Dead Women Tell No Lies (6 page)

“Let’s go.” Rose jumped to her feet, letting the picture drift to the floor. “You are available immediately?” She glanced at the files cluttering his desk. “If you’re too busy, I’ll drive out and search around for myself.”

“You’d have better luck taking a cab to find Amelia Earhart. No one hangs out at The Ledges in the cold weather. The place is abandoned.”

She bit her lip and seemed to consider his words while Luke examined her hovering form. The gray sweater hugged the curvy shape of her slender body. Dark pants covered long legs that fit into low‒heeled, black shoes. Waves of dark blonde hair fell around her colorless face and onto her shoulders. The lack of makeup didn’t hide the fact the woman was a knockout, but something else about her held his attention. Although she’d controlled her voice when speaking about her murdered sister, her eyes told him a different story. When he gazed into them, he felt like he saw not only her pain, but her broken heart.

What was happening to him? He’d become soft, a marshmallow man, and that could be dangerous in his business. Damn. The woman could be playing him. If she’d done her homework, The Ledges was the perfect spot to pinpoint. Who would contradict her? Yet, she couldn’t know about the fax he’d received about the currents from his friend, who worked for an ecological firm and ran a few quick tests as a favor. The results indicated The Ledges was the number one spot for the victim to have entered the river.

“I want to show you something.” He stood up and opened a drawer in his metal cabinet. “This report came in a couple of hours ago.” He drew out a file and tossed it on his desk watching her reaction to the report.

“I see.” She lifted her chin and placed her hands on her hips. “Science confirms my story so you have to believe me.” She dropped her hands.

The fire in her voice told him she didn’t agree with skipping the trip or like his doubt. If she’d something to do with her sister’s death, she covered her reaction to the latest news like a pro.

“Remember smart and caution are words I like to practice, and in your case, they should be the most important words in your dictionary,” he advised.

“Got it, smart-on will be my words to live by.” She gathered up her purse.

“Hold it.” She didn’t have a clue what a murder investigation detailed. “In a homicide case, everyone needs to prepare for difficult questions and unpleasant answers. You might not like what we learn. The truth can hurt. You can opt for a daily written report instead of hands on investigation.”

She flattened her palms on his desk and leaned forward. “I’m not patient about sitting around and waiting for censored notes. You’re also forgetting I’m your prime witness or victim’s family or both, depending on how you view my role.”

The woman was right. He’d never find a better eyewitness or a suspect, and he could observe and judge her truthfulness close up. “You’ve won me over with your persuasive discussion.”

“I had you at
witness
.”

“You bet, but if you think you can go on ride alongs or participate in questioning, you should know up front that’s impossible. I have procedures and chain of custody and—”

“No problem, can we leave now and skip lecture number 5,029?”

“Is anyone else with you, waiting somewhere? You said you were alone but—”

“I’m traveling solo.”

“The trail leads through the woods, and the snow sticks longer in the shaded areas. You should pick up boots for the trip.”

“You’re afraid of cold feet, detective? I don’t have time to go shopping for footwear.”

He pulled on his leather jacket. She was right. Daylight promised to last for only a few more hours. If they didn’t head out soon, he’d find out if ghosts walked The Ledges at night.

Rose glanced out the window. “Can you fast forward or give me the short version of your speech? I want to arrive before midnight.”

“I’ve one last reminder. I’m paid by the public to protect, and if I advise you to stay somewhere—”

“Smart-on, Lennox.” A sudden smile lit her features.

Her grin changed her features, softened it and added a touch of vulnerability. If Rose Blue was a killer, she’d won his vote for best actress in the innocent role. “Let’s go.”

As he exited the front door, he ran into Buddy on the sidewalk.

Buddy Drown swiped a strand of dark hair away from his forehead. “Requesting clearance for entrance.”

Luke paused next to Rose on the sidewalk. “Bud, we’re on our way out. Were you coming into the station?”

“I’m afraid I need your detective skills for a couple of minutes. Sorry to butt in during your business hours, Luke, and Miss—?” He turned toward Rose.

“Miss Blue,” she offered, clutching the strap of her purse and putting one foot forward.

She was anxious to leave.

“It’s nice to meet you, Miss Blue.” Buddy scratched his head. “Did we meet up before? You look familiar.”

“She’s new in Ledgeview, Bud. What’s the problem?”

“I’ve misplaced my phone. Have you seen it? I might have left it in your car after the game the other night.”

“I’ll double check later. Now’s not a good time.”

“Gotcha. Guess I’d better phone Shauna before she starts worrying when I don’t answer her call. We’ve three months until the wedding, and she already has the wife’s where-have-you-been part down.” He flashed a smile, revealing even white teeth. “Miss Blue, welcome to Ledgeview. Luke, don’t forget you’re coming over tonight to let me win our bet and all your money. Shauna’s doing a night out with the girls and won’t be manning the stove. We’ll order out.”

“As long as you don’t make me eat your cooking, I’m in.”

“You’re safe.” He slapped Luke across the back. “Glad you’re home. It’s going to be like old times around here again. Catch ya, later.” With a nod to Rose, Buddy headed off.

“Sorry for the delay,” Luke said to her. “Bud’s an old friend.”

“Sounds like you’re close.”

“He and I go back years. Buddy’s the next best thing to a brother.” He strode toward his car with Rose keeping pace.

“I have to ask one more thing before we leave. Do law enforcement officers gamble?”

He stopped at the corner. “The loser springs for a super sized meal at the local fast food. Do you have more questions for me?”

“Where’s your car?”

“I parked in the rear.” He led the way to the lot behind the building.

In the close quarters of the front seat, the scent of her sweet perfume teased his nose again.

He forced himself to concentrate on the traffic. His companion seemed deep in thought and oblivious to him. Luke broke the silence by pointing out his old high school, the local hospital and adding it was the biggest employer in the city. “Things haven’t changed much since I left five years ago.”

She tossed glances in the directions he indicated but remained quiet.

He changed the conversation, hoping for more of a response. “I understand you headed your city’s Main Street Committee.”

“Did you investigate me?”

“I look at everyone. It’s my job.”

“Good, I like thorough. As for the committee, I used to joke that Dahlia was my campaign manager. She won the election for me with her ability to schmooze with everyone. She also was my sounding board. I bounced all my ideas off her before I presented them.”

“Did your sister swim or hike? I was wondering why she’d tramp around The Ledges in cold weather.”

“Dahlia was more the indoor type. Her idea of exercise was walking to the TV set to push the on button instead of using the remote. As I said, I’ve no idea why she came here.”

“In your visions, are you ever on the path leading up to The Ledges?”

“None that I remember.”

“You never visited our city as a child or later?”

“I’ve never been here.”

He was getting nowhere with his questions. “We’ll need to be careful when we’re walking around at The Ledges. The ridge can be dangerous and a bad place to slip or fall.”

“I’m aware of the risk, and you’re here to steady me.”

“This is the first time a woman wanted to fall into my arms after one meeting.”

“Don’t flatter yourself, Lennox. I plan on keeping both feet firmly underneath me.”

He mulled over the turn in the case and the possibilities. If Dahlia was murdered at

The Ledges, traces of evidence would be long gone after the last thaw. He was crossing his fingers for a one in a hundred shot. What would happen once they walked out on the boulders? Would Rose assume the role of injured sister or act like a psychic in the movies, pretending to see dead ones? He’d find out in about fifteen minutes.

After ten miles, he drove onto a narrow, winding road and parked on the dirt shoulder. “The state owns most of the land. It’s largely floodplain and unbuildable. Wait here while I scout out the area.” He pocketed his keys and swung the door open.

“Now’s a good time to learn two things about me, Detective. I don’t do windows and I don’t do waiting around.” Her hard countenance disappeared. “At least I don’t do either one well. Besides you need my help to confirm the spot. How long is the walk?”

“If you insist on coming, we’ve a five minute trek through the woods to the rocks. Then you can verify if it’s the place.”

She slid out to stand on the gravel shoulder and studied the woods and road.

He grabbed sunglasses from the visor and imagined her view of the spot. No cars, houses or people were in sight. They were alone in an isolated locale. On top of the shrinking snow bank sat a half empty grape soda bottle. Well, not totally alone. Someone had passed through recently.

He hopped out of the vehicle. A black crow flew out of a tree with a loud caw and circled over their heads, protesting their intrusion before flying off.

“Nice welcome.” Rose pressed closer to the car. She folded her arms around herself.

“Are you okay?”

“Sure.” She dropped her arms and stepped away onto the dirt edge. “It’s chilly today. Ready to go?”

Rose was one contradiction after another. She seemed fragile, weak and yet on the other hand, determined and tough. “I’m all yours.” He marched toward the path with her scurrying after him. The tree branches fluttered in the breeze, and the cool air seeped through the warmth of his jacket. “Wait a minute.” He retraced his steps, ducked inside the vehicle and dug out his camera from the glove compartment. He slipped it into his pocket.

She stood where he’d left her, blinking her eyes rapidly.

Was she having a vision? “All set or do you need a few minutes?”

“I can’t wait. After you.”

“The trail starts near the pine grove.” He headed toward the track with her beside him.

Patches of snow clung to the ground as they headed deeper into the woods. The sound of their footsteps breaking through the crusted layers mixed with the creak of tree branches bending in the breeze. He reached a two foot snow bank, tramped over and stopped to work out a sliver of ice.

She hiked over the mound to join him. “You must know the trail. I can’t see any signs of where to walk.”

“I’m relying on instinct from the old, high school party days, but I’m letting you in on one of my dark secrets, Miss Blue. My dad would have ordered a military court-martial for me if he knew what I’d been up to. I grew up listening to his stories about the suspects and criminals he arrested. Underage drinking would have qualified me as one of his lawbreakers.”

“My Gram was old school, too. I often thought that my mother was the opposite. She never outgrew her teenage rebellious years.”

“How about you? Were you rebellious?”

“If you call being in the honor society and president of the marketing club defiant.”

“They had a marketing club in high school?”

“You were too busy with your wild parties to notice.” Rose slapped her hands against her thighs. “Okay, Squanto, which way do we go?”

“If we head toward the river we’ll find The Ledges. I can hear the water running. This time of year, the melting snow feeds the current, and the river runs high and fast.”

“Thanks for the warning. I’ll cancel the dip.”

“You should pay attention to my warnings.”

“Just a little levity, Lennox. It helps when I’m nervous.”

“Understood.” He shot pictures of the area while she stamped her feet. Then they started off again. The scent of evergreens bobbed in the air. Sunlight filtered through the treetops, dimming the light as they traveled deeper into the woods.

“Recognize anything?” he asked over his shoulder.

She paused. “I’m positive I never walked through a forest in my visions.” She jammed her fists into her jacket pockets.

“Don’t forget. You can go back if you feel overwhelmed.” Maybe she needed an out. “I can’t forget. You keep reminding me.” She shivered. “It’s colder with the trees blocking the sun. Spring is two weeks away, and I still need gloves.”

“Good old Spring in New England. Most people agree we slide out of winter right into summer, but they’re forgetting the season in between.”

“Spring?”