Dead Women Tell No Lies (7 page)

“Mud season.”

“Ah, I understand why New Englanders visit Florida.”

“My mother would agree. She loves to call and inform me of the temperature on the beach in front of her Florida condo.”

“I’d be tempted to join her during a blizzard, but not today. Lead on, Detective Lennox.”

They plodded forward. The ground sank under their feet in the muddy places exposed to the sunlight.

“Where are we? All I see are the tree branches in my face.” She bent to avoid a low‒hanging limb.

“Don’t worry. A few more feet and we’ll reach the end of the path. Listen, the river’s louder.

She stood still. Her head tilted upward.

“Recognize anything yet?”

“Nothing.”

She was going with Plan C, “see no evil.” He dropped back and stayed glued to her side as they trekked out toward the brighter light. She focused her gaze straight ahead. Instead of the vulnerability he’d sensed a moment ago, there was only purpose. Was she as strong as she was acting? Cripe, he should have come alone and shown her the pictures of The Ledges when he returned; he’d been too anxious to disprove her bogus story.

“I hope I find something familiar.” She sped up her pace.

“The clearing is after the curve.”

They entered the tree line where she halted. Bushes and the few stubby trees grew between the woods and the rocks. Then she plowed ahead. He pushed on to catch up to her.

“Is this the place?”

“Dahlia didn’t know the way either,” she said, staring off.

Was she falling into a trance? His gut chilled.

“She followed someone to The Ledges.” Rose slowed and stretched upward on her toes. “I can’t see the person, Lennox.”

Relief poured through him at the sound of his name. “You’re probably too nervous. Walk around a little.” He raised an arm and pointed to the protrusion of granite. “Here’s where people sun themselves in the summer.” He strode onto the top of the gray, flat boulders. The familiarity of his surroundings chased away his suspicions. “If we could travel back in time, we’d be standing in the middle of the glaciers.” He flung his palms out at his sides. “I’m always amazed by these stones.”

“If we could travel back, we’d learn the truth about my sister’s death.” Rose sidestepped closer to him and massaged her forehead.

“Are you all right?”

“Small ache, no problem.” She lowered her arm and focused on the drop‒off.

Six feet away, empty blue sky melded into the rock as the ridge disappeared to slope downhill and meet water. The sound of the rushing current filled the cool air. “The daredevils dive off the edge into the river.”

“Dahlia would never do that.” Rose turned around in a circle while inspecting the ground. “We won’t uncover any footprints on this ground.”

“I’m afraid not. The sun has melted the snow out in the open. Does this location match what you’ve seen in your mind?”

“The stones are the same.” She twisted her fingers in front of her.

“Take a few minutes. No pressure.”

“No pressure,” she mumbled, inching further onto the smooth surface before it slanted away. The rubber soles of her shoes scuffed against the rock and she wobbled for a second.

“Watch out.” He jumped forward and slipped his hand under her elbow. Hell, all he needed was for her to faint or fall.

“Thanks. You can let go now. I’ll be careful.”

He released his grip, but remained glued to her side.

“I have to see the water.” She edged out on the ridge, her mouth in a tight line.

He crept along at her heels until they stood on the crest. Below the dark river surged at their feet, snaking past with speed and power that swept chunks of ice and fallen branches along with it. He removed his camera and shot the water at different angles.

Biting her lip, Rose worked her way down the uneven incline.

He stuffed the camera in his pocket. “Where are you going?” Damn. He caught up and grabbed her arm. “It’s not safe. We need to go back. Rose. Rose, are you listening?”

She stared upward. Her jaw dropped. “I see Dahlia,” she whispered.

What! With the sound of the water roaring in his head, he must have misunderstood. “Your sister is here?” He scanned the empty rocks and saw only trees and sky.

Rose nodded.

“Where is she?”

“Up there!” Rose pointed to the rise above them.

He shot a gaze up to the ledge with moss but no ghost.

“She’s gone.” Without a warning, Rose started upward.

“This is dangerous, especially if you slip into a vision.” He glanced down at the swirling water and imagined the river swallowing him or Rose within a second. He snapped his attention to her. “Wait up!”

She didn’t answer, but kept climbing upward.

Damn, this was one of his worst ideas. He didn’t care if she was for real or as big a fake as Bigfoot or the lip synching Grammy winners. Below the white, frothy white caps of the river almost dared him to fall.

“Here!” Rose shouted from the peak. “My sister stood on this ledge a minute ago.”

“Great.” He hiked up beside her. “Now, let’s move to level ground.”

“There’s the railroad trestle.” She pointed past his shoulder. “We should get closer to it.”

To his far right sat the rusted bridge. “Most of the piers are rotted out. No one goes out there, especially me.” He repressed a shudder.

She jerked her head toward the tree line. “Someone’s coming.”

A chipmunk scampered across the path and up a tree trunk. Sweat broke out on his palms. “Okay, this is enough. We found the place. Now we’re going back to the car.” He seized her hand, but she stayed cemented to her spot. “Rose, did you hear me?”

“He’s almost here. He has a surprise.”

Despite his better judgment, Luke peered into the woods, searching, listening.

“I’m waiting. Hurry.”

Save me, she’d lost it completely. “Rose, we’re leaving.” She didn’t respond. “Rose, am I talking to you, or are you Dahlia?”

She twisted around to him. “What?”

“Did you see Dahlia near the woods?”

She crossed her arms and rubbed her mittened hands over her sleeves. “Dahlia’s gone, but I still feel her. She trusted him, the man who was coming.”

“Did she expect more than one person?”

Rose shrugged. “She didn’t know. She didn’t understand.”

“Try to see or remember. Who’s coming? Is it a man? Is he tall, dark, young, old?”

Rose grabbed his arm, forcing him to face her. “Lennox, Dahlia didn’t understand.”

“Understand what?”

“The man is coming to kill her.”

Chapter 5

“We’re out of this place,” Lennox said. “The Ledges gives me the creeps. I don’t remember getting the same menacing feelings when I was younger.”

“Sorry to ruin your memories.” She kneaded the sides of her temple. “I need to go home and lie down. Then I’ll be okay.” Her gaze skipped to the old railroad trestle.

Dahlia, dressed in her pink parka with her hair blowing in the breeze, teetered on the edge of the railing. The wind whipped her blond hair over her face. She stepped off the side and disappeared into the air.

Pain stabbed Rose. She gasped and turned toward the path, blocking the image.

“I don’t understand what’s happening,” he said, gripping her arm, “but we’re leaving. Lean on me, and don’t give me any guff.”

It isn’t real. It isn’t real. Please, Dahlia, speak to me.
The pressure of Lennox’s arm drew her closer to his warm, firm body. “I’ll be okay once I’m in the apartment.”

“I vote for that one.”

She stole a glance at the trestle. Dahlia was gone. Rose swallowed hard, her mouth drier than a month old bagel. On the trail, she crawled along at a tortoise pace to ease her aching head and used their earlier footprints as her guide. Lennox’s arm fell away as they walked in rhythm. She wished he could take away the hammering. The reality between herself and Dahlia felt off-balance, blurred.

Lennox threw her glances but said nothing as they trudged through the lingering snow and the darkness of the woods. The path seemed to go on forever. She breathed a sigh of relief when they reached the road. Years must have passed since they first arrived. She wouldn’t be surprised to stare into the mirror and find her hair turned gray. She eased into the car.

He sat silent, his brow wrinkling in apparent thought while she fastened her seatbelt.

“You might as well spit it out, Lennox.”

He expelled a breath. “I wasn’t sure who I was talking to when we were on the ledge.”

“You and me both.” She gestured toward the road. “Can we go? I’m afraid the worse has happened. I’m actually longing for the lumpy sleeper in the living room.”

The engine rumbled to life, and they were on their way. Resting her aching head against the top of the seat, she welcomed the warm sunshine on her skin and closed her eyes. The purr of the motor was a soothing constant in the background.

“Rose. We’re here. Rose?”

She sat upright. Her headache had disappeared, leaving a sense of exhaustion. Her building stood in front of them. “How fast did you drive?”

“I’m sworn to uphold the law and the speed limit. At the risk of sounding like a bad echo, how do you feel?”

“Tired.” An image of the gray boulder from The Ledges edged into her mind. She blocked the picture by fastening her attention on him. “Since my sister died, I never sleep without dreaming, until right now.”

“Are you accusing me of being so boring you dozed off?”

“Not quite, but since you mentioned it….” She pushed down on the door handle.

“Don’t move.”

“I was kidding, Lennox. You’re not bor–ing.” Her last syllable hung in the empty air.

He’d jumped out and was headed for the passenger side.

“I expect you’ll whip out the wheelchair next,” she said when he opened her door. “I appreciate your concern, but I don’t need a nurse. Let me walk to my apartment or I might believe I’m helpless.”

“I’ll stay a pace behind just to make you feel healthy.”

“You’re thoughtful.” She resisted rolling her eyes and fished inside her pocketbook until her fingers closed over her key. Rose held it up to him. “Ready.” She started toward the front stoop aware of the handsome detective at her shoulder. “You’ll wait until I get inside?”

“I’ll do you one better. I’m walking up the stairs with you.”

“That’s not necessary.” She shook her head and proceeded to the steps and paused. “What’s on the schedule for tomorrow?”

“I’m going to talk to dad’s former partner.”

“How about
we
visit your retired officer now?”

“No, and he’ll only know more when
I
see him.”

“I’d like to meet him.” She inserted the key into the lock. “Keep me in mind. I can be useful.”

“Miss Blue,” a man shouted to her.

She whirled around with a clenched hand in the air. Her heart hammered a warning.

Lennox’s friend, Buddy, held up two fingers. His boyish next door looks softened her fright. “I come in peace.”

“Sorry, I’m a little jumpy today.” She lowered her fist.

“Is this what hanging with a homicide detectives does to the beautiful women in Ledgeview, Luke?” He pinpointed his gaze on Rose.

“Buddy, what brings you round, again? Ready to concede you picked losers for tonight’s game and want to surrender your money ahead of time to avoid total humiliation?”

“You wish. Actually, I wanted to talk to Miss Blue.”

At his constant staring and open interest she had to force herself not to back away.

“I met your sister.”

“Dahlia?” Rose’s chest tightened.

“You knew Dahlia Blue and never mentioned it until today?” Lennox crowded closer to his friend. “Why didn’t you come forward sooner?”

“Take it easy. I mean met in the briefest sense of the word. It was a hello, nice to meet you and goodbye. Our get-together didn’t reach the national security level. Let me explain.” Buddy scratched the back of his neck. “Your familiar face bothered me, Miss Blue. The truth hit me after I drove by a minute ago, and I u-turned.” Buddy paced a couple of steps away with nervous energy. “I hope you’re not offended that I brought up your sister. I should have remembered when we first met earlier today.”

At last, someone with news about Dahlia. “How did you meet my sister? Was she happy when you saw her?”

Buddy shrugged his shoulders. “I can’t comment on the happiness factor. We crossed paths once at the Audi, the Ledgeview Auditorium, when I went to drop off donated clothes. She was answering an ad for a gofer at the theater. While we talked, Myra, the play director, appeared and convinced her to try out for a part in their latest production.”

“What day did you deliver the clothes?” Lennox asked.

“It was March first, the day before my engagement party. Mom loaded me up with donations from her store for the Audi’s costume department.”