A Killer Read (28 page)

Her mind took off on fanciful flights as she probed possible motives. A half sibling wanting to make contact? Wanting to blackmail? Or just cause mischief? There was still the coincidence of the phone calls, the manuscript and the murder. Were the first two related in any way? Her father couldn’t be anyone written about in the story. But was that the story he was investigating? Were the author and the caller the same person?

If so, why was it anything more than a tragically sad tale to her daddy? What would make it worthy of publication? Maybe she should show the manuscript to George Havers and see if he could find a connection. Maybe she should just put it to rest and go to sleep. Good plan, but like many a good plan, it didn’t come together as hoped.

T
he doorbell rang while Lizzie sucked back her second coffee in a row. She looked down at her running shorts and T-shirt, shook her head and thought, whoever it was deserved to see her like this if they dared to come calling at this hour on a Saturday morning. Of course, it could be Nathaniel, about to take off on another adventure. She cheered at the thought but got a big surprise when she opened the door.

“Paige. What are you doing here at this hour, on a Saturday to boot?” Lizzie drew her friend in and gave her a quick hug.

Paige laughed. “I’m in search of a good cup of coffee and some adult conversation, that’s what. Brad, on the spur of the moment, took the girls out to McDonald’s for breakfast, so I thought, I’m out of here. Hope you don’t mind.”

“Not in the slightest. I’ve got some coffee dripping, as it happens. Come on in, girl. This is like old times. Premarriage times.” Paige wore dark denim boot-cut jeans with a
long-sleeved cream T-shirt and sleeveless brown quilted cotton vest. Her blonde hair had been caught back in a barrette, and black sunglasses rested on her head. She looked much the same as she had in senior year, except for the few added pounds. But they added to a look of contentment, Lizzie thought. Regardless of what Paige said.

Paige hovered while Lizzie poured her a mug. When they’d settled across from each other at the kitchen table, Paige asked, “What’s up? I’m getting some strange vibes from you, Lizzie.”

Lizzie finished the small amount of coffee in her mug left from earlier, then went to refill it before answering. “I didn’t sleep well. Molly told me something yesterday, and I kept going over it all night.” She gave a weak smile. “Good thing it’s not a school day today.”

“What is it, girlfriend? Can you share?” She reached over and touched Lizzie’s arm.

Lizzie looked at Paige a moment before replying. They were childhood friends, but this was her mama’s private business. But she had to talk it out with someone or burst. “She told me that Mama thought Daddy was cheating on her and that was why he kept on going over to Stoney Mills, the place he was coming home from when he had the car accident.”

Paige looked shocked. She squeezed Lizzie’s arm but took a minute to go over it in her mind before talking. “No way, sweetie. Your daddy wouldn’t do something like that. I knew him, had all my life. He doted on you and your mama. I used to wish my daddy would hug my mama like your daddy was always doing. I thought y’all had such a happy family life.”

“You used to think that? And here I always loved going over to your house and hanging around with your family.”

“That was after your daddy died, I think. Oh, we used to play at my house before, but after the accident, you used to want to be around my parents a lot more, not be squirreled away in my room with some old board game.”

Lizzie sank back in her chair. “Hmm, you may be right. And I appreciate what you’re saying about my daddy, but we were just kids, Paige. We didn’t necessarily know what was going on between our folks.”

“Do you think that’s why your mama’s like she is now?”

“It’s got to be part of it. Either she’s feeling betrayed and then he dies, maybe adding more betrayal in her mind. Or else, she could be regretting her thoughts the last time they were together. We’ll probably never know. Either way, it was enough to push her over the edge, I guess.”

Paige sat silent, then went over to Lizzie and put her arms around her. “Oh, sweetie, I feel for you. But I’m sure in my heart of hearts that your daddy would not do something like that.”

Lizzie nodded. “I feel it, too. But it’s all so confusing.”

Lizzie knew it would take her a long time to come to terms with it, even when she discovered, as she would, that there was no affair. But even that possibility had caused a slight shift in her world. Perceptions were brought out to be examined. Perceived truths, questioned. No wonder her mama had chosen to dodge it all. Maybe this would provide an answer to how to deal with Mama.

Paige sat back down. “You know, I think you’ve got too much going on in your mind right now. You need a vacation or at least something special happening.”

Lizzie’s smile spread slowly.

“Oh, go on, girl. Something’s up,” Paige said, perching on the edge of her chair. “Tell all.”

“Nothing new. Just, tonight’s my date with Mark.”

“Oh my God, how could I have forgotten? I’ve got child-minder’s brain, that’s why. Yes, it is tonight, and where are you going?”

“To the FallFest. We’ll have dinner first at the Black Tomato and then wander around, take in the late show.”

“Sounds like fun. Just what you need. Now, what are you wearing?”

“Oh, I hadn’t even given it any thought.”

“Wear that new floaty white organza blouse, the one with the shots of blue and green through it, and a short, flirty skirt.”

“Umm, maybe the blouse. I feel good in it, but I think black slacks will do.”

“What! Think sexy when you’re making your choice. He always did have an eye for the legs. Remember all those cheerleaders, now.”

Lizzie laughed. “You are just the right dose of feel-good medicine, Paige Raleigh.”

Paige smiled. “I’ll take that as a compliment. It’s what best friends are supposed to do, you know.” She took another sip. “You got any sweets to go with this? I’m trying not to eat any in front of Brad so’s he’ll keep believing I’m sticking to my diet. He says I don’t need to diet and in the same breath, says he knows I’ll never follow through. He’s right of course, but I don’t want to cave this early on. But I have this craving.”

Lizzie opened the freezer, brought out the cheese scones she’d gotten from Nathaniel and popped them in the microwave to warm them up. “I totally forgot about these. Nathaniel baked them. I’m glad you said something.”

They munched in companionable silence, Paige emitting the occasional moan of pleasure and compliments like “So good.” She licked her fingers before wiping them on the napkin.

“I shouldn’t bring this up now that you’re smiling, but I’ve been thinking as I’ve been eating,” Paige said, watching Lizzie’s reaction. “There’s this murder, then you get that manuscript and then those phone calls. Now this. It’s just too much coincidence, I’m thinking. Even for me, and you know I totally believe in that stuff. Fate, karma, kismet. That’s what brought you and Mark back together.” She raised her hand to stop Lizzie’s comment. “Well, together. But all this other stuff. No wonder you can’t sleep. Your
brain is trying to make the connections because it knows… just too much coincidence.”

Lizzie nodded. “I think you’re right. But I can’t seem to make those connections between them.”

“Well, as a complete outsider, it looks to me like— you haven’t gotten the ending of the manuscript yet, have you?”

Lizzie shook her head.

“Right. Well, I’ll bet when you do, this dead guy turns up in it. Dead.”

Lizzie stared at her friend. “Do you think the author is the killer? That’s why I’m getting the book in parts? That’s just too creepy. I’ve got Andie Mason checking on the Internet to see if the story parallels any news item. So far she’s come up empty-handed.”

“Hmm. It’s just a theory. Maybe the wrong one.”

Lizzie poured them both another coffee, her mind working on making connections.

Paige took a sip, then asked, “Have you thought to do an Internet search on your daddy? Maybe you’ll find something there that might point to his last story. Maybe he was doing a series or something.”

“Oh my gosh.” Lizzie almost sloshed her coffee on the counter. “I hadn’t thought of that. What a dummy. I’ve looked up his name before. I don’t know why I didn’t think of it for this. I’m going to check it right now.”

Paige followed her upstairs to the computer set up in the spare bedroom. Lizzie booted up and drummed her fingers while waiting for the slow machine to come to life. Paige flopped on the daybed.

“I thought you were going to paint this room yellow,” she said, casting a critical eye around. Paige had intended on being an interior decorator before Brad convinced her that having their family early was a good idea. She’d stowed the ambition but not the ideas. “That would suit your furnishings so much better.”

“I know, it was on my summer list. Now it’s on my fall
list. But there’s always spring. Here we go.” She typed in her daddy’s name and hit search. The hits ran on for several pages. She checked the most immediate ones and those dated just before his death, but didn’t find what she was looking for. Nothing that was referenced as part of an ongoing series, anyway.

“I’ll have to take my time going through these. Maybe later this afternoon.” She gave Paige a hug. “You’ve made me feel a whole lot better. Thanks for stopping by today.”

“Glad to oblige, but I should be on my way. You’ve also made my day, and I’m now ready to face the towering piles of laundry.”

After Paige left, Lizzie decided to get in touch with Bob, to see if he had any new ideas about the manuscript, or at least, to get it back. She tried calling him, but there was no answer. She’d drive over, in case he was out back, fishing off his wharf. When she arrived, his aging Pathfinder SUV wasn’t sitting in the driveway, and Bob didn’t answer to a knock or her calling his name. She lingered out back for a while, enjoying the sound of the water rippling over the rocks near shore and the sight of the sun playing off the shimmering surface of the Tallapoosa as it meandered into joining the Alabama River, on its journey to the Gulf of Mexico.

She could understand why Bob loved living here. His small house sat up on the embankment, in case of flooding, but also to give him a spectacular view of water and the treed shoreline across the river. As part of a federal reserve, the area encompassed in this riverside vista would remain the same, uninhabited and wild. Although Lizzie would love a river view, this seemed a bit too secluded for her tastes. She liked being able to see other houses, to talk to neighbors out in the front yard and in particular, to hear the sounds of children playing.

She heard a car drive up. Hopefully, Bob. She waited as the footsteps along the path leading to the back grew louder.
It turned out not to be Bob, but instead, Jacob Smith, with a surprised look on his face that mirrored her own.

“Hi, Lizzie. I wondered whose car that was out front. Is Bob inside?” he asked.

“Nope. I stopped by hoping to find him here, and now I’m just enjoying his view. I’d forgotten you’re neighbors, but not visible ones.”

Jacob laughed. “Neighbors, in that I’m the next house along the road, but that’s a quarter of a mile. I’ve got someone real close on my other side, but Bob here’s out in nowhere land. And he likes it like that.”

“Yeah— keeps the fish happy, I hear. Do you have a few minutes to talk about all that’s been going on?”

“Sure.” He sat down in the weathered Adirondack chair next to hers. Flakes of paint had chipped off both, revealing a previous coat of green blending rather nicely with the newer rust color. “Have there been any new developments? Anyone else being grilled by our overly zealous Officer Craig?”

“Not that I’m aware. She was pretty rough on Stephanie, being an out-of-towner. I was actually wondering if Stephanie might be able to give you a call if that happens again.”

“Sure. I’d be happy to go to the station with her.”

“Have you been questioned again?”

Jacob snorted. “Nope. Fortunately. Officer Craig would make a good attorney, that’s for sure. She gets something in her mind and won’t let it go.”

He grimaced at what must have been a memory of that encounter, and it turned his usual uncomplicated look, something his clients must find trustworthy and reassuring, into something more menacing. Lizzie hadn’t thought of him in those terms before. Was there another side to Jacob, one that might lead to involvement in a crime? And what about the mystery woman she saw him with in town? She wanted some details there.

Lizzie shifted uncomfortably. She didn’t like thinking
along those lines. But she needed to know if he was hiding anything. “Where did you move from? I can’t recall hearing that.”

Jacob looked at her a moment before answering. He tacked a smile on. “I went to U. of South Alabama and stayed in Mobile for a short while.”