In the Event of My Death (19 page)

1

Neil looked stunned. “How do you know it was Faith’s mother?”

“She looked like Faith. Much older than Genevra would be, as if she’d had a hard life, but the features were unmistakable. And she left flowers at Faith’s grave.”

“You sound as if you didn’t talk to her.”

“No, not really. As I said, she stood next to me. I might not have paid any attention to her if she hadn’t asked if I were cold. Then
I
decided to visit Faith’s grave. Before I reached it, I saw someone placing red carnations. When I called out, she looked at me and ran. That’s all. I went to the grave. Neil, she’d left six red carnations with a red plastic heart attached.”

Neil looked at her steadily for a moment. Then he muttered, “Oh, shit.”

“That’s what I thought. Neil, we’ve got to find her, but I have no idea where to look.”

“Don’t you? Where would you go if you were she?”

Laurel shook her head slowly, then closed her eyes. “The Lewis sisters!”

“Exactly.”

“But if she doesn’t want to be found, they won’t tell me anything. Besides, she might have left after the funeral.”

“That’s true. I suppose it’s too much to ask that Mary communicated with her, too.”

“Yes. Unlike Faith, Mary always did what Zeke told her. She still does. Neil, didn’t Faith ever give you a clue about where her mother was?”

“No. Faith never talked about her mother except to say that she wasn’t the person Zeke claimed.”

“Obviously Faith loved her mother very much, but there’s no denying Genevra deserted the family.”

“There’s also no denying that Zeke Howard is a lunatic. I think he always has been, although he used to be able to hide it better than he does now.”

“But Faith wasn’t frightened of him.”

“I think she was scared senseless of him but she wouldn’t admit it. I do know she hated him.”

“And now he thinks she’s his guardian angel. That’s ironic.”

“Maybe he feels so guilty about her he’s completely refashioned their relationship in his mind.” Neil drained his cup. “I guess we’ve traded all the information we have for now. I’m going to work on tracking down Genevra Howard this afternoon.”

“And I’m going to the Prices’. Did you know Audra was hospitalized?”

Neil looked concerned. “She wasn’t attacked, too, was she?”

“No, but she saw her mother’s body. She’s in shock.”

A look of genuine anguish passed over Neil’s face. “I’ll pay Wayne a visit, but I really don’t think I can bear seeing another child in a hospital bed…”

Impulsively Laurel put her hand out and touched his. “I don’t think Wayne would expect you to visit her. She doesn’t even know you. He’ll understand.”

Neil smiled. “How come you seem so much more human than Monica and Crystal, or even Denise? No wonder Faith thought so much of you. She told me one time she’d trust you with her life.”

Laurel was so taken aback she could only blink at him for a moment. Then she said huskily, “And look what happened when she was with me.”

“It wasn’t your fault, Laurel. If my guess is correct, you didn’t want the two of you to be in the barn that night. And you tried to save her.”

Laurel hesitated. “What makes you say that?”

“In the hospital waiting room the other day you pushed up your sleeves. I saw the faint burn scars on your arms and hands. I didn’t think much about it at the time. Then you told me how Faith really died and that you were there. The fire. You don’t have to be a genius to realize you must have reached into the flames trying to save her. I know none of the others would have done it.” He ran a finger lightly down her cheek. “I agree with Faith. Her life
was
safe in your hands. Even now you’re trying to help her.”

Laurel’s mind jumped to her waking dream of Faith, so beautiful, looking into her eyes and saying, “You know, Laurel. You
know
.” What did she know? How could she help?

When she came back to the moment, Neil was climbing out of the car without even a good-bye.

2

Laurel watched Neil drive out of the parking lot. Then she fed the dogs the rest of the McNuggets, drank her cold coffee, and left for home.

April and Alex had clearly enjoyed their adventure, particularly the food, but when she opened the rear door of the car, they both jumped out and ran directly to the house. “No place like home, huh, guys?” she laughed as she unlocked the front door. Inside they made a beeline for their cushions in front of the fireplace. Laurel knew they would appreciate a fire, but she intended to leave soon and never left a fire untended.

Twenty minutes later she entered a local deli and ordered a huge platter of cold cuts, potato salad, and coleslaw. When it was ready, she went to the Price home.

The driveway was parked full of cars. Laurel sighed. She thought it must be so hard on bereaved families to be inundated with people, to force themselves to be polite and sociable when probably all they wanted to do was crawl into bed and cry. But “paying respects” was a custom Laurel had grown up with. She would have felt as guilty about not coming as she did about inflicting herself on Wayne.

He opened the door looking like a different man than the one who’d welcomed her to the party. His skin was pasty, his sparkling dark eyes dulled and almost lost in shadowy hollows, and his whole body seemed shrunken.

“Wayne…”

He squinted at her, as if the light hurt his eyes. “Laurel, how kind of you to come.”

She walked into the house. People were clustered in the living room. “I’ll just take this tray back to the kitchen.”

Wayne nodded vaguely. Laurel went to the kitchen where two women who looked to be in their mid-thirties nearly pounced on her. “Oh! More food.” One looked closely at the platter. “
Cold
cuts. How clever of you to choose something easy. Jane and I were up half the night baking a ham and cherry and apple pies and banana bread.” Laurel pretended not to notice the intended insult to her unambitious offering.

“Isn’t this just
awful
?” the one named Jane piped. “Denise and I were
so
close. And poor Wayne—he’s just shattered. I heard there was nothing left of Denise’s face—”

“I heard that, too!” the other added avidly. “Someone said it was done with a tire iron and there were at least twenty blows. She was just beaten to a pulp. There will have to be a closed coffin, of course. Have you heard any more details?” she asked Laurel.

“I don’t know anything,” Laurel muttered, her stomach clenching. She felt like picking up her metal deli tray and hitting the egregious pair over their stupid heads with it. “I have to go.”

“Who
is
she?” Laurel heard one ask as she turned and rushed from the kitchen.

“I don’t know. I think I saw her at the party. I can’t say much for her manners. She probably just came to find out what she could. She didn’t even
cook
anything, for God’s sake.”

Laurel was surprised when Wayne stopped her in mid-flight from the kitchen to the front door. “Come upstairs with me,” he said softly. “I want to talk to you.”

Laurel saw people in the living room curiously watching them climb the spiral staircase together. Wayne led her into a large blue and white bedroom and closed the door. She knew what was coming before he uttered the words.

“Laurel, do you have any idea who might have done this?”

What do I say now? she wondered. Tell him that yes, I think it’s someone seeking revenge for the death of Faith Howard? No. That was out of the question and she truly didn’t know who committed the murders of Denise and Angela. “No, Wayne, I don’t know who killed Denise.”

“She changed so much this past week. Nervous, short-tempered, having nightmares, not eating. Something was troubling her, but she wouldn’t say what. Do you know what she was so upset about?”

“Angie’s death,” Laurel said quickly. “She and Angie weren’t close anymore, but you know how childhood friendships are. You’ve spent so many formative years together, made so many memories…”

Laurel knew she was doing nothing except spouting clichés, but Wayne didn’t seem to notice. Or maybe he just wasn’t listening.

“She never talked about you girls very much,” he said. “I never even heard of Monica until the party, but I guess you were good friends.”

“At one time, yes. But that was a long time ago.”

Wayne paced restlessly around the room, picking up a silver-backed brush. “My mother’s. She gave it to Denise.”

“It’s lovely.”

“My parents loved Denise. They’re dead, you know. They were older when I was born. I wish they were here, though. I need them so much.”

“Where are Denise’s parents?”

He smiled wryly. “One of those seniors tours of Europe. In the winter, can you imagine? I thought they were crazy to go, but Denise’s mother was determined. She said the rates were better than in summer. She gave me an itinerary, but it’s all screwed up. I can’t find them. They don’t even know their daughter is dead.”

“Wayne, how is Audra?”

“She and Denise were both flirting with the flu last week. All that exposure last night broke the rest of Audra’s resistance. She’s not in good shape today. I wish to God someone had put her in a warm car or taken her to the lodge. She might not have gotten so sick. She also might not have seen—”

He made a strangling sound and Laurel was beside him in an instant, holding his head against her shoulder. “Wayne, I am
so
sorry.”

“I just don’t understand,” he sobbed. “I know something was wrong, something other than Angie’s death. Denise wasn’t sleeping well. Did I tell you that?”

“Yes.”

“She kept tossing and muttering about a barn and a fire and faith. Faith? What was she talking about?”

“Faith Howard was a friend of ours. She died when she was seventeen.”

Wayne drew back, staring at her. “She’s the one that locket belonged to!” Laurel nodded. “How did she die?”

“Suicide,” Laurel said promptly. “She hanged herself in a bam. Then the barn caught on fire. That was what was on Denise’s mind, probably because of Angie. The three of us were good friends.”

He stared at her with baffled eyes. “I never
heard
of Faith Howard before the night of the party. Why wouldn’t Denise have told me about her?”

“Because she was devastated by Faith’s death. I guess it’s just something she didn’t want to talk about.”

He shook his head. “No. No, it isn’t making sense. Why didn’t Denise ever mention Faith? Why wasn’t she closer to you after we moved back here? What the
hell
was that scene at our party about? What nut came into my house pretending to be a ghost and frightened my baby?”

“I don’t have any answers, Wayne.” It was a lie. She did have
some
answers, but she knew how desperately Denise wanted to keep the truth about Faith’s death from Wayne. She wanted it so desperately she may have died because of it. The truth would come out someday, but now was not the time. Wayne was clearly a wreck. She didn’t know him well, but Denise had seemed convinced he couldn’t handle the truth about Faith’s death. It had been an accident, but the Six of Hearts had kept the details of Faith’s death a secret. Wayne might react as Kurt had done if he learned that his wife had participated in Satanic rituals, even if she were just a kid, and then withheld important information from the police. That’s what Denise had feared most—Wayne’s total disillusionment with his wife. The least Laurel could do for Denise at this awful time was to keep her secret. “I’m sorry, Wayne,” she said in a dry, wooden voice, “but I’ve told you all I can.”

3

After Laurel left the Price home, she went to work. She was surprised to see Mary in the workroom. “Are you sure you’re up to this?” Laurel asked.

“Oh, yes.” Mary smiled. “We thought it was best if Penny manned the counter. I don’t want to scare anyone with my appearance.”

She still bore some noticeable bruises, but she seemed in good spirits. “I’m sorry about your friend.”

“Oh, good Lord, that’s all people have been talking about today,” Norma broke in. “You didn’t tell me any details this morning, Laurel. That poor woman. She had a little girl. How
is
she?”

“She’s in the hospital suffering from exposure and shock. She saw her mother’s body.”

“Oh, how awful!” Norma’s eyes filled with tears. “Sometimes things like this make you wonder if there really is a benevolent god looking out for us.”

“Of course there is!” Mary flared. “He looks after
good
people.”

“And you think that woman wasn’t good?” Norma snapped.

“She must have done something to deserve what she got.”

“And what about that little girl?” Norma demanded. “What did
she
do?”

“I don’t know,” Mary floundered. “Sins of the father.”

“Oh, hogwash!”

Laurel raised a silencing hand. “Ladies, please, lower your voices.” I sound like one of the Lewis sisters, she thought as Mary and Norma stood glaring at each other. “I don’t think anyone really knows why these things happen. I mean…well, it’s just so hard on the family.”

“And the friends.” Norma was instantly contrite, patting Laurel on the back. “You’ve been through a lot lately, honey. Why don’t you go home and get some rest?”

“No, I think I’d be better off here.” Mary was jabbing daisy stems into Instant Oasis, obviously still angry. “I haven’t done much designing for a few months. I’ll work back here until closing time. Do we have many orders?”

“More than you can shake a stick at,” Norma informed her. “Mostly Christmas stuff, thank goodness.”

Laurel knew what she meant. The orders for Denise’s funeral hadn’t begun to come in yet. They would tomorrow when the funeral arrangements appeared in this evening’s newspaper.

While she worked, Laurel tried to keep her mind off Denise, but it was difficult. She kept asking herself if going to the police sooner would have made a difference. She also worried about not being honest with Wayne. But what would that have accomplished? It wouldn’t help either one of them figure out who murdered Denise.