VEILED MIRROR

by Frankie Robertson

  “No!” Ellie bit her lip. “Well, maybe a little. But that’s not what caused the wreck.”

  “Was she sad or depressed?”

  “No. Not at all. Or at least only about Chris.”

  “And she wouldn’t have hurt herself?”

  Ellie just stared.

  Jason exploded out of his seat, outraged, heedless of the pain in his shoulder. “You think she tried to kill herself? With Ellie in the car? Are you nuts?”

  The sheriff stood and glowered at him. “People can do some strange things when they’re depressed. They can’t see all their options, and sometimes they make bad decisions. I have to investigate all the possibilities.”

  “What about the tire marks?” Jason challenged. “They don’t support suicide. Do they?”

  The sheriff shook his head. “They’re inconclusive. Between the rain and the bad road surface it’s hard to tell what happened when. The wheel could have jerked when the tire blew, or the tire could have blown when she jerked the wheel.”

  Ellie surged to her feet too. “But I told Toby what happened! She wasn’t depressed. The tire blew and she was braking!”

  “I have your statement,” Connor said carefully. “It probably was just bad luck. But she also might have changed her mind at the last moment. I’ll need the names and contact information for her friends and work associates, if you have them.”

  “This is your idea of an investigation?” Her voice was shrill. “First the insurance agent thinks Chris was a suicide and now you’re pointing a finger at my sister. Is that the best you can do? Do you even know how to investigate a murder? Is that why you want to call it an accident or a suicide? Because you’re too incompetent to do anything else?”

  Jason put a hand on her shoulder. He didn’t like what Connor was saying any better than she did, but she’d gone a little too far. “Ellie—”

  Maria came into the room carrying a tray laden with a pitcher of lemonade, glasses, and a plate of gingersnap cookies. They all stood silently as she put the tray down on the glass-topped coffee table and poured the lemonade. As if oblivious to the tension straining between the three of them, Maria handed a glass to the sheriff.

  He accepted it automatically. “Thanks.”

  Ellie resumed her seat as she took the glass Maria gave her. “Maybe I should hire that private investigator after all, or tell the neighbors to stop shielding me from the press and grant an interview or two.”

  Jason hoped the sheriff had a thick skin, and understood that victims’ families often spoke without thinking. Or maybe that was what he was counting on. Maybe he was looking at Ellie as a suspect and wanted to see what he could provoke her into saying. Idiot.

  Connor sat down too. His face was stiff, his voice controlled and deliberately civil. “You do whatever you want, Mrs. Pontifore. It won’t change how I conduct this investigation. But if it will set your mind at ease, I’ll call for an inquest. Then you can hear all the evidence we’ve collected, and a judge will decide if there’s sufficient cause to suspect a homicide. Will that satisfy you?”

  “How long will I have to wait? Weeks? Months?”

  “Will next Tuesday do?” He pulled out his pocket calendar. “I’ll have to check with Judge Crenshaw about the time, but he can usually work things into his schedule. Shall we say ten o’clock? I’ll let you know if that changes.”

  Jason saw the shock on Ellie’s face; he was feeling a little of his own. Apparently court dates could be scheduled pretty fast and loose out in these small Arizona counties.

  Ellie looked sharply at the sheriff. “Will I be able to ask questions, too?”

  Connor nodded. “If you want.”

  Ellie shrugged her agreement. “Thank you.”

  The sheriff took a sip of Maria’s lemonade, put the glass back on the tray and stood. “Delicious as always, Maria.”

  BETH WINCED AS JASON accompanied the sheriff to the door.

  She didn’t usually lose it like that. What had come over her? But she couldn’t feel too badly about it. She had acted just like Ell would have and it had felt … great. For once she wasn’t being the nice quiet one, and it had gotten results. Now the sheriff would have to put all the pieces together, and she could make sure he didn’t ignore any inconvenient facts. Maybe then he would admit that Chris might have been murdered and start investigating this for real. And then she could go back to living her own life.

  Her eye fell on Jason’s glass, sweating on the table. What must he think, now that he thought she’d been pregnant? She shook her head. It didn’t matter. They weren’t a couple, and never would be.

  “I will not lie for you,” Maria said softly.

  Beth blinked. It took her a moment to realize what the housekeeper was saying.

  “But you gave me two weeks! I need your help.”

  “I will not lie for you,” she repeated. “Not to a judge. Not if I must swear to speak the truth on the Holy Bible.”

  And Maria would certainly be called to testify. They might not ask a question that would require a lie, but she couldn’t count on that.

  “No, of course not. I won’t ask you to.”

  A cold whisper of panic shivered down her spine. She had a bigger problem than what Jason thought about Beth’s supposed pregnancy. Maria had given her two weeks to find out if someone had killed Chris and Ellie and their baby. Now she had five days.

  CHAPTER TWELVE

  Jason walked out with Connor to his vehicle. “Do you have any additional evidence that supports a finding of suicide, sheriff? Something you didn’t want to say in front of Ellie?”

  The sheriff scrutinized him for a long moment from behind his reflective sunglasses, then asked, “Did you know Miss Hart well?”

  Had he? They’d talked and shared more with each other than he had with any other woman, and yet he’d still screwed up with her. And she’d gotten pregnant with someone else. “No. I didn’t.” He waited a beat, then said, “Your turn.”

  Connor gave him a measuring look. “We haven’t finished our investigation. You’ll know when we do.”

  Jason clenched his teeth, frustrated by the all-too-familiar official response. The shoe pinched on the other foot, even as he respected the man’s professionalism. It was either that, or the sheriff was just a stubborn bastard. Jason considered telling Connor that he was with the Agency. Maybe he’d be more forthcoming if he knew Jason was FBI. Maybe. Or he might get all protective of his turf. And he really didn’t think the sheriff knew any more than he was telling. No point in complicating things just yet. He’d wait to share that information.

  Jason nodded and said, “You do that.”

  Connor tossed his hat into his SUV and started to get in, then turned back. “I meant to ask. Did her doc say everything was okay?”

  “What?”

  “Ellie’s doctor. She wouldn’t let us take her to the hospital after the accident. Said she wanted to see her own doc. She didn’t lose the baby, I hope?”

  “No. She’s fine, except for those bruises.” Jason hoped he was telling the truth. Ellie hadn’t said anything about going to the doctor.

  The corner of Connor’s mouth lifted in half a smile. “Good. I’m glad.” He hesitated then said, “Listen. About Miss Hart. I hope the suicide angle doesn’t pan out. But I have to check.” He got in and started his engine before leaning out the window. “I’ll be in touch.”

  Jason nodded, and leaned against the porch railing, watching as the sheriff drove away.

  He didn’t believe for a minute that Beth would commit suicide. She was too grounded for that. Still, she’d been facing a pregnancy alone. Or had she? Maybe she was really in love with the father, and he with her. Maybe this baby had been wanted. Maybe she didn’t tell Ell who the guy is because she wanted to tell him first.

  He didn’t buy it. Beth told Ellie everything. He was going to get some answers.

  Ellie lifted her face from her hands as he returned to the parlor. “Thanks for standing up for Beth. Sh
e wouldn’t hurt herself. She certainly wouldn’t hurt me … or the baby. Babies.” Her face was strained, but she hadn’t been crying.

  He hoped she wouldn’t start now, because of his questions. “I know. But things aren’t tracking, Ell. I understand if you don’t want to share all Beth’s personal stuff with the sheriff, but you need to tell me the truth.”

  Ellie looked nervous. “What are you talking about?”

  He sat down next to her on the sofa and looked her in the eye. “Who was Beth sleeping with?”

  “I told you. I don’t know.”

  “I don’t believe that. You and Beth were too close. If Beth was that in love with some guy, enough to have a kid with him, you would know it.”

  Ell stared at her hands. She was twisting her wedding ring again. “She didn’t tell me. Really.”

  He put a hand on hers. “You’re not much of a liar, Ell. Come on, be straight with me.”

  “I am being straight with you!” But she looked down at the floor as she said it.

  He shook his head. Why was she holding out on him? He used a firmer tone. “Tell me, Ellie. I need to know. It’s important.”

  She jerked her hands away and her head came up suddenly. Her eyes sparked with anger. “Why? Why do you care? You screwed Beth and dumped her, and then you dropped off the face of the earth. So much for all that crap about staying friends. Now you’re all curious about who I—she slept with. What difference does it make to you?”

  He was surprised at her reaction, but he didn’t show it. Beth must have been pretty upset when she told her sister about their break-up. He’d known he’d hurt her, but what else could he have done? He squashed the feelings of guilt that tried to rise again to the surface. It wasn’t his fault he hadn’t kept in touch. He hadn’t planned on getting shot. What was he going to do, call her from his hospital bed and ask for sympathy from the woman he’d just broken up with?

  Ellie’s vehemence only confirmed what he already believed, though. The twins shared everything of importance. Ell knew something, and she was hiding it. “I’m not asking because I’m jealous. I just want all the cards on the table to make sure we’re not overlooking anything.”

  Ell looked at him skeptically, eyes narrowed. She clearly didn’t believe he wasn’t jealous. He wasn’t sure he did, either. Finally she said, “What makes you so sure she told me?”

  “You’d never let her get away with telling you she was pregnant, but not the name of the father. And why hasn’t he called? Or,” He paused as a thought occurred to him, “are you telling me that Beth was sleeping around and she didn’t know who the father was?”

  “No! Of course not!”

  Ell’s offended exclamation brought some comfort. He hadn’t wanted to think that of Beth. Then a more horrible possibility struck. “She wasn’t raped, was she?”

  “God! No!”

  He caught his breath as relief washed over him. “Okay, then. Who is it?”

  Ell looked cornered, like a suspect caught red-handed. Her eyes darted from side to side as if looking for escape. He knew she’d decided to tell when she met his eyes. “Barry. Barry Sandler.” But then her eyes slid away.

  Damn it. She’s still hiding something.

  “So why hasn’t this Barry guy called?” Jason’s temper rose. The story of Chris and Beth’s deaths had been all over the news. The jerk must not have cared very much about Beth if he hadn’t even phoned.

  “I called him.”

  He’d get this Sandler guy checked out. Once again, he wished it wasn’t a felony to use Agency resources. He’d ask Lee to do it. His P.I. friend had already run some other names for him. He might as well look into Beth’s lover too.

  Lover. He hated the idea of that, but he’d forfeited any right to be possessive.

  “How did Sandler feel about becoming a father? Does he have a temper?”

  “What? You think Barry killed her to avoid paying child support?” She shook her head. “Barry is a sweet guy. He wouldn’t hurt anyone. Especially not Beth. Besides, he didn’t even know.”

  “Why not? He had a right to.”

  “She’d only just found out she was pregnant when I called her about Chris. She came straight here. She didn’t have a chance to tell him.”

  “How long have they been together?” He tried to sound like a disinterested investigator, instead of a jealous ex-boyfriend.

  Ell looked at him for a long moment before she answered. “They’re not together. Not really. They’re just friends.”

  “Friends with privileges.” His voice came out sounding a little too critical.

  Ell’s eyes flashed with irritation. “More like friends finding comfort with each other. They’d both been recently dumped, after all. It only happened once. Not that it’s any of your business.”

  She was right. This wasn’t any of his business. He didn’t really think this guy had anything to do with Beth’s death, and it was highly unlikely that he had any connection to Chris. It was a weak lead. Ell clearly thought he was a jerk. Maybe he was. But he’d had to know.

  BETH LAY AWAKE IN the dark, clutching Ellie’s pillow to her chest. Dinner had been a mostly silent meal. Jason had been a jerk, and he hadn’t even apologized for grilling her. He pretended to be disinterested, to be just investigating the murders, but he acted as if he had some right to know about her private life. As if he still cared. Well, that didn’t matter now. Beth was dead to him. Even if she weren’t, nothing had changed. Jason didn’t want her. He just didn’t like the idea of anyone else having her. And she certainly wasn’t going to give him another chance to rip her heart out.

  Beth buried her nose in Ell’s pillow and inhaled deeply. Her sister’s scent was already growing faint. Is that what’s happening to Ellie? Her twin hadn’t come back to the mirror, or appeared during her nap. Was she fading away? What if she didn’t come in tonight’s dreams? What if she never came again at all? Beth tried to push the fear away, but it loomed over her heart like a storm cloud waiting to flood her soul with grief.

  The hands on the clock kept creeping around the dial. At least it was electric, so it didn’t tick. The face had a cut-out that cute little sheep passed through. Not that counting them did much good. At this rate, she’d never know if Ellie could come to her, not if she never fell asleep.

  Ollie wuffed and twitched as he dreamed. He’d forgone his bed in the corner and lay sprawled on the cool tile beyond the edge of the area rug.

  She hoped that Barry never found out that she’d named him as the father of her imaginary baby, but she’d had to give Jason a name. He would have kept after her until she did. Beth was appalled at how easily the lies had flown off her tongue. Actually, most of what she’d said about Barry was the truth. She had almost slept with Barry once, the week after Carol had broken up with him, a month after Jason’s visit. But after some kissing and heavy breathing, both she and Barry had realized that a mutual pity-fuck wasn’t what either of them needed or wanted. It would have ruined their friendship.

  Like sleeping with Jason ruined ours.

  The sheep scrolled by.

  One of them winked at her. Beth felt the bed dip behind her and her heart leapt in relief. She rolled over and sat up without any complaint from her bruises.

  Ellie perched on the edge of the mattress, elegant in lavender satin, not a hair out of place. Not at all the way she usually looked. “So what did you find out?”

  “Where have you been? I needed to talk to you!” Beth blurted.

  “About the killer? Did you find him?”

  That was Ell. She could have a one track mind. “No! Not yet. Where were you?”

  “What have you been doing all this time?”

  “All this time? It’s been less than a day since we talked! And what about you? I called for you in the mirror, and I took a nap, but you didn’t come!”

  “Less than a day? I don’t believe it. It feels like a week.”

  “It feels like a month, but it’s been less than a day,�
� Beth confirmed as she leaned against the headboard.

  “I got back as soon as I could. That mirror stuff really takes it out of me. Being here now is harder than usual. I guess there are limits to how much I can do. I heard you calling, but I couldn’t do anything. Are you sure it’s only been a day?”

  Beth rolled her eyes. “I’m sure.”

  “Oh. So what did you want?”

  “I need more information.” Beth outlined what they’d learned about Hendricks, the Carlton mine, and the seven hundred thousand dollars. “Anything sound familiar?”

  “Chris offered Tom a chance to get in on reopening the Carlton mine. There are some maps in the library closet. I think Tom remortgaged the ranch to come up with his stake.”

  “And Anne doesn’t know,” Beth said.

  Ell shrugged.

  “Did the deal go bad, somehow?”

  Ell shrugged. “I don’t know. But then we weren’t talking business on the honeymoon, if you know what I mean.”

  “I guess we’ll have to go to the bank tomorrow, after all.”

  “Bank of the Sierras? Talk to Gloria Muñoz. She’s Chris’s personal banker. One of the perks of having all that dough. She’ll help you.”

  “I’m worried about having to sign things, Ell. That goes beyond just pretending to be you. It’s fraud.” If she committed actual fraud, Jason would never forgive her. Not that she cared what he thought. She just didn’t want to go to jail.

  “You want to find our killer, or not?”

  “I won’t be able to find anything, if I’m in prison!”

  JASON JOLTED AWAKE, CLAMMY with sweat, heart pounding. Shit. He thought he’d worked through all that out of control, undefined danger, mortality crap with the shrink. The nightmares had stopped weeks ago. Why are they back now?

  He slowed his breathing, and went to the attached bath to splash some water on his face. He wished Chris were here to talk to. The Agency had required him to get counseling, and it had helped, but he could use a friend right now. He hadn’t called Chris while he was on his honeymoon, and by the time they’d returned, the nightmares had stopped. Now the damn things were back.