The Betrayal of Lies

by Debra Burroughs

  “No.” Emily shook her head adamantly. “I’d never believe Maggie could be involved in something like this.” Emily would never stake her life on it, of course, but seeing Maggie as a criminal was unfathomable.

  “I know she’s your friend, Babe, but you have to look at the facts. From what we found in the cabin, we’re pretty sure Elise was involved. Maggie was at Elise’s house right before she disappeared, and her blood was found at the scene, not to mention the fact that she had been involved with Jake.”

  “She explained all of that to you,” Emily said.

  “If it was the truth. We just don’t know at this point, so we can’t rule her out.”

  “I know it looks bad—I’ll give you that. But come on, Colin.” Emily leaned toward him, staring into his eyes, intent on making her point. “This is Maggie we’re talking about.”

  “I have to look at the facts,” he said, not flinching, not backing off of his stance. “I can’t let my emotions blind my judgment.”

  “You mean like a hormonal, emotional woman.”

  “Your words, not mine.”

  ~*~

  Emily drove to Camille’s house, leaving Colin to figure out the next step on his own. Had she convinced him enough to ask a judge to sign a search warrant? Or was he right? Would they be committing professional suicide?

  She would have to find out later. Right now, she had to deliver heartbreaking news to one of her best friends.

  Emily stepped onto the porch and rang the doorbell. She heard the sound of feet pattering toward the door, then it opened. Instead of Camille, Maggie greeted her.

  “Oh, Em,” Maggie gushed, drawing Emily into a hug. “Isn’t it just awful?”

  At that instant, Emily knew Camille had already heard about Elise’s death. “Yes, it is.” She returned Maggie’s embrace. “That’s why I’m here.”

  “Camille will be happy to see you. She’s in the family room.” Maggie linked arms with Emily and escorted her back.

  “Look who’s here, Cam,” Maggie said.

  Camille looked up from the sofa where she was dabbing her eyes with a handful of tissues. “I’m so glad you’re here,” Camille said, opening her arms to Emily.

  With the sound of the television newscaster in the background, Emily took a seat beside her friend and put her arms around her. She held her for a long time as Camille sobbed into her shoulder. Emily raised her gaze to Maggie, seeing tears forming in her friend’s big blue eyes.

  Maggie picked up the television remote and flicked the TV off before sliding onto the sofa on the other side of Camille and draping her arm around her as well.

  Eventually, Camille’s sobs subsided and she sat back against the sofa. “Thank you both for coming.”

  Emily was about to speak when the doorbell rang. “Stay here, I’ll answer it,” she said, rushing to the door.

  It was Isabel. “I just heard,” she said, stepping over the threshold, giving Emily a quick hug. “How is Camille taking it?”

  Emily glanced down the hallway, in the direction of the family room. “She’s broken up, but I think once she gets over the initial shock of it, she’ll be fine.”

  “She knew Elise a lot better than the rest of us,” Isabel said.

  “Maggie too, it would seem.”

  “Why do you say it like that?”

  “Like what?”

  “Like an accusation, Em, don’t play innocent with me. You’re acting as if there’s something wrong with Maggie’s relationship with Elise.”

  Emily noticed Maggie approaching. “I can’t talk about it here. I’ll tell you later.”

  “Isabel,” Maggie called out. “I’m glad you made it.” Maggie drew Isabel into a hug. “It’s awful, just so awful.”

  Isabel looked over her shoulder at Emily, her eyes questioning. From her expression, Emily knew Isabel wasn’t going to let that comment go. She just hoped Isabel wouldn’t press the issue in front of Maggie and Camille.

  The three made their way back to Camille. Isabel sat next to her and gave her a hug. “Is Jonathan in town?”

  Camille blew her nose and shook her head, her eyes becoming as red as her hair. “He’s flying in tonight.”

  “That’s good. Then you won’t be alone tonight,” Emily said.

  “I’ll stay until he comes,” Maggie offered.

  Camille pulled in a long breath. “Look at me—such a blubbering baby. It’s just so shocking, you know?”

  “It’s okay,” Emily said, thinking back to how she was shaken the moment she saw Elise dead, bloody, bound and gagged in the little cabin. At least Camille didn’t have to see that.

  “I had planned to ask you all if I could invite Elise to join our Thursday night potluck dinners.” Camille sniffed, then wiped her nose. “I think she would have fit in well with our little group, and she really needed some good friends.”

  “Is there anything we can get you?” Isabel asked.

  “How about some coffee?” Maggie suggested.

  Camille nodded, blotting her eyes with a tissue.

  Emily stood and moved toward the kitchen. “I’ll make it.”

  “And I’ll help.” Isabel jumped up too.

  As Emily set about making the coffee, Isabel pulled a few mugs out of the cupboard.

  “All right, Em. Spill.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “That crack about Maggie knowing Elise.”

  “It was nothing.”

  “I don’t buy it.” Isabel stepped in close to Emily. “If there’s something going on, I want to know about it.”

  As an FBI agent, Isabel was dogged. Once she had her teeth into something, she wouldn’t let it go, so Emily came clean.

  She glanced toward the family room to make sure no one was coming. “There’s some evidence pointing to Maggie possibly being involved in Elise’s disappearance.”

  “Maggie?” Isabel kept her voice down, but her surprise was palpable.

  “I don’t want to believe it, but Colin won’t let it go. I can’t blame him, really, it’s his job. He can’t overlook evidence.”

  “It’s your job, too, Em.”

  “Not at the moment. I stepped off the case. I needed to do something that wasn’t exactly allowed as a law enforcement person.”

  “Like what?”

  “If I tell you, you won’t have deniability, Is.”

  “Maybe if I knew the whole story, the FBI could be of help.”

  “Not so far. Mr. Murphy has lawyered up and he’s surrounded by his friends in high places, including your boss.”

  “You bring hard evidence and those friends will scatter to the four corners like cockroaches. Trust me.”

  “All right, maybe there is something you could do to help me.”

  “Just ask.”

  “Since you’ve worked for the FBI as a financial analyst, do you think you could look into Patrick Murphy’s finances? Without him knowing it, of course.”

  “Do you really think he’s involved? Because the evidence seems to point to Jake Mitchell.”

  “I know it does, but something in my gut tells me the husband is involved somehow. I can’t let him get away with Elise’s murder if he is.”

  “Okay, I’ll poke around a bit,” Isabel said. “But I hope Colin is wrong about Maggie.”

  “Check her financials too, would you?” Emily asked quietly.

  “Did I hear my name?” Maggie asked brightly, walking into the kitchen.

  “That’s my cue to leave,” Isabel muttered. “I’ll say good-bye to Camille, but I won’t be able to stay for coffee. Sorry.” She put her arm around Maggie and squeezed her shoulders. “See you later.”

  “The coffee is almost ready, Maggs.” Emily grabbed the sugar and creamer and placed them on a tray.

  “I did hear my name, didn’t I?” Maggie crossed her arms and glared at Emily.

  Emily stopped what she was doing and faced Maggie. There was no time like the present to be totally upfront with her. “We need to talk.”
She peeked around the corner toward the family room, hoping Isabel would keep Camille occupied saying her good-byes long enough for Emily to lay out the hard truth for Maggie.

  “Maggs, you know I love you. We’ve been great friends for a long time. But I have to tell you, there is evidence that keeps pointing to you having something to do with Elise’s disappearance.”

  “I already told you—”

  “I know you did, but we’re talking about murder now.”

  Maggie’s eyes grew large and round. “Murder? You think I’m involved in a murder?”

  “We think this whole thing started out as Elise trying to get away from her husband—disappear with enough money to start over somewhere else—and things changed somehow and she ended up dead.”

  Maggie’s gaze dropped to the floor. She outlined a tile with the toe of her shoe, not responding to Emily’s plea.

  “If you know anything at all about what happened, even if it’s just Elise’s plan to escape, you have to tell me now. I can’t help you if you keep lying to the police.”

  Emily heard the front door shut and she assumed Maggie did too.

  Maggie raised her head and looked Emily in the eyes. “Not here. Not now.”

  Emily swallowed hard. Colin was right. Maggie did know something—she was involved somehow. “Then where and when?”

  “Tonight, after Jonathan comes home. Camille said he should be home by seven. Then I can leave. I’ll stop by your house.” Maggie turned and walked out. “Coffee’s coming,” she called out cheerfully to Camille.

  Chapter 17

  While Emily was visiting with her friends at Camille’s house, Colin decided he’d better fill out a search warrant and try to find a judge brave enough to sign it. Not asking for one, not pursuing all possibilities, might make it look like he was giving the rich and powerful Patrick Murphy preferential treatment. He had to avoid being accused of such a thing.

  He even went so far as to run the idea past Chief Nelson, reminding him that he had better do whatever he would do if the suspect was anyone else off the street. The Chief considered the idea for a minute, then finally agreed the department had to be seen as maintaining objectivity with regards to this case.

  Citing the medical examiner’s findings of the abrasion on Elise’s neck, Jake’s prior testimony about Patrick Murphy’s abusive behavior toward his wife, and the security video from the ATM machine showing Elise wearing the garnet and diamond necklace which was now nowhere to be found, Colin approached the judge he thought would be most receptive to his plea. He turned him down, claiming he didn’t have enough evidence to support the search.

  Colin knew what the judge really meant—that he didn’t have enough evidence to support the search of someone as powerful as Patrick Murphy.

  Sitting in his own office, Colin spread what evidence he had out on his desk and tried to mull it over while he waited for Emily to call him, once she had left Camille’s house. His gaze drifted from report to report, photo to photo, laboring to think through every detail of the events.

  As much as he didn’t want to believe Maggie was involved, he simply couldn’t let it go—the financial trouble, the personal relationship with one of the suspects. Getting the court’s permission to search her bank account should be easy.

  If only he could question Jake, maybe he’d have more luck piecing the crime together. He phoned the hospital, but the nurse in the Intensive Care Unit told him Jake was in serious condition, drifting in and out of consciousness. The doctor wasn’t allowing anyone in to see him yet.

  Colin asked to speak to Dr. Barbour. When she came on the line, she told Colin that Jake was definitely not up to questioning, that it would put too much stress on him.

  “If he continues to improve,” the doctor said, “then you can question him for a few minutes, but only a few minutes. Do I make myself clear?”

  “I understand.”

  “I promise, Detective, I’ll call you if and when that happens.”

  ~*~

  Emily phoned Colin when she was finished at Camille’s house. “Any luck with a search warrant?”

  “No takers, sorry,” Colin said. “I spoke with Dr. Barbour, though. She said Jake was floating in and out of consciousness, but she’d let us know when we could talk to him.”

  “I hope it’s soon.”

  “How did Camille take the news?”

  “She had already seen it on the television, so she was pretty much a mess by the time I arrived. Maggie’s going to stay with her until Jonathan flies in tonight.”

  “Speaking of Maggie…”

  “I’m way ahead of you, Colin. I got her alone for a minute and pressed her again on her involvement.”

  “And?”

  “Apparently, she does know something.”

  “I knew it!”

  “Down boy,” she chided. Emily didn’t think it was right to get excited at the knowledge your good friend might be involved in a murder. “Hold your judgment until we hear what she has to say.”

  Colin agreed, inquiring when that would be. Emily explained Maggie would be stopping by her house about seven thirty that evening, hoping he could contain his curiosity and wait that long, not rushing over to Camille’s house to interrogate her.

  “If she were anyone else, Emily—”

  “I know, but she’s not anyone else. She’s a dear friend. So don’t worry, she’ll show up.” At least, Emily was pretty sure she would. “Not to change the subject, but has Ernie heard anything about Elise’s daughter? Someone should tell that poor girl that her mother is dead.”

  “The local police there haven’t found her, but Ernie said they spoke to her roommate. The girl told them Kaitlyn had gone camping with some friends, now that school is out. She wasn’t sure when she’d be back.”

  “Camping?” Emily questioned. “Maybe she knew her mother was faking her own disappearance and made herself scarce so she couldn’t be questioned.”

  “It’s possible. We’ll have to wait until she gets back. The local LEOs promised to let us know when they made contact with her.”

  “Since I’m technically no longer on the case, and we’re kind of dead in the water until Jake is able to be questioned, I think I’m going to head to the shooting range for a little target practice.”

  “Need to work off some aggression, Babe?”

  She grinned to herself. “Something like that.”

  ~*~

  The powerful release of shooting a gun seemed to relax her, help her to clear her head. After an hour at the shooting range, Emily’s spirits had lifted and she felt strangely invigorated. She went for a run on the paved greenbelt along the Boise River, then she took a long hot soak in her clawfoot tub. This case was more taxing than most, with the murder of her new friend, seeing how heartbroken Camille was over it, and the real possibility that her close friend Maggie was involved in the crime somehow.

  The stress over her wedding plans seemed insignificant in comparison to what was happening to the people around her. A small, intimate gathering in her backyard began to sound better all the time, although the thought of taking their vows in Evan’s gazebo left her feeling uneasy.

  Emily kept dinner simple, seasoning a couple of pork chops for the grill and making a green salad and fresh asparagus to go with it. Colin would be arriving soon, so she hurried to her bedroom to get ready for him.

  The doorbell rang as she was tugging a purple T-shirt over her head. She fluffed her honey-blonde curls as she scampered to answer the door.

  She flung the door open and Colin stepped in, holding up a white paper bag from the bakery. He swept her up with one arm and his face came deliciously close to hers. He gazed into her eyes, then brushed his lips softly against hers.

  “Sourdough,” he whispered.

  “My favorite.” She couldn’t help but smile when she said it. She threw both arms around his neck and pressed her lips against his.

  “That’s my girl.”

  She grabbed his hand and l
ed him back to her kitchen. “Dinner’s almost ready.”

  They enjoyed dinner together, trying to talk about anything other than the case, but they found it difficult. Colin mentioned that the doctor hadn’t phoned to alert them that Jake was awake and able to talk.

  “Hopefully tomorrow she will,” Emily said.

  Wedding plans were temporarily on hold, the couple agreed, until they had someone under arrest for Elise’s murder. With Camille and Maggie pushing for an extravagant affair, and Elise no longer there to stand up for the bride, Emily lamented that she would have to fight even harder to keep it small and simple.

  “Just tell Camille you only have a twenty-five-hundred-dollar budget. That should help curtail her big plans,” Colin said.

  Emily laughed. “Yeah, it would.”

  “And that would leave us more money for the honeymoon.” He leaned over and nuzzled her neck.

  They finished dinner and Colin helped Emily clean up. Then, shortly after, Maggie phoned and said she was on her way over. So, snuggling together on the sofa, they waited for her to arrive.

  A knock at the door brought Emily hurrying to open it.

  “Come in,” Emily said, stepping aside as she swung the craftsman-style door wide open.

  Normally Maggie would have greeted Emily with a warm hug, but she breezed past Emily and stalked into the living room. Colin was already there, seated on the sofa.

  “Hello, Maggie,” he said, beginning to rise.

  “Hello.” She waved at him to sit down and took a seat on the chair next to the sofa. “We might as well get this over with.”

  “Would you like a glass of iced tea? Or maybe some white wine?” Emily offered.

  Maggie glared at Emily for a moment. “No, let’s just get straight to it. You wanted to know, so I’m gonna tell you.”

  Emily couldn’t remember seeing her friend so curt, so serious. Maggie was generally sweet and charming, eager to please. “Fine, then.” Emily took her seat next to Colin.

  Colin seemed uncomfortable, knowing how much Maggie’s friendship meant to Emily. But he had a job to do, and he and Emily needed to hear the truth from her, friendship or no.