“You said that in the first few days after Danielle was found you didn’t believe that she’d committed suicide,” Lexie said when they were back in Nick’s car.
“That’s right,” Nick agreed. “I was definitely into conspiracy theories then. I wondered if somebody had kidnapped Danielle, taken her to that motel, killed her and then staged the scene to make it look like a suicide.”
“Odd, isn’t it? That two women went missing and have died in strange circumstances and the people closest to them believe both of their death scenes were staged.”
Nick shot her a quick glance. “Odd, yes, but I can’t imagine how we could possibly tie Lauren’s death to Danielle’s in any way. Danielle died long before Lauren even moved to town. One worked for the mayor’s office and the other was a dog breeder. Trying to connect the two is definitely an impossible stretch.”
Unless they’d both run into the same killer, she thought, but she didn’t say the thought aloud. Instead she nodded and looked out the passenger window thoughtfully. “I can’t figure out if Gary Wendall is a good guy or a bad guy.”
“I’ve never thought of him as a bad guy. Lazy, yes, but definitely not bad. You know, if what you think is true about Lauren, it’s possible that Gary knows nothing about it, that her body was moved there by somebody else altogether before he and his men showed up. Maybe the shadow man you saw in the night is responsible.”
The shadow man. Lexie’s stomach muscles clenched tight. It was as good as any description for the person she’d thought had been on Lauren’s property. Had it been at that moment that he’d been moving Lauren’s body to the creek bed, the night that the dogs had gone crazy?
How she wished she would have grabbed her gun and left the house. How she wished she would have gone outside to investigate. She might have come face-to-face with the person who had killed her sister. And you might have been killed, too, a little voice whispered.
Nick turned into Lauren’s driveway. “In any case, you’re probably going to be too busy for the rest of the day to think much about anything.”
She looked at him in surprise. “Why?”
“If I know this town there are two things that bring everyone all together, the fall festival and death. Trust me, by the time this evening comes you’re going to have a lot of company and more food in the house than you could eat in a month.”
He was right. Within an hour, people began to arrive, bringing with them condolences and covered dishes.
Lexie was overwhelmed by the people and the food that kept coming throughout the afternoon. She found herself staying close to Nick, depending on him to introduce the people she hadn’t met and to aid her in the social interactions she’d always found difficult.
Lexie met the woman who had trimmed Lauren’s hair while she’d been living here and Anna, who had been bringing her poodle for obedience lesions. The man who’d fixed the brakes on Lauren’s car a month before introduced himself and then self-consciously drifted away.
Lexie couldn’t help but look at each person with an edge of suspicion at the same time she fought the grief that bubbled far too near the surface.
Bo Richards showed up, his sorrow evident on his handsome features as he first shook Nick’s hand and then smiled sadly at Lexie. “I wish I would have taken your sister with me to meet my parents,” he said to Lexie. “If she’d gone with me then maybe this horrible thing wouldn’t have happened to her.”
“We can’t know that for sure,” Lexie replied. But, armed with the belief that her sister had been murdered, she continued to watch Bo as he walked away and disappeared into the throng of people in the kitchen.
Had he left town on Tuesday night only to return the next day or night, kill Lauren and then return to his parents’ home? Was it possible he’d wanted more from Lauren than she’d been willing to give? Or had Lauren wanted to take their relationship to the next level and Bo had grown tired of her?
As far as Lexie was concerned everyone was a suspect, everyone except Nick. He was the only person she trusted in this godforsaken town.
It was growing dark outside when a middle-aged man in a well-cut suit approached her. “Ms. Forbes, I’m Vincent Caldwell, the mayor of Widow Creek.” He took Lexie’s hand in his. “I just wanted to tell you how very sorry I am about what happened to your sister. I know she would have been a vital part of this little town had this tragedy not happened.”
His eyes were a warm blue and as he squeezed her hand sympathetically, Lexie once again felt the burn of tears in her eyes.
Nick was right there beside her, swooping an arm around her shoulder in obvious support. “Vincent, thanks for coming,” he said to the mayor. “What’s made this even more difficult for Lexie is that we have some doubts as to what really happened to Lauren to cause her death.”
Vincent released Lexie’s hand and frowned. “What do you mean you have some doubts? I understood that this was a slip and fall, an accidental death.” He looked at Nick and then back to Lexie. “Is there something I haven’t been told about all this?”
“I think she was killed somewhere else and then moved to the place where her body was discovered,” Lexie replied.
The mayor looked stunned. “Why would you think that?”
Lexie quickly explained about her searching the area on the night she’d arrived in Widow Creek and the fact that Lauren’s body had not been there on that night. As she talked, the frown on the mayor’s face grew deeper and deeper.
“Have you spoken to Gary Wendall about your concerns?” he asked when she was finished.
“He seems to think we’ve lost our minds,” Nick replied, his voice laced with a touch of irritation.
“I’ll talk to him. I certainly don’t want a visitor to our town going away with these kinds of questions in her head.” He smiled sympathetically at Lexie. “I’ll certainly be in touch, Ms. Forbes.”
By the time everyone had left Lexie felt totally wrung out. She and Nick worked side by side, wrapping up the leftover food and placing it in the refrigerator.
“You have enough green bean casseroles to feed a group of Pilgrims Thanksgiving dinner,” he said as he put the last dish away.
“And I don’t even like green bean casserole,” she said. “Still, it was nice. So many people came. None of them knew me and a lot of them didn’t really know Lauren, but they came out with food and sympathy.”
“This town is dying a slow death, but it’s not because of the heart of the people,” Nick replied. “How about I make us some coffee and we sit in the living room for a little while before you send me home.”
“That sounds good,” she agreed, needing a little while to just chill before calling it a night. Minutes later Zeus followed them as they left the kitchen and carried their coffee into the living room.
Lexie sat on the sofa and Nick eased down in the nearby chair with Zeus at his feet. Lexie sipped her coffee and then set the mug on the coffee table and released a tired sigh.
“I hope this woman coming tomorrow wants to take the dogs,” she said. “I want them to all find good homes.”
“From what she told me on the phone she works with several animal rescue organizations so I have a good feeling about it,” Nick replied. “Besides, the dogs are young and that’s an advantage when it comes to placing them in a home.”
Lexie reached for her coffee cup and cradled the warmth in her hands. “Maybe I’m wrong,” she said softly.
“Wrong about what?” Nick looked at her in confusion.
“About Lauren being murdered, about her body being moved, about all of it. Maybe I didn’t check that particular area of the creek. Maybe I’m just really confused.” She’d gone over it and again in her mind and she was no longer sure what she believed anymore.
“What’s changed your mind?”
“I don’t know. I’ve just been thinking that maybe I’ve been suffering the same ailment that struck you when Danielle died, an overpowering denial and the need to make sense of a terrible tr
agedy.”
She took another sip of her coffee. “Besides, if there was a crime committed, there’s almost always a motive and I just can’t come up with one in this case. I looked at every single person who showed up today and they all looked guilty to me.”
“Even Anna with her poodle Precious?” he asked teasingly.
“She was the only one who didn’t set off my radar,” Lexie replied. She released a deep sigh. “I think I just have to make peace with the fact that Lauren slipped and fell and when Zeus and I checked the property on Friday night we weren’t as thorough as I thought we were.”
“I think what you need more than anything is to go to bed. It’s been a long day and sleep is the best thing right now.” Nick got up from his chair and walked over to Lexie.
Once again she thought about how wonderful it would be to fall into bed with him, to feel his body heat next to hers, to allow his desire to burn away all thought, all heartache, if only for a little while.
“You could stay here tonight with me if you want,” she said, her gaze holding his intently.
His eyes flared molten silver as if he knew what she offered wasn’t just a bed to sleep in, but rather a bed with her and a night of desire.
He pulled her to her feet and into the warmth of his embrace. At that moment the front window exploded and the sound of gunfire filled the air.
Chapter Eight
Nick yanked Lexie to the floor as bullets smashed through the front window and riddled the opposite wall. Framed pictures crashed to the floor and Zeus barked uncontrollably and then ran out of the living room while Nick covered Lexie’s body with his.
His heart beat frantically in his chest as he tried to wrap his brain around what was happening. He was vaguely aware of Lexie screaming beneath him, her shrill cries adding to the cacophony of chaos that surrounded him.
The melee lasted only a minute or two and then Nick heard a squeal of tires from outside and an abrupt silence reigned. He felt Lexie’s heart against his own, beating a frantic rhythm of fear.
Her glasses had fallen off and her eyes were wide. “Are you okay?” he asked urgently and became aware of the dogs outside barking raucously.
She nodded. He rolled off her and went to the window, glass crunching underfoot. He looked outside but there was nothing to see. Whoever had made the sudden attack was now gone.
He turned back to look at Lexie and found her on her feet, her glasses back in place. “I changed my mind,” she said. “I’m not all right. I’m angry.” She brushed off the back of her jeans and then grabbed her purse off the coffee table and pulled out her gun. “I guess maybe somebody isn’t happy with the questions I’m asking and wants me to leave town.”
She was right. This was either a dangerous warning or somebody had just tried to kill them both. If they hadn’t hit the floor when they had there was no question in his mind that one of them might have been seriously wounded or dead.
“We need to call Wendall,” he said as she walked to the window to stand next to him.
“You do that,” she replied. “And I’m going to stand right here. The next car or truck that pulls in front of this house better be an official patrol car with a cherry on top, otherwise I’m shooting first and asking questions later.”
Nick had never seen her this way, so focused, so incredibly strong. Since he’d met her she’d appeared vulnerable and needy but now there was a fire in her eyes that made him realize she was much stronger than he’d initially given her credit for.
As he made the call to Chief Wendall, she remained at the window, not moving, gun pointed out toward the darkness. “Would you find Zeus and make sure he’s locked up in a bedroom?” she asked when he’d finished with the call to Wendall. “I don’t want him walking around in here and cutting up his paws.”
As he went in search of the dog some of the shock of what they’d just been through began to wear off. She was right. Somebody wasn’t happy with her…with them. Whether this had been a warning or an attempt to do actual harm, he couldn’t know, but one thing was clear—something wasn’t right in his hometown and it broke his heart.
He hadn’t been sure what to believe about Lauren’s death until this moment. All the questions Lexie had had about Lauren’s death now seemed credible, not the crazy meanderings of somebody consumed by grief. There was more to Lauren’s death that a simple slip and fall.
He found Zeus in the guest bedroom, hunkered down next to the bed. The dog raised his head and whimpered as Nick approached. “It’s all right,” Nick said as he scratched beneath the old boy’s ears. “Everything’s going to be fine.”
It was easy to make that promise to a cowering dog, but as Nick left the bedroom and closed the door behind him, he wondered what in the hell was going on.
When he returned to the living room Lexie was still in the same position in front of the broken window, her back rigid with tension. “Something is very wrong here,” she said.
He picked his way back across the glass-littered rug to stand next to her once again. “I know.” The admission was difficult for him. This was his hometown. These were people he thought he knew, people he’d always thought he could trust.
“Any theories?”
“None,” he replied. “Maybe now it’s time you call in the FBI.”
She shook her head. “Right now all we have is a death ruled accidental and a random shooting in a small town, nothing that rises to the standard of FBI involvement.”
“At least let Gary know that you’re an FBI agent. If nothing else it might shake him up enough to do a more thorough investigation into all this,” he replied.
“I’m just not ready to let him know about my job yet. Besides, what I do for a living shouldn’t make any difference in how hard he works on his investigation. He should work hard whether I’m an FBI agent or a waitress.” She frowned. “If I had some proof that Chief Wendall was dirty, that the local law enforcement agency was corrupt, then I might be able to make a case to get the FBI involved.” She straightened her back as the swirling red light on the top of Gary’s car came into view. “And it appears the man of the hour has arrived.”
“You didn’t see the make or model of the vehicle they were driving?” Gary asked minutes later as he surveyed the damage in the living room.
“Unfortunately we were too busy diving for cover,” Lexie replied.
“Looks like it was buckshot,” Gary observed. “Who have you two managed to stir up?”
“We might have upset Clay Cole,” Nick said.
“What did you do to Clay?” Gary asked with a frown.
Nick looked at Lexie, then back at Gary. “Lexie thought he was following her around in town. He made her feel uncomfortable so we went out to his place to have a talk with him. Maybe he took exception to us calling him out.”
Gary’s frown deepened. “Clay isn’t really the type to do something like this. If he has a problem with you he comes at your face in the daylight, not sneaking under the cover of darkness, but I’ll certainly check him out. There’s also the possibility that it was kids. Last month when old Henry Riley was in the hospital his barn got all shot up and I suspected a couple of kids then.”
“Maybe I should contact some of my associates and see if they’re willing to come out here and help you with your investigation,” Lexie said with a quick glance at Nick.
“Your associates?” Gary looked at her with interest.
“Lexie’s an FBI agent,” Nick said, oddly satisfied by the stunned surprise on Gary’s face.
Gary stared at Lexie. “Is that true?” She nodded and he rocked back on his heels. “Look, this is a local matter, there’s no need to get anyone else involved.” He took a step closer to Lexie. “I know you feel like I didn’t do my job where your sister was concerned, but I did everything in my power under the circumstances. Now I intend to do everything in my power to find out who’s responsible for this and what’s going on. If after I do my investigative work you still feel like you nee
d to call in somebody else, then by all means do so.”
“I just want some answers,” Lexie replied. “Why would somebody do something like this? It’s obvious somebody wanted to either warn me or kill me and I want to know why.”
“So do I,” Gary said grimly. “This is Widow Creek, not Chicago and I won’t tolerate drive-by shootings and such nonsense in my town. I’ve got a couple of kids I want to talk to about this and I’ll also talk to Clay. I definitely intend to get to the bottom of things.”
Nick wondered if he’d underestimated Gary. He certainly seemed to be taking this issue seriously. “I’m going to take Lexie to my place for the rest of the night,” he said and steeled himself for a protest from her, but she said nothing.
“We’ll need to board up this window,” Gary said and once again looked at Lexie. “I don’t want the missing window to be an open invitation for somebody to come in and steal. You know if your sister had any plywood anywhere?”
“I think I remember seeing some in the garage,” she replied.
Gary looked at Nick. “Why don’t we go take a look and see what we can use.”
Together the two men left the house and headed for the garage. “I’m hoping this is just a case of maybe some teenagers who thought the house was empty and decided to have a little fun,” Gary said. “But I gotta tell you, Nick. I’ve got a bad feeling about this.”
“That makes three of us,” Nick replied as he opened the garage door. He flipped on the light and saw that behind Lauren’s car was a stack of plywood that could be used to cover the broken window.
“I’ll admit I didn’t jump on the fact that Lauren was missing as fast as I should have,” Gary said. He leaned against the bumper of the car. “Hell, she was a grown woman and I figured if she didn’t want to be found by her sister it was her choice. But when we found her body on the creek bed there was no question in my mind about what had happened, about how she had died.” He rubbed his forehead as if he had the beginning of a headache. “Now, I’m going to have to rethink this whole thing, see what I missed and try to figure out what in the hell is going on around here.”
Scene of the Crime: Widow Creek Page 10