The Grave Soul (18 page)

“Who?”

“A private investigator.”

“Oh Lord. This just gets worse and worse. I need you to listen to me. Are you listening?”

“Yeah.”

“Call that person off. Stop snooping into my family's business.”

“Kira—”

“I get the impression that you think I'm some sort of passive victim. Have we met, Guthrie? Do you have any idea who I am? I'm
nobody's
victim.”

“I'm just trying to help.”

“You're not helping. Call off your dog. If you want to ruin our relationship, this is the way to do it.”

He was stunned. He'd never considered that she'd have such a reaction.

“I don't want anyone looking into my family. Are we clear on that?”

“Okay. Yeah, we're clear.”

“I've got to go.”

“Not when you're so angry.”

“I need time, Guthrie. To work this out. I've said that before but you never seem to get it. Don't call me again. When I want to talk to you, I'll call you. I'll be fine. There's no need to worry.”

“Right,” he said, knowing there was no point in arguing. If she didn't see that she was in danger after what he'd just told her, nothing was going to change her mind. “I love you.”

“And I love you.”

He held the phone in his hand until he saw that she'd ended the call. Falling backward onto the bed, he pounded the mattress and let loose with every swear word he'd ever heard.

It didn't help.

*   *   *

Jane left the Sportsman's that night and drove around town, looking for a spot where her phone could connect to a cell phone tower. She needed to check her voice mail messages and texts, and she also wanted to call Cordelia. Ten minutes into her search, holding her phone open in her hand and heading for the south side of town, she realized she should have asked Kevin what he did when he needed to use his cell. It would have saved her a lot of time. On the other hand, after being inside all day, she felt like breathing some fresh air. She pulled up next to a grain elevator, got out and leaned against the rear bumper of her SUV, and for a few minutes, gazed up at the night sky. This far away from the lights of a big city, the stars were the best show in town.

A while later, on the east end of town, two bars began to appear on the cell phone screen, though once again, as quickly as the phone connected, it lost the signal. She wasn't far from the Adlers' farmhouse, so she continued on toward the county highway. She would have missed the narrow dirt-and-gravel road Kevin had turned onto earlier in the day except for the glow of lights from the Adlers' barn. In contrast, the farmhouse, with the exception of a single lamp burning in what was probably an upstairs bedroom, was dark.

Not wanting to upset the quiet of the farmstead by pulling into the drive, Jane stopped by the side of the graveled road and let the CR-V idle as she checked her cell again. Amazingly, three bars held steady in the screen's top-left corner. A flood of texts, messages and e-mails began to download. Instead of reading them, she tapped in Cordelia's number.

Three rings later: “Where have you been?” demanded Cordelia's voice, all but hyperventilating. “I was worried sick.”

“Why?”

“Because you left without me.”

“You said you couldn't come.”

“Exactly.”

“You're saying you're the only thing that stands between me and total disaster?”

“Good. I'm glad you finally admit it.”

Once again, Jane's eyes rose to the stars. “I'm fine. In fact, I got a part-time job bartending at Kevin Adler's tavern.”

“Heavens. How loathsome. Why?”

“Where are you?”

“It was poker night at the castle. Merriman and I are just doing a little cleaning up.”

“Am I interrupting?”

“If you will bear with me. I'm sashaying over to this overstuffed couch and draping myself—decoratively—across it.”

Jane could hear some grunting.

“There. Now, spill.”

Jane briefed her on the high points. “I want to spend the next couple of days focusing on Delia, on what her life was like before she died. If I can shine a spotlight on that, I'll know far more about who might have done it.”

“The husband did it.”

“Maybe. Maybe not.”

“Who else could have?”

“You and I both know things aren't always what they seem.”

“Meaning what?”

“Meaning—I never expected to like Kevin.”

“You're saying that murderers are never likable?”

“Seems like they shouldn't be.”

“But you'll be back for my New Year's Eve bash on Monday night, right?”

“Yes, Cordelia. I'll be back.”

“By the way, Guthrie is driving me nuts.”

“Why's that?”

“He's like a bloodhound. Wherever I am, he finds me. And then he sits around, moping, until I throw him out. He's been as crazed by not hearing from you as I was.”

“I've only been gone a little more than a day.”

“Exactly. With no updates.”

“Cell phone reception is lousy here.”

“I know that. Why, oh why, did we give up on carrier pigeons?”

“It's no longer the Middle Ages.”

“It is in my castle.”

“Right. Look—” At the sound of a rap on the driver's window next to her, Jane jumped. A strong beam of light hit her square in the eyes.

“Janey? Are you there? What's going on?”

When the light swung away, Jane could see that Kevin was outside. She glanced up at the rearview mirror looking for his van, but saw nothing. It was as if he'd appeared out of nowhere. She rolled down the window.

“What are you doing here?” he said, an edge in his voice.

Jane held up her phone. “Give me one minute,” she said. Returning to Cordelia, she said, “I've got to go.”

“No you don't. Not until you tell me whose voice that was.”

“Love to everyone,” said Jane, keeping her tone cheerful as she smiled at Kevin. Cordelia continued to sputter in her ear. “Yes, no worries. I'm well. Employed. Even have a nice place to stay. Maybe I'll get down your way in the spring. Okay, then. Good to hear from you. Bye.” She cut the line and quickly turned off the phone. Cordelia would be sure to call back within milliseconds. “Hey, Kevin. What's up?”

“What are you doing out here?”

The coldness in his voice startled her. “I've been driving around, looking for a place to find cell phone service. It's not easy in this town.”

He watched her stonily, suspicion radiating off his stiff posture. Debating for a few seconds, he leaned closer and said, “You're right. A lot of dead spots. The best place to catch a signal is over by the courthouse. You been past there? Know where it is?”

“I'll find it.”

“Best not to come out here. Cars and such, especially late at night, can spook my mom.”

“Oh, sure,” said Jane. “I didn't think about that.”

“Okay, so … you just get on back to town,” he said, slapping the hood and standing back.

“See you tomorrow,” said Jane.

He didn't smile. “'Night.”

As she put the car in gear, she glanced over her shoulder. A light had come on in the farmhouse's first-floor living room. One of the drapes looked as if it had been pulled back. Had Evangeline seen the Honda's headlights and called her son to come check it out? Were they
that
afraid someone might be watching them?

This was the first time since coming to New Dresden that Jane had felt any sense of danger. It wasn't surprising, she supposed, that it had come from Kevin. If nothing else, it served as a good reminder that she needed to be careful.

 

26

“I'd kill to have hair like yours,” said Riley Garrow, standing behind the reception counter at the Cut & Curl on Friday morning. “What are you thinking? A new look for New Year's Eve? We could try bangs—or something shorter?”

“Just a trim,” said Jane. “I've got some split ends.”

“Not many,” said the tall, slender brunette, leading Jane back to the first of three work stations. Another stylist, a tall, skinny man in a lime green silk shirt and black leather pants, worked in the next station, blow-drying a young woman's long curls.

The main reason Jane had come had nothing to do with her hair. She wanted a chance to talk with Riley, Delia's one-time friend. Sitting down in front of a mirrored wall, she surveyed the room, taking in the sleek, white, modern interior, the bright-red accents, the white leather couch and two matching chairs that greeted customers when they first arrived, a place to sit and read a magazine while they waited for a stylist There was a coffee bar, a manicure/pedicure station, and along the back wall, three white recliners in front of the washing station

As Riley tossed a red drape over Jane, she asked, “How do you usually wear your hair?”

“Mostly up,” said Jane. “A simple chignon or a French braid.”

“Ever tried a short cut?”

“Once. I liked it, but it was so much more work that I let it grow out.”

“If you're game, I think you'd look fabulous with some blond highlights.”

“For now, just a trim.”

“I suppose your hair grows fast. It's so healthy. And you've got a lot of natural curl.” She combed Jane's long chestnut hair, moving it this way and that.

“Heredity,” said Jane. “My younger brother's hair is just like mine.”

“Heredity can have a lot to do with it, but you also have to care for it. I see people in here all the time that don't spend any time at all maintaining one of their most important assets.”

“Have you owned the salon long?”

“Twelve years,” said Riley.

“Did you always like working with hair?”

“Yeah, I did, although I never thought about it as a career. After high school, I was headed nowhere. Working mostly minimum-wage jobs. I was never interested in college, but a friend eventually persuaded me to attend a professional beauty school. My husband and I found this property and hired a local guy to do the interior. I knew the look I wanted so I designed it.”

“It's a great space.”

“Best salon in the area.”

“Are you from New Dresden?”

“I grew up near Egg Harbor. We moved here when I was eight. What about you?” Riley opened a drawer and removed a metal comb and scissors.

“I've lived all over the country, never very good at settling in one place for very long. I was coming through town on my way to Duluth the other night when I stopped in at the Sportsman's. The place was really rocking. The bartender looked like he could use some help, so I pitched in. Turns out he was the owner. He offered me a job.”

“Did you take it?”

“I did. I understand you know Kevin Adler.”

“Who told you that?”

“His sister, Hannah. She said you and Kevin's wife, Delia, used to be great friends.”

Riley moved around Jane, combing and examining. “That was a long time ago.”

“Must have been hard for you when she died.”

“It hurt.”

“Yeah, Kevin, too. He's talked about her a little. He really seems like a great guy.”

Shrugging, Riley said, “He's cute enough, I suppose, if you like the brooding, silent type.”

“He seems talkative to me.”

“I'd keep my distance.”

“Why?”

“Just things Delia told me. The way he treated her.”

“Like how?”

Riley began to divide Jane's hair, using clips to fasten back each section. “Oh, I don't know. Like … when he wasn't being a doormat, he could get mean.”

“Physically?”

She shrugged.

“What about Delia? What was she like?”

Riley stopped and looked at Jane in the mirror. “How come you're so interested?”

“I don't know. I'm just curious.”

“You're hot for Kevin, right?”

“No. Maybe.”

Resuming her combing, she said, “I'll admit, Delia could be a real pain in the ass. She had a weird sense of humor, maybe she was even a little crazy, but a lot of fun. You knew if you stuck close, if you didn't let her buck you off, you'd be in for one hell of a ride. She was, oh, maybe six years older than me. We both liked to party, to chase guys.”

“But she was married.”

“She wasn't happy. She said all Kevin did was work. He was trying to make a go of his own construction company back then. I'd heard she was seeing a counselor. A priest, I think. She didn't tell me that, someone else did. She wasn't religious, so I never quite understood the choice.”

“Did she get along with the family?”

“Yeah. More or less. Family stuff can be so complicated.”

“For instance?”

“Well, she was sure Laurie—that's Doug's wife—had a thing for Kevin. Delia said Laurie would stare daggers at her whenever she and Kevin got into it—like Delia was never supposed to disagree with her saintly husband. And, for sure, Hannah never liked her. I think they were too much alike. Both had a wild streak.”

“I met Hannah last night. Seemed nice enough.”

“She was a real hellion when she was in high school. She's a lot older then me, but I remember the rumors.” Riley stepped over to a drawer and began to look through it. “Apparently she was sleeping with—get this—the mayor. It happened during her senior year. He was an older guy, married, with a bunch of kids. Really sleazy. For someone with her past, she sure has a self-righteous streak. She's another one I'd keep my distance from.”

“Not a fan of the Adlers.”

“Not much. Except for Evangeline. She was always so kind to me—and to Delia and Kevin's kids. I mean, Delia loved her girls. That oldest one, though. Gracie. She was a handful.”

“In what way?”