The Secrets We Keep

by Jennifer L. Jennings

She made a face. “Of course not. To be honest, I didn’t know if I could trust him to keep his mouth shut but then you and Carter show up and send me away to my parents’ house, I knew I had to tell him everything. He refused to believe I had killed his ex-colleagues. When I explained to him why it was necessary, he understood that I did it for him.”

  I prayed Carter would get here quickly but he was still a good half an hour away. I decided to keep Tracy talking for as long as possible.

  “Was it your idea to fake the Gatorade poisoning?” I asked.

  “Of course. I wasn’t sure he’d be able to pull it off, because he’s usually a terrible liar, but he understood exactly what was at stake.”

  “People make mistakes,” I said. “I’m sure Rachel is deeply sorry for whatever she did to Barry. I’m sure she realizes now that Barry’s contribution was the most important aspect of the therapy, and I am sure at this point, she’d be willing to give him all the credit.”

  She smiled at that. “It’s too late, but nice try.”

  So much for buttering her up. It was time to take a different approach. I reached into my jacket for my phone and pulled it out quickly.

  “Stop,” she yelled. “Don’t you dare move another muscle.”

  “Or else what?” I said, tauntingly. “You won’t shoot me.”

  “Like hell I won’t.” She fired a shot, and the bullet tore into the ground about a foot from my left shoe. Okay, so maybe this broad did know how to use a gun. “Throw the phone on the ground,” she bellowed. “Right now!”

  With my thumb, I depressed the button that would automatically dial Carter’s number. “Okay, okay,” I said, tossing the phone in front of me, landing on the ground just inches from her feet.

  She lowered the gun and aimed it at my phone as if she were going to shoot it. She must have thought better of it and, instead, she stomped on it with her boot. “You think you’re pretty clever, don’t you?”

  I shrugged. “Not particularly. If I was so clever, I wouldn’t be standing here with a gun pointed at my head, now would I?”

  Carter would know that I was in distress when he tried calling me back. I wanted to make sure he’d approach the campground with extreme caution. “My partner knows how to use a gun, too. If I were you, I’d get back in the car and go home with your husband. Pack a bag and get the hell out of the country. There’s no other way unless you want to go to jail for the rest of your life.”

  With her free hand, she reached into the other jacket pocket and produced a coil of rope. “Put your hands behind your back.”

  Barry came out of the cabin with Rachel slung over his shoulder, as lifeless as a rag doll. “She’s out cold,” he said. “We better hurry before she wakes up.”

  “Barry?” I called out to him. “You are not a violent person. Your wife is crazy, but you don’t have to go down with her. Up to this point, you’ve done nothing wrong. I know you want to do the right thing here. Let Rachel and me go, and I promise you will not go to jail.”

  “Don’t listen to her, sweetheart,” Tracy said in a sweet yet firm voice. “I am your wife. I am the only person in this world who cares about you.”

  “It’s not true,” I said, hoping Barry would come to his senses. “Your wife is a murderer. She killed two innocent men. You’re a doctor, and it’s your responsibility to help people, not hurt them. Out of all your patients, your wife is the one who needs treatment. You can help her but first you have to do the right thing.”

  I could tell Barry was hearing me, but the way he kept looking at his wife, with sympathetic eyes, I realized there was no way I’d convince him to turn against her.

  She gave her husband the gun and said, “Keep this pointed at Sarah’s head. If she tries anything, shoot her. Can you do that for me, sweetheart?”

  He nodded but, the way he held the gun, suggested he’d never held one before. His hand shook as he leveled it with my eyesight. The weight of Rachel on his shoulder had to be tiring him out. He was sweating like a pig.

  “Turn around,” she said to me. “Hands behind your back. Now!”

  I considered giving her a back thrust kick to the groin, in hopes of incapacitating her - or at least stalling her. I seriously doubted that Barry would shoot me. Even if he did, his aim would most likely be horrible. He’d be more likely to accidentally shoot his wife than me. After a second to think it over, I figured it was too risky, especially since Rachel couldn’t defend herself. So I reluctantly let Tracy tie my wrists together. The abrasive rope scraping my skin caused my wrists to burn like hell.

  Luckily, the knot didn’t feel secure. Perhaps in all her planning she’d neglected to learn how to tie a proper knot.

  “Let’s go.” She shoved me forward and I began walking.

  “Where are we going?” I said, swallowing the lump in my throat.

  “For a swim,” she said. “You and Rachel.”

  “If you think this will look like an accidental drowning, you’re wrong. Especially with the rope. Is this the best idea you can come up with?”

  She ignored my taunting as I continued walking toward the lake. I could hear Barry panting behind me, probably having a hard time keeping pace with a hundred and twenty pound woman on his back. I prayed that Rachel would wake up and create a diversion, just enough time for me to kick Tracy. If I could get that gun out of the picture, I’d have a fighting chance, even with my hands tied behind my back.

  No such luck. I kept on walking.

  When we approached the dock, I stopped and looked out at the cold, dark water. My body began to shake. Was this really going to happen? Did I have any control over this? Certainly, there was something I could do. I frantically searched my brain for an idea, but nothing came. It was as if my blood had turned to Novocain and my mind had turned into mush. Paralyzed with fear, I refused to believe that my time was up but, clearly, there was no way out of this.

  Time to stall. “How did you fake Spealman’s heart attack? Did you slip something into his drink?”

  “No. I injected him with Oxycodone. A little trick I learned from a cop show.”

  “How did you manage that?”

  “I showed up the grocery store where he liked to go. We chatted for a while and when he offered to help me put the groceries in my trunk, I slipped the needle right between his ribs. When he collapsed on the ground, I called 911 like a good samaritan. Too bad he was gone by the time they showed up, poor lad.”

  “And Lenzer?” I said. “How’d you get those sleeping pills in his drink?”

  “Well now,” she said. “I can’t give away all my secrets.”

  “Why not? I’m going to be dead soon anyway.”

  “I know what you’re trying to do, but it’s not going to work. We’re running out of time as it is. Barry, let’s do this. Now!”

  I blinked and the next thing I knew Barry was beside me, gently lowering Rachel’s body into the water where she began to sink. I noticed a rope was secured to her ankle and, with mounting dread, realized it was the same rope attached to my wrists.

  The last words that came out of my mouth before my body hit the water was, “You’re gonna regret this...”

  I took a deep breath before my face became submerged in the dark, murky water. The cold enveloped me whole and I was afraid I might go into shock. Forcing myself to think and act, I struggled with the rope to get my hands free. Luckily, the knot came loose and hope blossomed.

  I could see nothing, but at least I knew that Rachel was on the other end of the rope. I tugged with all my might, but it felt like an anchor. Had her body already sunk to the bottom, or was my perception all wrong?

  Pulling the rope to guide me, I figured I must be going down. Arms stretched out ahead of me, I finally felt material, probably Rachel’s sweater. Was she already dead? No. I refused to believe it.

  My lungs burned.

  With both hands, I managed to scoop her up, my arms wrapped around her torso. A deep pain set into my chest and head, threatening to smother
my consciousness. I pumped my legs, begging them to move faster...harder, while trying to keep my grasp on Rachel.

  Just when I thought I couldn’t last another second, my head felt a lightness, and I gasped for breath while struggling to lift Rachel’s face above the water line.

  I could barely make out the two figures standing on the dock. I heard the gunshot, and the sound of a bullet whizzed passed me and cut into the water near my head. I heard cursing and then another gun shot that missed. Tracy must have been the one shooting and, maybe, just maybe, Barry was trying to stop her.

  Thank God she was a lousy shot.

  With one arm around Rachel, I doggie-paddled ferociously with my free arm, but only managed to go around in circles. I couldn’t even see where I was going as the water kept splashing in my eyes and up my nose. I fully expected more gunshots, but all was silent for a few moments.

  And then, Rachel vomited into the water, next to my ear. The fact that she was still alive gave me the inspiration and strength to keep paddling toward land, wherever that might be. Thankfully, Rachel didn’t fight against me as she continued to cough miserably.

  “You’re okay,” I whispered to her, almost out of breath. “I need you to stay calm and trust me.”

  “What ...what is happening?” Her voice sounded weak and frightened. I couldn’t even imagine the terror she was experiencing waking up this way.

  To conserve energy, I didn’t respond and hoped she’d get the hint. I headed toward what I thought was land, and eventually my feet hit something mushy. Yes! Just a little further ,and I’d be able to get a solid footing. Damn it! The ground was too soft. It felt like my feet were sinking into quicksand. So close and yet so far. I struggled to keep paddling with my one arm, but I couldn’t go much longer.

  Blue and red flashing lights filled the dark sky and another spark of hope emerged. I tried to yell out, but the waves kept splashing into my mouth and I couldn’t breathe.

  Felt like my lungs were about to collapse. Just when my mind and body were about to give up, strong hands grasped under my shoulders, and I felt lighter.

  “I got you, Sarah.” Carter’s voice was stern yet calm. “You’re gonna be fine.”

  Chapter 15

  Carter covered my back with a warm blanket while we watched the paramedics tending to Rachel. She seemed to be breathing and coherent, but they were checking her vitals anyway.

  Tracy and Barry Boyle were being led to the cruisers in handcuffs. Tracy was protesting her arrest, while Barry seemed to succumb to his fate, head bent forward as he walked.

  Carter explained the situation. He had called the authorities as soon as he’d received my call and heard the subsequent conversation between Barry’s wife and me right before she decimated the phone with her boot.

  He said, “When I got here, I heard the gunshots out on the dock. Barry and his wife were arguing: Barry was trying to get the gun out of her hands. I was able to sneak out on the deck and surprise them. They never saw me or the Taser gun in my hand until it was too late. After they had crumpled to the ground, I noticed you were pretty close to the shore with Rachel in your grasp, but you appeared to be running out of energy.”

  I said. “I don’t think I would’ve made it if you hadn’t gotten here when you did.”

  “I’m sure you would have,” he said, just to make me feel better.

  My body was shivering from the cold. Carter’s embrace made me feel safe. “What do you think will happen now?” I asked.

  “Your testimony, along with Rachel’s, should be enough to convict Barry and his wife of attempted murder. As for Rachel’s colleagues, I’m not sure what will happen with that.”

  “Barry had nothing to do with their deaths. Tracy confessed that it was all her idea and she only told him the truth today. I think Barry just wanted to protect his wife. Looks like he came to his senses in the end.”

  “I’m sure the court will offer a favorable plea deal if he testifies against his wife. He might even get off on both charges.”

  A police officer approached us. “Ma’am, are you feeling well enough to give your statement about the events of this evening?”

  “Sure,” I said, getting to my feet. “I’ll tell you everything but, first, you need to do me a favor.”

  He tilted his head. “What’s that?”

  “Please go and talk to that woman over there. Her name is Rachel Manning, and two months ago she was declared dead. Her boyfriend, Andrew McCarthy is in jail for her murder. He needs to be released immediately.”

  His eyes widened in surprise. “I remember that case.” Then he turned to get a good look at the woman with the blanket around her shoulders and drenched hair. “Is that really her?”

  “Yes,” I replied. “Go see for yourself.”

  After he left us, Carter wrapped his arm around me and held me close. “I know it’s probably a bit traumatic for you to talk about, but what happened here tonight?”

  “When Barry’s wife showed up, I knew something wasn’t right. I had a hunch that she was packing a weapon in her jacket pocket. She didn’t admit to anything at first, but she eventually spilled her guts. Barry was inside the cabin with Rachel during this point. He whacked Rachel hard in the head and she passed out. I should’ve made a move to disarm Barry’s wife. Instead, she tied my hands behind my back with a rope that she had already tied to Rachel’s feet. They probably figured that the weight of her body would drag me down, too, drowning us both at the same time.”

  “And yet, you managed to get your hands free,” Carter said. “You saved Rachel and yourself. You always said that you weren’t a great swimmer.”

  “I’m not. Which is why we almost didn’t make it. Thank God you showed up when you did. However, one thing doesn’t make sense to me. Why would they tie us together and dump us in the lake if they’d wanted our deaths to look like an accident? I mean, eventually our bodies would surface and then it would appear to be foul play.”

  Carter shrugged. “Good question. Maybe they figured the fish and the eels would eat away at your flesh and nobody would be able to identify the bodies. Either that, or they just didn’t think the whole scenario through very well.”

  “I guess we were all wrong about Shefke.”

  Another pair of headlights appeared on the scene. Logan got out of the blue Sedan and ran over to Rachel, throwing his arms around her. Soon their lips were locked in a passionate kiss.

  I knew they were lovers,” I said. “I wonder what this means for Andrew.”

  Carter said, “When he finds out that she faked her own death and allowed him to go to jail, I don’t think he’ll care that she’s fallen in love with someone else. I’m thinking he’s going to move on.”

  “Still, it’s sad.”

  “Maybe not so sad,” Carter said. “Andrew has a new lovely lady in his life.”

  A feeling of hope welled up inside me. “You’re talking about me, aren’t you?”

  He smiled and winked, letting me know I was right on target.

  Carter and I went to see how Rachel was holding up. She seemed embarrassed when I made a point of noticing her holding hands with Logan. “I guess I understand,” I said, “but it’s not fair. Andrew is sitting in prison while you two are honeymooning in the woods for two months. I hope you both realize how selfish that was. I know there were extenuating circumstances, but it still didn’t give you the right to turn Andrew’s world upside down.”

  Rachel bowed her head in shame. “You’re right. I won’t deny that. I have to find a way to make it up to him.”

  “Maybe the best way to do that is to let him go,” I said.

  Chapter 16

  24 hours later

  Seeing my brother walk out of the prison gates as a free man, well, the feeling is hard to describe in words. It was probably one of the happiest days of my life. By the look on his face, probably the happiest day of his life, too.

  We embraced for what seemed like an eternity.

  “Sarah,” he
said, his voice heavy with emotion. “I don’t understand. How did you get me released? Nobody would tell me anything in there.”

  “Because,” I said, trying to keep myself from crying. “Rachel is still alive.”

  His face became pale and he looked like he might pass out. “What?”

  “Rachel faked her own death because she believed her life was in danger. It’s a long story and one that I should let her tell you. It’s not my place.”

  Eyes wide with disbelief, he opened his mouth but nothing came out. Finally he managed to say, “Is she okay?”

  “Yes. Andrew, I know this is a lot to process right now. The most important thing is that your nightmare is over. You’re a free man.”

  He wrapped his arms around me again, buried his face in the crook of his neck and started sobbing. My own tears flowed freely at this point, and I didn’t try to stop them.

  “How can I ever thank you for believing in me?”

  “I’ve got a list,” I teased. “You can read it later.”

  He laughed and cried at the same time while Carter stood back and watched. Finally, Andrew let go of me and went to Carter, extending his hand. “It’s an honor to meet you, Mr. Peterson. Thank you, from the bottom of my heart.”

  “Please, call me Carter,” he said and, pulling his hand in, Carter gave Andrew a bear hug, the first time I’d ever seen him hug another man.

  Andrew looked around and spied Rachel, who was sitting in her car at the end of the parking lot. She had opted to wait in her car until Andrew and I had had a few minutes together. Personally, I think she was stalling. Afraid of what she would say to Andrew after all that had happened. It would be her responsibility to explain it to him.

  “Why is she still in her car?” Andrew seemed confused and hurt. “She doesn’t seem very excited to see me.”

  “I’m sure she is,” I said. “But there is a lot for you two to talk about.”

  He seemed hesitant as he let go of my hand. “Are you guys going to stick around? I mean, you’re not heading back to New Hampshire right away, are you?”