Burnt River (38 page)

“There’s always been plenty of evidence. It just appears that Ray has been manipulating it behind the scenes.”

There was a knock and the door opened. Ellen stood with Luke in her arms. “Sorry, sweetheart. He wants to see you and won’t take no for an answer.”

Macy took Luke onto her lap.

“I’m going to be in the kitchen if you need me.”

Macy thanked her mother before turning to Jessie again. “You’ll need to make a formal statement. Your lawyer can liaise directly with the state attorney to make the arrangements. Given my personal involvement, I’ll need to remove myself from the investigation.”

“Will you be fired?”

“No, but I might have to take a leave of absence.”

“It doesn’t seem right that you’re the one who’s being punished.”

“It will be okay. I’ve been wanting to take some time off anyway.”

Jessie held on to Luke’s outstretched hand. “Hey, little guy. Did you know that you have a very brave mommy?”

Macy pressed her lips against Luke’s hair. “I’d say the same thing to your daughter if she were here right now.”

*   *   *

Howard Reynolds gave Macy a sharp look. “Are you sure you’re up to this?”

She gazed out across the park. Ray had arrived early. He was sitting by himself on a bench with his feet planted wide. She’d not seen him since Lindsay’s memorial service. She’d ducked out before he finished speaking, and his last words still haunted her.

It is my greatest regret that I wasn’t able to protect Lindsay. I fear I will go to my grave knowing I failed her.…

Macy had called Aiden as soon as Jessie left her house. He confirmed that he’d pulled Ray’s car over on the third of May. The meeting she’d had with Howard Reynolds lasted longer. They’d sat in his home office for over three hours. He wanted more proof, but agreed to help Macy put an internal investigation together. The days ticked by. Lindsay’s DNA was found on a bullet fragment in a bag containing evidence from the highway patrol officer’s shooting. It wasn’t even a 9mm bullet as previously thought. Lindsay had been shot with a .22 caliber weapon. According to the logbook, Ray had accessed the case evidence the same day her body was transported to Helena. He’d also removed his DNA profile from the state database around the same time. They ran further tests and found a match within seconds. Ray had fathered Lindsay’s unborn child.

Howard was speaking again. “We have enough evidence. You really don’t have to put yourself through this.”

“We both know it’s not as easy as that. We have no murder weapon and no witnesses. I need to get him to admit it on tape.”

She started walking toward Ray. The air was cool, but the sun burned hot on her back. Above the city the sky was a brilliant blue. She wore a light jacket and flat shoes. They crunched on the gravel. Her arms swung robotically by her sides. She couldn’t even walk properly. She had no idea how she’d manage this.

Ray looked up and for a split second he was Luke. The similarity was striking. She hesitated. She could turn and walk away. Howard was right. According to the state attorney, they already had enough evidence to charge him. He might not be convicted for murdering Lindsay, but there was a long list of other crimes that would stick.

He approached her with his arms outstretched. She stood very still while he gave her a long hug. She’d been prepared for him to be the man who’d threatened her in her motel room and murdered the woman carrying his child. It was shocking that he could be so many things all at once. He smiled.

“Thank you for coming,” he said. “I’m sorry for how I’ve behaved. I’ve really missed you.”

She let herself be led. The flat of his hand pressed against the base of her spine. It was as if a million synapses had been set in motion all at once. She couldn’t remember what she was supposed to say, what she was supposed to make him say.

Ray didn’t stop at the bench.

“Let’s walk,” he said.

Macy had been told to stay within sight of the surveillance van. Her voice sounded wooden.

“Let’s sit,” she said.

He brushed off the bench with a newspaper someone had left behind. Wilmington Creek was still making headlines. After weeks of uncertainty, Dylan Reed was expected to make a full recovery. There was a photo of him sitting up in a hospital bed looking like a reluctant celebrity.

“It’s nice that it isn’t so hot anymore,” she said, relieved to be sitting. She’d felt unsteady on her feet, even a little dizzy. This was better. Now she only had to think about what to say. She kept her hands on her lap. She was hoping not to have to touch him again. “I saw you with Jessica at the memorial service. Does that mean you’re back together?”

“You must know by now that it’s all an act.”

“I want to believe you.”

“Macy, you’re the one person I can be honest with. I think that’s why I’ve missed you so much.”

She smoothed her palms against her jeans. “It’s very important that you’re honest with me now.”

He put his hand to his chest. “I’ll get down to my knees and swear on the Bible if that’s what it takes. My wife and I are getting divorced.”

“Ray,” she said, her voice rising slightly. “This isn’t about you and your wife.”

He started to speak but she put a hand up. If she didn’t say it now she never would. She picked a point in the middle distance and focused on it.

“This is about you and Lindsay Moore. I know you were having an affair.”

“Don’t be ridiculous.”

She took his hand. It was warm and familiar. She remembered how she used to trace her fingers across the grooves in his palm.
Did you know that you have a long lifeline?

“Ray, please. There’s still a chance for us to get past this, but I need you to be honest.” She couldn’t meet his eye. “I’m worried how this will look if it gets out.”

He cleared his throat several times. “I’ve been under a lot of stress. Leaving my marriage is more difficult than I thought it would be.”

“Sometimes I think I put too much pressure on you.”

“It’s not your fault. I swear I never meant to drag it out like this.”

“I know you didn’t.”

“Lindsay was there when everything else got too complicated. It seemed to be such a simple choice at the time.”

“So it’s true?”

He nodded.

“How long were you seeing her for?”

“It wasn’t like that,” he said, squeezing her hand. “We’d agreed it was just supposed to be the one night, but she became more and more convinced that there was more to it than just sex. I tried everything. Even physically distancing myself.” He paused. “It’s why I sent her to Wilmington Creek.”

There were real tears in Macy’s eyes. “Ray, I know you’re a good man, but I’m scared other people won’t understand you the way I do. You realize how it’s going to look if this gets out. Lindsay was three months pregnant when she died. People will think you’re the father.”

Ray started to say something then stopped.

She looked at him but he looked away. “Ray?”

“Believe me. I know how it looks.”

“I need you to deny it.”

“I can’t.”

“Jesus, Ray, how could you be so irresponsible?”

“She told me she was on the pill.”

Macy took a second to calm her nerves. He’d admitted to the affair. He’d admitted to being the father. She was almost done. She slowed down.

“Then you must have slept with her again after she moved up to Wilmington Creek.”

“It was only to buy time.” He dragged his fingers through his hair. “It was the biggest mistake of my life.”

“But we tested a DNA sample from the fetus. Your name didn’t come up as a match.”

“I removed my profile from the database.”

“So you’re safe. No one has to know.”

He smoothed his fingertips along her wrist. “If the authorities find out about the affair they’ll check again. How did you know about me and Lindsay?”

“Someone who saw you together has come forward. I think I put them off making a formal statement, but they could change their mind.”

“Who?”

Macy hesitated. He wouldn’t trust her if she didn’t give him a name.

“Jessie Dalton.”

“She’s an ex–drug addict. She’s not a credible witness.”

“There are plenty of people who want your job, Ray. You know they’d press for a full investigation.” She put her head on his shoulder. “If I’m going to help you, you need to tell me everything. You have to trust me now.”

He held his lips to her forehead. “Lindsay threatened to go public.”

“You would have lost everything.”

“She’d call the house in the middle of the night and hang up. It was only a matter of time before she spoke to my wife. I drove up to Wilmington Creek because I was hoping to make her understand, but she wasn’t like you. There was no reasoning with her.”

Macy flinched. Her body stiffened as he wrapped his arms around her. She couldn’t think straight. She pictured words in her head. She read them aloud one by one and prayed she was making sense.

“What happened, Ray?”

“The same thing that happened every time I tried to reason with her. She became hysterical. Claimed she was carrying my baby.” He turned to look at Macy. “It’s important that you understand. I really thought she was lying.”

“There were ligature marks on her wrists.”

“I had to restrain her until she calmed down.”

“How did she end up in Waldo Canyon?”

“When she left the house I followed her. She’d threatened to drive all the way to Helena to speak to my wife in person. I think she was trying to lose me on the back roads south of town. There was smoke everywhere. At a certain point she got out of the car and started running.”

Macy’s voice cracked. “Is that when you shot her?”

“I had to stop her.”

“Where’s the gun?”

“I dumped it in the Flathead River.”

Macy closed her eyes for a few seconds. All she saw was Lindsay floating alone in that black pool. “I suppose you were hoping her body was never found.”

“That was the idea.”

“You got lucky. If she hadn’t fallen from that cliff she might have made it out of those woods alive.”

Macy risked a quick glance over to where the surveillance van was parked. Two police cars had pulled up behind it. Several officers were moving toward them. Ray squeezed her hand. He hadn’t seen them.

“Macy, I swear I’d take it all back if I could.”

“I know you would.” Macy removed her hands from his grasp and stood with difficulty. “I have to go.”

“What’s going on?”

She kept her voice steady. “You need to do the right thing. This is going to be hell for everyone, especially your children. Dragging our private lives through the courts will just make it worse.”

He finally noticed the advancing officers. One of them held an arrest warrant.

“Are you wearing a wire?”

“Try to think about what I just said.”

“I trusted you.”

She started up the path she’d followed earlier, nodding to the arresting officers as they passed her going the opposite direction. Seconds later she heard them order Ray to put his hands where they could be seen. She didn’t turn around to see what happened next, but that didn’t stop her from imagining every little detail. Howard was waiting for her at the van. He handed her a handkerchief. Aside from his embroidered initials it was pure white. She handed it back.

“I’m fine,” she said. “Did we get everything we needed?”

“And then some.” He glanced over her shoulder. “I didn’t really believe it until I heard him say it with his own mouth. All these years and it turns out I didn’t know him at all.”

“I know what you mean. Do you need me to stick around?”

“No, you’ve done your bit. It’s up to the lawyers now. Do you think he’ll take your advice?”

“I don’t know. I hope so.”

“So I’ll see you on Monday?”

She puffed out her cheeks. “I think it would be a good idea if I took some time off.”

“Going someplace special?”

“I don’t know. I haven’t planned anything yet.”

“There’s no hurry,” he said, patting her on the back. “Your job will still be here when you get back.”

*   *   *

It was after midnight and everyone in the house was asleep. Macy crept downstairs and opened the front door as quietly as she could. Aiden looked beat from the long drive. He held her close and kissed the top of her head.

“You okay?” he asked.

“I’m better now.”

“It’s been a long few weeks.”

“It has. Are you tired or hungry?”

“Tired.”

She took his hand and led him up the stairs. “When do you have to go back?”

“Not sure. I have to ask my boss.”

“He’s a friend of mine. If you like I’ll put in a good word for you.”

“That’s very kind. I’ll let him know.”

She closed the bedroom door and they kissed for a long time.

“Come here,” he said, pulling her down onto the bed and holding her tight in his arms. “You have no idea how worried I was about you today.”

She managed to smile. “It’s okay. I’m fine.”

He lifted her chin so he could look her in the eye. “There’s no way you’re fine, so stop pretending. You probably just had one of the hardest days of your life.”

She buried her head in his shoulder. “If I start crying I don’t think I’ll be able to stop.”

“I wouldn’t worry about that,” he said, reaching over to shut off the bedside lamp. “We all stop eventually. It just takes some of us longer than others.”

Macy shut her eyes and listened to the dull drumbeat of Aiden’s heart. Against her better judgment she’d turned to have one last look at Ray before driving away. Flanked by officers, he’d been in handcuffs. She’d expected him to look diminished, but he hadn’t magically shrunk down to a manageable size. If anything, he seemed to have grown in stature. There was so much unfinished business between them. She just knew he was going to haunt her for years to come.

Aiden wiped the tears from her cheeks. “Try to sleep,” he said, pressing his lips into her hair.

“You’ll be here in the morning?”

“You must have said something really nice to my boss. He says I can stay until the middle of the week.”

“I told you he was a good friend.”