Buried (Detective Ellie MacIntosh) (7 page)

Ellie regarded the woman across from her with a level look. “I want to believe that you are a good enough clinician that you know that is not why I am here.”

“True enough. You can kill without remorse.”

Put so frankly, that was a bit shocking. Ellie said carefully, “If the person places me in that position where there is little choice, yes. I think you know that very well.”

“Is that why you chose me as your therapist?”

“I am not sure I even need a therapist.”

Maybe the tension indicated this wasn’t the best idea she’d ever had.

Georgia Lukens entwined her hands and rested them on the desktop. “Look, Detective, let’s begin again. Obviously something is bothering you or coming to me would not have occurred to you in the first place. Let’s discuss it. Anything you say is confidential, so you can speak freely. I think I do know why you chose me. We have a rather unique bond we may have not intended to forge, but it exists.”

When she’d made the appointment, Ellie had wondered if it wasn’t worth it to talk to someone to try and figure out if her issues with committing to a relationship were really related to her job, or to something else. She tended to blame her hesitation on the dark side of mankind she saw all too often, but then again, maybe it was
her
.

But now her focus was skewed to another problem that needed her attention, and maybe her relationship with Bryce could wait a bit. Perhaps that
was
the issue. There was always something else.

“I’m having a problem dealing with someone I love very much.”

“Okay. That happens to all of us. What are we talking about specifically?”

“I don’t know the facts. I have a few of them, but the background story, no. I do not want to stir up a hornet’s nest if it isn’t necessary, but I also am hanging out in the breeze.”

“This is someone you don’t feel comfortable talking to, or you think they won’t be comfortable talking to you?” Dr. Lukens gazed at her inquiringly.

That was an interesting question, but maybe accurate. Slowly, Ellie confirmed, “Both, at least in the context of a certain problem. In truth, I’m not comfortable giving
you
exact names, so I am not going to, but I’ll relay the gist of it, and maybe you can help me sort out how I feel about dealing with it.”

“I wouldn’t dream of doing otherwise. Outline the problem and we’ll go from there.”

She hesitated, then sighed. “I’m working another case. One that is really involved, but this dilemma is personal and entirely different. Look, recently I think someone I am very close to lied to me about something important.”

“The very attractive Dr. Grantham?”

It was startling that this woman knew Bryce’s name, but then again, they did not have the most low profile relationship in the great state of Wisconsin. “How do you know that he and I—”

“After the Burner case it was mentioned in a newspaper article by some very clever investigative reporter that you were involved with a former suspect in another case. Don’t worry, just a sentence in the article, but I notice details.”

That wasn’t the best news ever, but it probably was impossible to keep your personal life completely secret, no matter who you were. “No, not Bryce,” Ellie was able to say with quiet conviction. “I don’t think he’s ever lied to me. Or if he has, I have not yet caught it.”

“Yet?”

“I’m suspicious by nature. Comes with the territory. We can talk about Bryce at a different appointment.”

“It sounds like we should.” Lukens leaned back, fingering a pen, her brows lifted. “I guess I assumed that the two of you have a complicated relationship, but maybe I see too many patients who have had bad experiences. Obviously, from the tone of your voice, you have a lot of confidence in him. So let’s move on.”

“I have a lot of confidence in quite a few people, some of which might be a mistake.” She exhaled and ran a hand through her hair. “But, no. Strike that. I have every confidence in
this
person and yet he’s lying to me.”

“Motivation?”

“Now you sound like a police officer.”

“No, now I sound like a therapist. You feel betrayed for some reason.”

Did she? She wasn’t at all sure about the terminology, but she did need some answers. “I am someone to whom he could tell the truth. He knows that. He doesn’t want to. The realization struck a somewhat ominous note.”

“So you think he was lying. Maybe you should explain why you think he isn’t being honest.”

“It was a feeling. Not very scientific but I do know this person well.”

“I can tell you from experience human behavior is not an exact science. Let me ask you this: was he protecting
you
from the truth, or protecting himself?”

Food for thought. It took her a second, but then Ellie swallowed hard. “I don’t see how either could apply.”

Lukens’s fingers toyed with the edge of her blotter now that she had put down the pen. “Okay again. Why would he lie? Do you have a theory?”

“He doesn’t want me to look closer.”

“You say it with conviction. Into what?”

Nope. Not going there. Ever
. Once the words were said, they couldn’t be taken back. “That is not part of this discussion.”

“I believe at this moment it would be fair to say you wish me to shoot blind into a dark alley. Would you do that? Look, Detective MacIntosh, you came here for help, and I am more than willing, but could you solve a case without information? Help me out. You need to at least give me some evidence we are discussing something worth our time and effort.”

That was reasonable enough. Ellie took in a breath. “Dr. Lukens—”

“I think at this point you can call me Georgia. You need to deal with this and you thought of me. Fine, I’m here to help. Help me back and tell me what exactly we’re dealing with. Otherwise I am throwing darts at the walls.”

Fair enough
. “I just want a few insights.”

“I’ve heard that one before, but in this case I believe it. So he’s lying. Does
he
realize—after all in your profession you are naturally suspicious as you just said a moment ago—that you know he’s lying?”

Ellie cast back … replayed the whole scene with her grandfather in her mind, and then nodded. “He knows.”

“But is trusting that you won’t probe too deeply? Good guess?”

“I suppose.” Ellie stood and then walked to the single window. It looked out over the street. Her car was still there, and she’d parked it pretty well, considering parallel parking was not her forte. “He’s counting on me to be polite and show respect and never ask the right questions.”

“Father?”

Well, crap, that was way too close to the truth.

“Grandfather.”

Dr. Lukens laughed softly. “Oh, how that complicates the situation. Let’s face it, Detective, that is a lot of life experience. Grandparents are supposed to teach
us
. We are told that, and we believe it. Tell me about it.”

That was the entire problem. She didn’t want to tell anyone. “I’m having trouble just thinking about it—much less wanting to tell you. Can we approach this another way?”

“We can approach it however you wish to handle it, Ellie, but at the end of the day, I think what you are looking for requires some fairly brutal honesty. Am I wrong?”

She wasn’t. Damn her.

Ellie took a moment and then turned around. “I have never understood how you went to school to just learn how to ask questions and not give answers.”

“But yet you are here. And if we are making judgments, I suppose I could say I have never understood how you demand truths from people without ever offering them yourself.” Dr. Lukens cocked her head. “How does that work? One-sided honesty? Come on, Detective. How can you possibly want my frank opinion when you refuse to give me more than just a vague scenario? It isn’t fair. You would never put up with it. So, if you came here with a purpose, can you tell me what it is? There is one, right?”

That was a good question. Ellie stared at a painting on the wall. It was far too generic for her tastes, but then again, she certainly was not an interior decorator and once upon a time, Dr. Lukens had given her the piece of art that once hung there. “Fine, I will give you more details, but not everything.”

“That’s generous, considering
you
came
here
. I’m not asking for everything, just enough so that I can help.”

“This is confidential.”

“You know that is not an issue.”

True. Ellie still had to weigh her words before she just sat back down. “A grave was found on my grandfather’s property. He called me. I went. Of course I would.”

Georgia waited and then said, “Okay, that’s shocking, I admit. How did you feel about it?”

She held up her hand. “No, don’t do that. I’m not here to talk about how I felt about it.”

“I’m starting to get that impression, but you might want to reevaluate down the line. All right, I’ll restate. Of course you would agree to go. What did you find?”

This was the hard part. She leveled her gaze. “I couldn’t tell how old the skeleton might be. I just got the impression maybe he
did
know.”

“Your grandfather knew the person?”

“I never said that. I said he just wasn’t.… surprised enough in my opinion.”

“Surprised enough? In
your opinion
.”

It was always aggravating when someone assumed that tone, but because Ellie had been involved in a double homicide recently, it could be Lukens was sensitive to the subject. Ellie said evenly, “Look, police officers are just human beings, but we do have the dubious honor of being lied to more often than most. So, yes. In my somewhat expert opinion.”

“No.” Lukens exhaled, her smile a small twitch. “I think my profession can claim the dubious honor of being lied to the most. But I don’t think that’s the issue here. You got the
impression
he lied to you. I am not sure yet of the significance of the skeleton, but I do know already how you feel about his reaction. Did you tell him you thought he was not being truthful?”

“My grandfather?” Ellie looked at her incredulously. “Never. That is like a Catholic accusing the pope of lying to his face. If there is a one percent chance I’m wrong … well, let’s just leave it there, shall we? I refuse to take a gamble on insulting him, even if it is that one percent.”

Georgia nodded, her expression thoughtful. “Fine with me. Let’s leave him out of this and address your fears.”

“I don’t have fears.”

“Then congratulations, you are the only person on this planet without them, Detective MacIntosh.”

That
had
come off all wrong. She readjusted the answer. “I meant the reason I am here isn’t because of personal anxiety except to the extent that I needed to talk to someone about how to handle this. He isn’t young and I don’t want to upset him even more.”

Georgia Lukens just looked at her. “I agree he isn’t young but might argue you don’t want to upset
you
more.”

“If he does know who it is, that means he’s culpable in some way because he denied it. How is that possible? He’s the most honorable man I know.”

“Ah, so there we go.
That’s
what you’re afraid of.” Georgia’s voice was quiet. “That this man you revere is going to topple from his pedestal.”

Was it?
Shit
.

“No. I’m not afraid for me, but for him.”

“You are sure about that?”

God help her, she wasn’t.

Those forsaken bones had her in a tailspin and she was not sure she could survive the nosedive.

“Here’s the crux of it,” Ellie explained haltingly. “I could just walk away. I’m fairly sure there will be no huge investigation into this case if the bones are really old. The county always does its best with cold cases, but the budget is tight and there is plenty to do, trust me.” She splayed her hands on the table. “Am I doing more harm than good if I push it?”

Dr. Lukens laughed, but there was no mirth involved. “Oh, for God’s sake … you’re a detective. Just accept that about yourself.”

“What does
that
mean?”

“You’re scared of what you might find. That seems reasonable to me. I think if you feel you can live with brushing it off, do that. If, from what you just said, you don’t think you can live with it, investigate. Have you ever seen the movie
A Few Good Men
? Great flick. There is a classic line in there that I think everyone who is involved in the law in any way needs to remember. I don’t think I’m quoting it word for word, but the gist is that a jury trial is not about the truth, it is about assigning blame. Are we having a discussion about this right now? So a person is dead, buried without ceremony, and you want to blame someone but you do not want to blame your grandfather, right?”

That was being simplistic, but it was pretty close to the truth. “We are having this discussion because I’d like your professional opinion on how it would affect him if I pursue this.”

“Let me sum it up. In short, will it bother you more to let it go, or if you can’t let it go? I think we both know letting it go is not an option for you. I also think you are wasting a great deal of energy on something that might be resolved without any more effort on your part. Perhaps the investigation will be straightforward and expedient and all your anxiety is unnecessary. Or can I venture to say maybe something else is bothering you and this allows you to think about what we are discussing instead. Possible?”

Ellie leaned back in her chair. It was possible, of course. Her relationship with Bryce was coming to a crossroads of sorts, or at least that was how she thought of it. She’d signed a lease on her condo when she moved down from Lincoln County and it was time to decide if she should keep it.

Maybe there was some benefit to therapy after all. “I have a personal life, of course,” she admitted. “It’s a little complicated right now.”

“Personal life. Complicated? Hmm, what are the odds?” Mildly, Dr. Lukens said, “Maybe we can talk about that next time.”

Chapter 7