The Lies You Told

by Emerald O'Brien

  The resemblance must be striking…

  “You should call Shelling—”

  “I don’t need his permission to go to South Bend, Grace, and no offence, but I don’t need yours either. What I need is some support.”

  Why can’t it be that simple? This is more than just support. This is involving myself in a case I’ve been warned to stay away from.

  But I don’t need Shelling’s permission to go to South Bend either—or Sergeant Colette’s, for that matter.

  Grace glanced down at her papers.

  Just a bit more won’t take long. I could finish while she’s on her way here.

  “Grace?” Shawna whispered. “If I find this woman, I don’t want to face her alone.”

  That’s something we can agree on.

  “Drive to Tall Pines. Meet me and Madigan at the library parking lot; know where that is?”

  “Yeah.”

  “We’ll go to South Bend together and check it out for ourselves.”

  “Really?” Shawna sighed. “Oh, thank you.”

  “It’s a small town. We can talk to some people—”

  “It wasn’t her on the video, and I just don’t understand how someone else would have her credit card.”

  Rhett is going to find out about this soon, if he doesn’t already know. He’ll want to go too.

  “Start driving now. We’ll be able to get there and have a good look around before dark.”

  “Okay. Thank you.”

  Grace ended the call and texted Madigan to meet her at the parking lot before sitting back down to the table, staring at the papers, lost in thought.

  If it was Tina in the video, why would she be in South Bend? She doesn’t have business or family there—Shawna would have said. It’s out of her jurisdiction. It’s out, away from everything.

  But it explains the missing vehicle.

  Maybe she wanted to get away from something. Someone.

  But if Shawna’s right, and the woman in the video isn’t Tina, how is that possible?

  She could have changed her appearance, so much so that Shawna couldn’t recognize her.

  Stupid criminals might not think twice about using her credit card. That happens all the time, but a look-alike ending up with it? That’s the only hitch.

  Will Rhett I.D. Tina in the video? Did the police take the only copy, or maybe we could get lucky and watch it for ourselves…

  Her cell phone vibrated with Madigan’s name on the screen.

  Meet you there.

  Grace glanced at the papers again before going to her bedroom to change.

  No point in trying to focus on something else right now. I’ll finish them when I get back home.

  She tucked her fresh white dress shirt into her dress pants and slipped into her peacoat, jogging out the door. A woman in a bright pink track suit power-walked along the side of the road toward her.

  “Hi, Mrs. Hughes,” Grace called with a wave.

  She waved back and panted, out of breath. “Nice to see you. Fine weather we’re having! So glad to be done with the snow! How are you doing, Grace?”

  “Well, thanks. Oh, have you seen a thin, caramel-coloured cat around these parts? Do you know of anyone with a cat like that? Amber eyes?”

  She shook her head, pumping her arms back and forth as she strode toward the path to the coast. “Not that I can think of. I’ll ask around for you!”

  “Thank you!”

  Grace got into her car and started for the library.

  Shawna met Grace and Madigan in the parking lot and agreed to follow them to the small town of South Bend almost an hour away. As they neared the outskirts of Tall Pines where trees surrounded the road ahead, Grace filled Madigan in on Shawna’s phone call.

  “That’s so strange.” Madigan finished writing the details in her notebook. “I’m glad you told her we’d come. We can check out the video for ourselves.”

  “If it’s still there.”

  “Why didn’t you invite her to ride with us?” Madigan asked. “I would have, but it’s not my place.”

  “I’m having second thoughts about this.” Grace turned to her, and Madigan cocked her head to the side, lifting her brows. “I didn’t want her to come alone, because although the chances are slim that she’ll find the woman with her mom’s credit card, she’s very emotional and flustered right now. She’s not in a place to be looking into things on her own…but I can’t help but feel like I’m getting too involved.”

  “What does that mean?”

  “This is not my case to investigate. This is a friend whom I’m trying to help through a tough time, but whenever we’re around her, it’s like we can’t help but come across information pertaining to the investigation.”

  Madigan pulled her knee up to her chest and hugged it. “The investigation you were warned to stay away from—”

  “Right.”

  “By people who have no power over you.”

  Grace sighed and rested her head against the seat. “It’s complicated.”

  She doesn’t want to talk about it anymore, and if I push her, she might just turn this car around.

  The dense surrounding forest blocked out the hazy glow of the gray afternoon light. Madigan knew they’d soon come upon the sharp turn in the road that had led to so much tragedy that past winter.

  “This is my first time back in South Bend since…everything with Angie.” Madigan twisted her necklace back and forth.

  “I’m sure it will be weird to be back, but I’m here this time.”

  Madigan grinned. “So, do you think there’s a possibility we’ll find Tina just—what—shopping around town?”

  “No. If the police were here, looking at tapes, they were looking for her too. They might still be.”

  “She could still come back, though.”

  Grace took the sharp turn in the road, leading them into town, and Madigan turned on the radio.

  So much happened here, and now it’s just a lonely bend in the road.

  Grace turned the knob, lowering the volume. “So where am I going?”

  “The diner is a while down this road on the left.” She pointed as they passed Crow’s Landing, the only bar in town. “The grocery store is on the same side of the road, across a little street.”

  “Okay, we’ll check the diner first since that’s where the credit card was used.” Grace flicked her left turn signal for Shawna. “We might see which direction she went, and we can follow the lead.”

  “Well, there are only a few places someone would go of their own free will here. There’s the diner, and it’s actually pretty good. The grocery store. Crow’s Landing. The motel…and that’s it, really. There’s a gas station and a police station. I mean, if she knew anyone here, that would be a different story. The people here are rough, and I’m not sure what she’d have in common with any of them. They don’t like outsiders.”

  “I figured.” Grace pulled the car into the diner’s lot. “Okay, so we’ll retrace her steps, and then we’ll swing by those places you mentioned.”

  “It won’t take long. They’re almost all along this strip here on Crow River Road.”

  They got out of the car, and Shawna followed them to the door. As they entered, three rough-looking men at the counter looked them over, and a young woman in a booth shot them a cold stare.

  “Hi, there,” a woman said from behind the counter. “Hey, don’t I know you?”

  The same woman from last time. I shouldn’t be surprised.

  Madigan nodded. “I’ve been here before, yes.”

  “Where’s your blonde friend?”

  “Not here this time.”

  “Alright, well, what can I do for ya?”

  They joined her at the counter just an arm’s length away from one of the men, and Grace kept her voice low. “The police who were in earlier looking for the woman who came here? We know her. This is her daughter, Shawna.”

  “Oh, hello.” They nodded at each other.

  “I
know you know all about the goings on here,” Madigan said, “and I don’t want to waste your time, so I’ll cut to the chase. What did she say?”

  “Not much. She ordered a coffee and then left. She stuck out, though.”

  “Why is that?” Grace asked.

  “’Cause she wasn’t from here. I’d never seen her before.”

  “That’s it?” Madigan asked.

  “That was all. She paid with the credit card, which was odd, since it was just a coffee, and then she left. Didn’t see after that. Breakfast crowd got busy in here. That’s all I know. I have to get back to work. Hope you find your mom.”

  “One last thing,” Shawna said. “My mom has a scar across her eyebrow, right here.” She pointed to the middle of her left brow.

  “She was wearing a hat,” the woman said. “I couldn’t see her eyebrow. Not that I can recall.”

  “Did the officer or detective you spoke to show you a picture of the woman you saw?” Grace asked.

  She nodded. “It’s so hard to tell when someone has makeup on and a baseball cap, and then when their hair is showing and they have a clean face.”

  “The woman who came in was wearing makeup?” Shawna asked.

  “Sure was. Pink lipstick and dark eye makeup.”

  Shawna turned to Grace. “My mom never wears makeup.”

  “I’ve gotta go.” The woman stepped aside toward the three men and Shawna nodded to her before they left.

  They crossed the street to the grocery store, and Grace scanned the area around them as Madigan and Shawna walked ahead.

  “You’ve been here before,” Shawna said.

  “Yeah, it’s been a bit. I was looking for someone, too.”

  They walked through the automatic door to a checkout line and asked the cashier to speak to a manager.

  “You’re lookin’ at her,” she said.

  “The woman the police were in here looking for? I’m her daughter.”

  “Do you still have the tape?” Grace asked.

  The woman frowned. “Can’t help ya there.”

  “Really?” Grace asked. “You won’t help this young lady find her mother?”

  “Never said that. Just said I don’t have the tape.”

  One thing I’ve learned about South Bend—nothing comes for free.

  Madigan pulled a bill from her bag and held it out to the woman. “Is this enough incentive, ‘cause it’s all you’re getting.”

  The woman took the bill and gestured to them to follow. “If the owner knew I was showing this to anyone but the police, I’d be fired, so this never happened. Hey, if you’re her daughter, why won’t they show ya?”

  “They did. Just not the whole thing.”

  “Wasn’t much to see.” She turned the monitor on and fast-forwarded the tape until the woman came into frame. “We always keep a copy to cover our asses.” She pointed to Grace. “Take notes.”

  The woman in the video never looked in the direction of the store but crossed the parking lot and walked along Crow River Road, back the way they came in. The rim of the baseball hat the woman wore covered most of her face except her pink lipstick.

  I only saw Tina once, when I was eleven. If someone told me this could be her, I’d believe them.

  “It’s not her,” Shawna whispered, and the manager frowned.

  “Just wait, please,” Grace said. “What’s over there?”

  “All the buildings we passed, but that’s about it.” Madigan turned to the manager. “Had you ever seen her before?”

  “Nope.”

  “Nope, you want more money to answer? Or nope, you haven’t?” Shawna sneered.

  The woman furrowed her brow. “I just did you a favor, and you say it isn’t even her. Now get out.”

  Grace guided Shawna back through the store, out the front door, and Madigan followed.

  “I told you, it’s not her. She never wears hats. She doesn’t dress like that. She never wears makeup. My mom isn’t here.”

  Grace and Madigan exchanged looks.

  Grace couldn’t tell for sure if it was her either.

  “Why do you say that?” Grace asked.

  “I can just feel it.” Shawna closed her eyes. “We have a connection, and I don’t feel like she’s close.”

  “If you don’t think she’s here, why did we come?” Grace rested her hands on her hips.

  “I had to show you the video. I need you to believe me.” A ringtone of bells Madigan didn’t recognize filled the air. “Some random woman has my mom’s credit card.”

  Shawna dug around in her purse. “I just know she’s not here.” She pulled out her cell and pressed it to her ear. “Did you find her?”

  They waited as she listened, standing beside her but not close enough to hear anything else.

  “About two hours,” Shawna said. “No. I’m just busy… I understand. I will… What? Okay, fine.” She ended the call and turned to Grace. “They found her car…well, broken down into pieces and left in the forest between Tall Pines and South Bend.”

  Whoever did it might not have wanted the car to be found, but they could have scattered the parts better than that. Hid them so they’d be harder to find…

  “Near the road?” Grace asked.

  “They didn’t say.” Shawna’s voice shook. “The plates were taken off.”

  Against the law, but I’m not surprised. This is South Bend.

  “And they want to talk to me in person. I—I really can’t take this waiting anymore.” She clutched her crystal. “The news is never good. I—I just know she’s not here.”

  That’s a bold statement from someone who barely checked anywhere.

  “They could have a lead.” Grace said. “A new suspect, maybe. It sounds like they might need your help.”

  Shawna nodded. “I have to get back. They told me to come to the department right away. Do you think you could come with me?”

  “I’m sorry,” Grace said. “I’ve got work to finish.”

  If Shawna tells Detective Shelling where she was, Grace could be in trouble.

  “You probably shouldn’t tell them we were all here,” Madigan said.

  Shawna nodded. “The woman in the video is not my mom, you both saw for yourselves.”

  The video was grainy, and you could barely see her face. She’s going by clothing, makeup, and movement. Maybe you could I.D. a person just by that…

  Grace touched Shawna’s arm. “You need to get back and find out all you can.”

  Shawna nodded and walked back to her car, turning over her shoulder. “I’ll call you with whatever I find out! Thank you for coming!”

  She’s happy to get out of here, and that’s a normal response, except she can’t be sure her mom isn’t out here. Is she just that satisfied by her own intuition? Does she have some spiritual power or insight that she trusts over all else?

  Or is she hiding something?

  Grace and Madigan got in the car, and Madigan nodded in Shawna’s direction. “Let her go ahead here and drop back. On the way out, I want to stop at the motel, but I don’t want her to see.”

  “Why?”

  “Shawna is, so far as we know, the last person to see her mom.”

  Grace glanced over at her. “You think Shawna took her mom?”

  “I think maybe they went away together. Maybe she helped her mom escape Rhett’s abuse. She’s been so against him and his involvement in the case. Maybe he was hurting Tina, and there was nothing they could do about it because he’s a cop…”

  “So is Tina.”

  “Yeah, but you know how it is. Shawna’s painting a picture of how it is. She says the woman in the video isn’t Tina, but isn’t that what she’d want us to think if she were hiding out here somewhere?”

  “Why would she lie to us? To me?” Grace gave her full attention to the road ahead. “She’s the one who brought me into this. The one who wanted to come out here and search for the woman in the video.”

  “She didn’t seem eager to do muc
h searching. Just eager to prove her mom wasn’t here.” Madigan pointed to the motel on the right. “Maybe she wanted to know what a detective thought. We brought her out here. She can see we are trying to help. Maybe she’ll trust us enough to tell the truth now.”

  Gray clouds rolled across the sky, and tree branches with green buds blew in the wind beside the motel.

  “I want to see if Tina was here.” Madigan kept her eyes on Shawna’s car as it disappeared after the turn. “If they brought Tina here to hide, she’d stay at the motel. Maybe they each came in their own vehicle, took Tina’s apart the best they could, hid the pieces, and Shawna drove back.”

  “Your theory doesn’t explain Tina using her credit card when she knows it would be flagged in the system. Let’s not get ahead of ourselves.” Grace took her foot off the gas pedal, turning into the parking lot. “The motel first. Then that bar.”

  “Sounds good.”

  “Did the woman on the tape look like Tina Morelli to you?”

  Grace nodded. “I couldn’t make a positive I.D. But yes, it looked like her.”

  Tina really could be right here at the motel.

  “Be right back.” Madigan jumped out of the car and strode through the front lobby to the desk.

  The same young woman working during her last time in South Bend sat behind it. “I recognize you,” the girl said.

  “Do you recognize this woman?” Madigan asked and pulled up a photo of Tina on her phone that she’d taken of the grocery store footage.

  The girl squinted at her screen. “How could I tell?”

  Madigan sighed and took out a twenty, setting it on the desk. The girl swiped it without taking her eyes off Madigan. “Seriously, I can’t tell. No one wearing those clothes was here.”

  Madigan tapped on the internet and brought up a picture of Tina in uniform. “This woman.”

  She squinted again. “Nope. I know she hasn’t been in here.”

  “You’re sure?”

  “I’d remember a cop.”

  “She wouldn’t have been wearing her uniform.”

  The girl wore a deadpan stare. “I’d have recognized a cop.”

  Madigan sighed. “Alright. Here’s my number. Call me if you see her.”

  The girl stared at her blankly before Madigan sighed again and slapped another twenty on the desk along with her number.