Murder Strikes a Pose (30 page)

careful handwriting. “Sarah, Maddie, and me—Cannon Beach,

1995.”

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I shrugged. “I don’t know if this helps or not, but his wife

might go by Maddie.”

Michael perked up. “Of course that helps. That’s all we need!”

Rene and I stared at him, bewildered.

“Seriously. Haven’t you two ever heard of the Internet?”

The three of us moved to my office, Bella trailing close behind.

Rene and I huddled behind Michael as he tapped at the keyboard.

“How do you spell George’s last name?”

“L-e-v-i-n, but that won’t help. His wife has remarried.”

“Doesn’t matter. It gives us a start.” He typed it in. “And you say she goes by Maddie?”

I envisioned the picture again. “I think so, yes.”

“Let’s hope we get lucky.” Michael stared at the screen. “OK.

I see a few Levins here with the first initial M.” He ran the cursor down the screen as he continued reading. “Here’s a possibility: a Madeleine Levin who has lived in both Seattle and Denver.”

Perhaps my trip to Woodland Park hadn’t been so worthless,

after all. I pointed to the screen. “That must be her! What’s her phone number?”

“Sorry, Kate, this site only lists names.”

My heart sank. “How does that help us, then? I doubt her last

name is Levin anymore.”

“Maybe not,” Michael replied, “but the site lists all of her le-

gal names. According to this, she’s used two last names: Levin and Yeates.”

“Wouldn’t Yeates be her maiden name?”

“I don’t think this database goes back that far. I’m not positive, of course, but chances are good that Yeates is her new last name.”

He clicked the mouse and leaned back in his chair. “Do you want

me to order a full background check?”

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I wavered, suddenly feeling unclean. I’d been furious with my

father for checking up on Jason—livid even. And like me, Dad had

the best of intentions. I flashed on an image of my mug shot with the word “HYPOCRITE” stamped diagonally across it in bold red

letters.

“I don’t know. Ordering a background check seems pretty in-

vasive.”

“Well, if all you want is a phone number, we can try something

else first.” Michael typed some more, then tapped the screen with his fingertip, smiling. “We might be in luck. There are only seven listings with the last name of Yeates in Denver. None of them may be her, but we can at least try.” He cracked his knuckles. “Shall we get started?”

I looked at the clock. Almost nine o’clock. I was exhausted,

and I still had one very important conversation ahead of me. “Not yet. I need to come up with a cover story. We’ve done enough for

tonight.” While Michael printed out the list of phone numbers, I

handed Rene her coat. “Weren’t you just leaving?”

“How’s that for gratitude?” Rene took her jacket and walked to

the front door—alone. Michael and I stood frozen in place. “Don’t worry,” she quipped. “I’ll see myself out. But you two had better make up, or you’ll have me to contend with.” She paused, then ran back, gave me a hug, and whispered, “Don’t worry, you’ll be fine.”

I hoped she was right.

Michael and I sat on opposite ends of the couch again, oddly

uncomfortable now that Rene was gone.

“So,” I began.

“So,” he replied.

More silence. Michael stuck by his final phone message.

Throwing out the first olive branch would be up to me. I hugged a 245

throw pillow to my chest, as if holding it could somehow make me

less vulnerable.

“I’m sorry, Michael. I know I overreacted. Truth is, I’ve never

been very good at taking orders. That’s not a good excuse, but it’s an honest one. I know we can’t pretend the last two weeks didn’t

happen, but can we at least give our relationship another try?”

Michael’s face turned serious. “To be honest, I don’t blame you

for getting angry. I was out of line. But I
do
blame you for not returning my calls. I tried to apologize for days, and you ignored me.

You acted like I was disposable. That was beyond anger, Kate. It

was selfish and insensitive.”

His words hit me like a punch in the gut, even more painful

because they were true.

“We’ll have fights,” Michael continued. “Every couple fights.

But if you’re going to cut and run every time we disagree, we don’t stand a chance.”

For once, I didn’t argue. I stared down at my hands, trying

to scrape together the courage to reply. My words, when I found

them, sounded inadequate. “I don’t even know what to say, Mi-

chael. You’re right. I behaved terribly.” I looked up to meet his eyes. “I had reasons, but they weren’t very good ones, and I’m not sure they even matter anymore. But I will say this: You are not disposable, and I won’t shut you out again. I’m a slow learner, but I promise you, I do
learn.”

Michael looked skeptical, so I pulled out my secret weapon.

“Besides, look at Bella. Don’t we owe it to her to try again?” Bella sat between us, obviously concerned about the rift in her pack. She closely monitored our conversation, peering left and right, as if watching a tennis ball in the championship match at Wimbledon.

246

Michael burst out laughing. “Come here, girl.” Bella broke her

stare and moved next to him. He leaned down and affectionately

scratched her throat. “So you think I should give this spitfire another chance, do you?”

Bella remained silent, but her eyes clearly said yes. Michael

looked up and grinned. “How can anyone say no to a creature this

beautiful?”

“Do you mean me or the dog?”

“On that, my love, I plead the fifth.” Michael ducked just

in time. My pillow barely missed his head. They don’t call them

“throw pillows” for nothing. “Yes, I’d like to try again,” he said.

“You know I would.”

Michael stood, melting me with those smoldering blue-green

eyes. I closed my eyes and waited, fully expecting him to close the distance between us, draw me into his arms, and start the “oh so

fun” make-up process Alicia had promised.

The sound of rustling fabric and an opening zipper caught my

attention—from across the room. I opened my eyes again, con-

fused. Michael stood near the door, holding his jacket. Was he

leaving? Admittedly, Alicia hadn’t been specific. But somehow I

didn’t think waving goodbye was the fun between lovers she’d had

in mind.

He pulled a thick white envelope from his pocket. “I have

something for you.”

The envelope was full of cash. Fives, tens, twenties, even a cou-

ple of fifties.

“What’s this?”

“If you’d come by the store in the last two weeks you’d know.

We started a collection for Bella. My customers were really moved by her story—especially how you basically paid ransom to keep

247

her away from that abusive jerk. There’s over $850 in there. I know it doesn’t cover everything you’ve spent so far, but it’s a start.”

I didn’t want to cry, but I felt a lump in my throat all the same.

“You did this for me, even though I refused to speak with you?”

“For you and for Bella.”

“Why?”

“In spite of your recent experiences, dog owners are usually

pretty decent people. So are pet store owners. So, I have heard, are yoga teachers.” He paused a beat. “But the jury’s still out on that one.” He smiled.

I smiled back. I didn’t feel like crying anymore. I crooked my

finger, beckoning him closer. “Come here, boy. You’ve been
very
good. And you deserve a treat.”

Bella sighed as I stood and wrapped my arms around Michael’s

neck. All three of us knew she’d be sleeping on the floor again that night.

248

twenty-seven

“I’ve missed our sessions,” Alicia said as we walked into the studio the next morning. She looked good—better than she’d looked

in a long time. Rosy cheeks, sparkling eyes, animated step. Some-

thing definitely agreed with her.

“I’ve missed you, too, Alicia. I have to say, though, you look

great!”

“I’m done with this round of chemo, and I’m starting to feel

like myself again—for now, anyway.” She rolled out her mat and

sat on the floor. “I’m scheduled for another set of scans next week, but hopefully the new protocol worked and I’ll be in remission.”

She knocked on the hardwood floor. “Until then, I’m footloose

and fancy-free.”

I smiled and sat next to her.

“But how are you doing, Miss Kate? I’ve been worried about

you. You were so upset at our last appointment—then you disap-

peared.”

I’d canceled our appointments during my two-week funk.

At the time, I couldn’t face Alicia’s inevitable questions about

249

Michael, but now I owed her an explanation. A two-week break

might not have been long with an ordinary client, but in Alicia’s circumstances, every day was precious.

“I’m so sorry,” I said. “I’ve been having some personal issues

lately, and I wasn’t much good to anyone, including myself. But

canceling that way was selfish. I won’t do it again.”

Alicia smiled. “Well, you’re certainly allowed to take a day off

every now and again. But honestly, Jake and I were getting wor-

ried. We both thought you were too caught up in that murder in-

vestigation. I’m so glad you’ve dropped that now.”

I didn’t contradict her. Instead, I asked her to close her eyes

and settle into her practice.

“Notice where your body touches the earth, and imagine that

you are rooted through that connection. As you inhale, expand

your ribs and extend the crown of your head toward the sky. As

you exhale—”

Alicia’s eyes popped open.

“Hey, whatever happened with your boyfriend?”

I laughed at the sudden change of topic. If nothing else, my

sessions with Alicia were consistently unpredictable.

“We’re doing much better now, thanks. You were right, by the

way. Michael and I kissed and made up.” I felt myself blush. “I’m kind of embarrassed, though. I never thought some silly argument—with a boy of all things—could affect me so much.”

Alicia grinned. “I know what you mean. Jake and I have cer-

tainly had our share of fights. We even considered separating for a while. But luckily, those days are long behind us.” She looked

away for a moment, idly playing with her wedding ring. When she

looked back, her eyes held back tears. “To be honest, I don’t know what I’d do without Jake. He’s been so wonderful since I got sick.

250

This may sound odd, but in a way my illness has been a gift. Learning that I might die was a real wake-up call for Jake. He’s kinder now, more considerate. More willing to work on our relationship.”

That didn’t sound like the Jake I knew. Perhaps I had mis-

judged him.

Alicia continued, “Our marriage vows said ‘for better or worse.’

Poor Jake definitely got the worse.” Her expression turned wistful.

“I just wish he could spend more time at home. I hardly ever see

him anymore.”

I wondered how much time Jake spent flirting with his female

tenants, but I kept that thought to myself.

Alicia playfully shook her finger at me. “As for you, young lady, it’s about time you got your priorities in order. Relationships are important. Playing amateur detective is not. I’m so glad you took my advice and gave up trying to solve that murder.”

I didn’t want to quarrel, but I couldn’t continue deceiving her.

“I haven’t given up, Alicia. If anything, I’m reinvigorated.”

Alicia’s expression turned uncharacteristically cross. “Oh, Kate, whatever are you thinking? You’re normally so level-headed. This

nonsense is completely unlike you!”

“But I know I’m on to something! I have to be close. Someone

even left me a threatening note!” I raised my voice, as if speaking louder would make my words more compelling. “And you know

me; I’m stubborn as a mule. Once I get my mind set on some-

thing, I don’t give up until it’s done.”

Alicia’s cheeks changed from light pink to red—blood red.

She stood up from her mat and clenched her jaw. “Kate, let me

be frank,” she said, sternly crossing her arms. “You’re acting like a fool.”

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I winced, but gave no other reply. I just stared up at her,

stunned. In the two years I’d known Alicia, I’d never seen her get angry. At least not until today.

Time seemed to stand still as Alicia towered over me, right eye-

lid twitching involuntarily. I leaned back and braced myself, waiting for her to explode.

Finally, she blinked, as if coming out of a trance. The color left her cheeks as rapidly as it had come. “I’m so sorry,” she said, softening her tone. “But I’m really worried about you.” She kneeled

next to me and pleaded. “Please,
please
let this go. It won’t end well; it
can’t
end well. At best, you’re wrong, and you’re wasting time and energy you can’t afford. At worst, you’re right. Then you might get hurt, or worse. And for what? No matter what you do,

no matter how hard you try, you won’t bring your friend back.”

Her reaction surprised me. The Alicia I knew had never walked

away from a challenge. But then again, who was I to judge? Each

day she fought a battle more terrifying than anything I’d faced in my entire life. Maybe solving the riddle of another man’s death

seemed inconsequential when you were trying so desperately to

prevent your own. Maybe in the process of dying, she had learned

some lesson on life balance I had yet to understand.

Then again, maybe she was pissed at me for canceling her last

two appointments.

In that moment, I understood my mistake. I had blurred the