearing Janelle's excited voice in the distance. Thankfully, it was coming from the lake. Meg rushed into the cabin, quickly washed her face, checked her appearance for twigs and moss, and then strolled down to the water's edge.

  "Well, don't you look happy?" she said with a big smile. Janelle's face split into a wide happy grin that made Meg's heart squeeze. It had been a long time since she'd seen her so carefree. At least Janelle'd had this moment. And maybe Meg could keep her out of the worst of what was to come.

  She had to. Janelle had been through enough.

  "Did you get a nap?" Pete asked with a relaxed look on his face.

  Obviously, the fishing trip had been a resounding success. She shook her head and lied, just a little. "I tried, but couldn't, so I went for a walk instead."

  He nodded, reached into the boat and pulled out two still flapping fish. "And we caught dinner. That makes you the cook."

  "Wow!" Meg laughed, enjoying the moment. "I can do that. But you are so cleaning those things before I take over."

  "Eewww, clean them? That's gross." Janelle backed up several steps, her face twisting in revulsion.

  Laugher rolled across the lake. With Meg's help, Pete pulled the boat alongside the dock and tied up. He handed the tackle box to Janelle, the rods to Meg, and then pulled out his pocket knife. "I'll take care of these now down here. You two can go on up. A cup of coffee would go good right about now."

  "Yes, boss." Meg smiled, and followed Janelle up to the cabin. The sound of Janelle's excited laughter lifted her sadness. For now, she would take what joy she could.

  By the time Pete had arrived with the fish nicely cleaned, the coffee was boiling and Meg had a salad washed and ready to go.

  "Oh, lovely." She turned on the burner and set the fish into the hot pan. "Dinner will be soon, so let's set the table and get washed up."

  Janelle made a moue, but Meg shook her head. "You smell like the fish you helped catch. So wash with warm water here or go back down to the lake for a dip."

  Cringing at the second idea, Janelle came to the sink and scrubbed her hands. "I don't really smell like those fish, do I?" she whispered to Meg.

  Holding the laughter down to a minimum, Meg whispered right back, "You smell much better now."

  With a beautiful smile, Janelle turned to set the table. Meg stared out at the late afternoon sun dappling through the trees. Damn it. Why couldn't this perfect family moment be extended for the weekend? Maybe Chad hadn't gotten her message. She brightened. That would be great. The bones had lain there a long time from what she'd seen. They could lay there another day without harming anyone.

  With that happy thought, Meg sat down to dinner.

  An hour after dinner, her cell phone beeped. Oh no! She reached for it, wishing she'd put it on mute.

  Call me.

  That was it. She glanced up frowning, to see both Pete and Janelle staring at her disapprovingly.

  She offered a small smile. "Sorry, I thought I had it turned off."

  "So turn if off now." Janelle frowned as Meg continued to stare at her. "It's not fair if you have your phone and I can't have mine."

  Meg couldn't resist as small eye roll as she murmured, "Slightly different scenario, kiddo. This is work, not games."

  "I thought you told them you were going away and not to call." Pete's voice was tight, cold.

  She sighed. "I did."

  "And?" How could his voice, already chilly, have become like polar ice with that one word? So smooth and so silky, it sent chills down her back. She groaned lightly. "Please, can we talk about this outside?" She nodded at Janelle who sat quietly, watching and taking it all in.

  He frowned, then relented. "Fine, Janelle, clean off the table. We'll heat up some water to wash dishes when we come back in."

  That invoked an immediate response. Meg went through the door before the last of the screeching could be heard. Janelle hadn't had a problem with helping out and doing chores until she'd lost her father. Now gaining any cooperation from her was a challenge.

  "That girl needs a stronger hand," Pete said brusquely as he followed her out. "You let her get away with too much."

  "I know." Meg admitted. "But right now, she's got a lot to deal with."

  "And rules will help her deal with it effectively." He leaned over the railing at her side. "She'll appreciate you for it later."

  "Maybe." Moodily, Meg stared at the darkening sky. "For all the beauty here, there is a dark underside to this place."

  She felt more than saw his sideways look at her.

  "That came out of the blue. I think it's time you changed your profession. You are always so depressed and negative these days."

  "Well, this time, I have good reason." It was now or never. She'd never get a better time. Calmly, she collected her thoughts, and then explained what she'd just seen and that she'd gone back to check and had confirmed what she'd originally suspected.

  He just stared at her, the whites of his eyes showing bright in the dim light. "You can't be serious?"

  "Oh, very serious." She watched the emotions rush through his thoughts. His features were always more closed that open, more stern than light-hearted. He'd been raised by a father who hadn't spared the punishment. It had molded Pete into being a strong but also hard man in his own right. Their decade together hadn't always been easy, but it had been rewarding.

  "And what did you do about it?" His voice knowing and yet flat. As if realizing he'd have to make the best of it.

  She winced. "Maybe nothing, but I have texted a cop in the Seattle department that I know."

  "Texted?" He stared at her.

  "Yeah," she held out her cell phone. "The reception is lousy. I was hoping the text would get through better than a call would."

  "Was that the text you received over dinner?"

/>   She nodded.

  He sighed and looked up at the stars. "Was it really too much to hope you could leave work behind for a couple of days?"

  Now that wasn't fair. She hadn't planned on finding a skeleton. She hadn't gone looking for it; well, she had, but only to confirm what she'd actually seen the first time. She opened her mouth to protest, but then slowly closed it. It so wasn't worth it. She waited quietly.

  "So is this person coming here? And if so, when?"

  "I don't know. He asked me to call, but there is no reception."

  "Good. Then call when you get back home. Give us a chance to work on there still being an 'us'."

  With that, he turned and walked back inside, leaving her staring after him. Jesus. Were they that close to there not being an 'us' anymore? Her throat seized up. She knew they were having major trouble, she just hadn't realized they were that close to the line.

  And if they were, how did she reconcile her own personal ethics with her personal life? And was her work, in this case, a deal breaker?

  She should be calling Chad, and if that didn't work, jumping in the truck and going back to town and raising the cavalry to come and help. But it was dark, she didn't know the road, it was foolish to leave at this time of night alone, and she didn't want to ruin her family's weekend. Considering that she had limited communication, would it matter if she waited overnight?

  The remains had been there for years. Would another day or two make a difference?

  "Meg? Are you coming inside?" Janelle's timid voice squeaked out into the darkness. Janelle, who was dealing with enough right now, had been unsettled by Meg's exchange with Pete. Hell.

  No. Given the circumstances it wouldn't be wrong to wait until morning.

  ***

  Chad waited for a response at his desk, a desk he should have left hours ago, but it was hard when a haunting voice from the past contacted him about an event that had directed his path in life. And might solve the mystery he'd spent half his life trying to solve.

  Had Meg even made the connection? She had to have.

  But then they'd all worked to forget that terrible night so long ago. Maybe she'd done a better job than he had.