Dead Women Tell No Lies (37 page)

Another question pushed to the front of his thoughts as he drove toward The Ledges. How had Dahlia reached the outskirts?

She rode with her killer or drove herself. Either way, where was her car? No one had stepped forward when the article in the paper announced the police sought the vehicle, and a computer search found no one had registered a matching vehicle in the New England area. He’d have to investigate the other regions and the possibility the killer sold it to a chop shop.

Seven miles past The Ledges, he hit the border of the police search for Dahlia. He pulled over and changed into his hiking boots. His phone buzzed. When he finished with his boots, he checked his caller ID. It was the Chief. Luke pulled up the voicemail and listened. The Chief planned a meeting in two hours and Luke better be there.

Great. He had Mr. Lorenzo to interview at the same time. He’d better get started. He grabbed a map from his glove compartment and tramped off.

A half hour later, he paused on his trek and fished the folded map out of his pocket to reread it. An abandoned fire tower stood on top of the hill. He’d get a different view from up high. He tucked the map away and headed off. In twenty minutes, he stood on the crest, surveying the landscape. No signs of tire tracks in the dirt or traces of oil from any recent vehicles showed up on the hard ground. He climbed up the rickety metal stairs. He paused to survey the view when he reached the last step. In the distance, the river and the rocky formations of The Ledges were recognizable. He turned his attention to the view in the opposite direction.

The roofs of a few buildings peeked out from the woods. One appeared to be a farm. He glanced at his pocket watch. If he left right away, he’d have time to drive back to the station and meet his appointment with Mr. Lorenzo and then hit the Chief’s meeting. Luke wound down the metal stairs and the hillside path.

His hike had revealed a big fat nothing. Drawing out his map, he ran a thumb over the blue bodies of water. Soon as the weather warmed up a few more degrees, he’d bring the divers back to search for Dahlia’s car in the river and a nearby pond.

The urge to find a clue, a scrap of clothing drove him. He started off one last time. Within thirty minutes, he’d reached the driveway of the buildings he’d seen from the tower. He read the name on the mailbox and ran through the list in his mind of people interviewed. The name didn’t match any. Lennox glanced at his watch. He should head back to the station. The Chief would have his butt if he wasn’t there. The farm owners could have seen or heard something the night of Dahlia’s murder. His men should have interviewed them but often more info comes out on a second round. Look at Myra and with luck, the bank manager.

He turned and jogged down the drive. The closer he drew to the buildings, the more ramshackle they appeared. Luke approached the front door and gave the knob a twist. It was locked. The boarded up windows confirmed the lack of human presence. He circled the building before giving his attention to the barn. The roof of the peeling red building showed missing shingles and sagged in the center. He yanked the barn door open. He pulled out his gun and entered. Dust floated in the sunbeams poking through the holes in the roof and reflected off the metal roof of a vehicle.

Excitement rose into his throat as he stared at the Vermont license plate. He pulled out his notebook and flipped through until he found the page with her plate number. Then he called the station. “Conroy, I’ve found Dahlia Blue’s car. Brief the Chief.”

“He’s not here. The Mayor called him over to the palace for an emergency meeting. What do you bet the boss won’t be saying I love my job when he returns? Where are you?”

“I’m near The Ledges. I need you to meet with a Mr. Lorenzo, who wanted me to take his statement about the garage attack. He’ll be at the station at two.”

“Hope he’s legit. I’ll join you soon as I’m done.”

Lennox gave directions and hung up.

Dahlia Blue had driven out to The Ledges. Had she left her car inside the dilapidated barn? More likely her killer had moved the vehicle to the spot to hide it.

Chapter 28

Rose’s brain was fogged-in. Squinting at the clock, she read 1pm. She’d napped for over an hour and had three more before she went to the appointment with the police head shrinker. Okay, she was never spending another minute sitting around whining or wine-ing. She was throwing out the attitude.

She shuffled into the kitchen and emptied the remainder of last night’s wine down the drain. No police psychiatrist would call her a drunk. He could label her crazy maybe, but not a wino. Already she felt better.

Crossing into the living room, she yanked out the bottom bureau drawer to dig out Dahlia’s clothes. They were going to the women’s shelter. Her fingertips scraped against paper as she grabbed the last pile of jeans and shirts. She dropped the clothes on the sofa bed and picked up the printed sheet stuck to the bottom of the drawer.

Holding up a printout, she read
The Ledgeview Local News
. The piece was written last summer. The headline:
Ledgeview High Drama Club Celebrates Fifty Dramatic Years
was splayed across the page. A picture of Mr. Melvin or Othello from the Nursing home smiled at her from the page.

Rose sank onto the couch. Why would Dahlia want or keep an old Ledgeview news item? Rose skimmed the article to the last few sentences:
The drama club is still seeking fellow thespians to invite to the gala.
The first name stopped her from reading further.

Laurie Blue headed the list. Her mother attended Ledgeview High? When? Gram lived in Vermont all her life, except for the one year after Grand dad died.

Ledgeview.
At last, Rose had found the missing piece. Dahlia had chosen Ledgeview because Mom and Gram had lived here once. Rose dug into her purse lying on the table. Pulling out her phone, she hesitated and then pushed Lennox’s number. She listened for two rings and hung up. She’d a better idea. She’d talk to Othello or Mr. Melvin. She threw on her jacket and slung her purse over her shoulder.

Grabbing her gun from the counter next to the coffee maker, she stuffed the thirty-eight in her pocket. I’m still using smart-on, Lennox.

Minutes later, Othello’s nurse greeted her at the desk. “Miss Blue, Mr. Melvin will be happy to see you. Today is a good day for him.”

“He’s coherent?”

“He called me by my name. Course, he might have run out of other names and said it by mistake.” She frowned.

“Can I see him now?”

“Follow me. He’s in the dayroom by the windows.” She led Rose through the large space where seniors congregated together in small groups talking or working at the puzzle tables. Othello sat alone near the bank of windows. Sun streamed in through the glass behind his arm chair spotlighting the senior.

“Mr. Melvin.” Rose walked past the nurse who indicated a seat for her across from Othello. She perched on the edge and rested her purse on her knees.

Mr. Melvin raised his head. “Young lady, are you here for an audition?”

Her hope died for a second, and then, she rallied and dug out the article. She held it under his nose.

He glanced at the paper but refrained from a comment.

Why didn’t he speak? “I found this piece from a few months ago. The article was about the high school drama club celebrating their fiftieth anniversary. They listed missing members at the end.” She pointed to her mother’s name. “What role did Laurie Blue play?”

“I think she played….” The light in his eyes dimmed.

“Please, Mr. Melvin.”

“My name’s Othello.”

“Mr. Othello, this is very important. Try to remember Laurie Blue. She would have been in the drama club twenty-eight years ago. You were still teaching, right?”

He chuckled. “They used to say I’d be buried under the stage and haunt the administrators who cut my budgets. I memorized their names.”

“She was a student in one of your plays.”

“I’m sorry, young lady. My mind hides at times.” His shoulders sagged, and he seemed to shrink before her eyes. “I’m afraid I can’t help you.”

Rose leaned forward and touched his hand. “Please, try to remember.”

He smiled. “She was in love. I remember her now, but it was ill fated.”

“Right, she was in one of your plays and had a boyfriend.” Anticipation held her on the edge of her seat.

His smile faded. “The course of true love never did run smooth.”

He was reciting another useless line. Even if he recalled her mother, the memory could be faulty. “Thanks.” She might as well leave. “I have to go.” The trip had been pointless. She slipped out of the chair. Sadness for Othello mixed with her frustration.

“Don’t give up, young lady. You’ll get the lead next time.”

“I won’t give up.” She trudged to her car and drove toward her apartment. Now what should she do?

She turned into the parking lot behind her building and cut the engine. Should she talk to Lennox? No, she’d continue by herself. She’d find someone else who could remember her mother at the high school. A search on the computer for classmates would be the next step. Once she learned a fact or clue she’d turn it over to Lennox.

She hopped out.

“Rose!”

She whirled around.

He’d tracked her all morning. Now she was right in front of him. Who was watching? He scanned the rear of the buildings and the lot with a handful of cars. It was still risky. Someone in one of the apartments could glance out a window and see them. His heartbeat pounded in his ears and adrenaline overflowed. He’d never get a better chance.

She smoothed blonde hair away from her face and stuck out her chin. So like Dahlia. A wave of wanting hit him. Grab her now. It was a perfect day to visit The Ledges.

Chapter 29

Dean leaned out the window of his white car and skidded to a stop a few feet from her. He motioned her over. “Luke found something of your sister’s. He needs you for a positive I.D. and asked me to bring you to him. He doesn’t want you driving alone.” He threw a glance at her car. “Did you go somewhere?”

“I went to the nursing home. Where is Luke?”

“He’s out near The Ledges. Get in. He expects you.”

His words drove a skip of hope through her chest. She slid into the vehicle. The clicks announced the locking of the doors. “He didn’t hint at what he found?”

“All information is top secret with the police.” Dean scooped up her purse. “I’ll put this in the back and give you more room.” He stretched his arm over the seat and dropped her bag behind them.

“Didn’t Luke arrest your sister’s boyfriend at my party? He stole a lot of the night’s excitement, but I’ll forgive him since he found the Ledgeview killer and people are safe again.” He threw her a smile.

She clasped her hands together tightly. “With two homicides, there could be two killers.”

“That’s why we have detectives like Luke. Criminals are masterminds at fooling people.”

She shook her head. “Why would A.J. kill Dahlia in Ledgeview and not at home?”

“He probably thought no one would connect him to the crime if she died in a different state.” He patted her clenched hands. “Everything will work out.”

At his cold touch, she resisted the urge to shudder. What was wrong with her? She should be happy that Luke had made a discovery. “I wonder who attacked Shauna.”

“What do you mean?”

“If A.J. killed my sister, why would he attack Shauna, a stranger?”

“You’ve hung around Luke too long. You sound like him. At the trial, we might learn the reasons someone is stalking the women of Ledgeview.”

His words didn’t comfort her. The sun disappeared behind a cloud, and the day turned gray, matching her mood. The city grew smaller in her side view mirror.

Dean’s phone rang. He dug it out of his jacket pocket. “Luke, we were just talking about you. Yes, she’s with me. We’ll be there in twenty minutes. We’ll meet you, good luck.”

“Let me speak to him.” She held out her hand.

“He hung up.” Dean tossed the cell into the console between the seats. “Don’t worry. You can talk to him in person soon enough.”

“Did he give you a clue of what he found?”

“He was tightlipped as always. I guess he wants to keep a lid on the investigation until we’re with him.”

She surveyed his brown jacket, pants and work boots. “You dressed differently today.”

“I changed when Luke asked me to bring you to The Ledges. An overcoat and dress shoes don’t cut it in the woods.”

He had time to change?

Besides, I love the outdoors—hiking, skiing. Do you like to ski? You should go up to the White Mountains and try some of the trails. I can tell you the best ones.”

“I’m going back to Vermont soon.” The car bounced over the secondary road for the next fifteen minutes. “The pavement is worse in the spring with the frost heaves.”

A ding, ding chime rang from the dashboard.

“What’s happening? Are we running out of gas?” Rose glanced over at the fuel gage.

He stared down at his control panel. “My rear tire is low.”