Texas Secrets, Lovers' Lies

by Karen Whiddon

  When she tugged at the chief’s arm, the deputy—someone she didn’t know—intervened. “Ma’am, I’m sorry, but I’m going to have to ask you to step aside. If you know the victim’s family, perhaps you could be of assistance to them, but—”

  “The victim?” Zoe cried out, her throat closing up. “Oh Lord, it is Shayna. You found her, didn’t you?”

  Before anyone could answer, the front door swung open. Mama Bell filled the entrance, her red-rimmed eyes taking in the scene. She looked from one man to the other and, instantly, she seemed to understand why they were there.

  Backbone stiff, head high, she stepped onto the front stoop. “Sheriff?”

  Roger Giles swallowed and removed his hat. “Mrs. Bell, I’m sorry to inform you that we recovered the body of your daughter this morning.”

  Hearing this, Mama Bell reacted as if he’d pulled out his service revolver and shot her point-blank in the chest. “No,” she cried, crumpling to her knees, still holding the door frame with one hand. “Not my baby girl. Not Shayna.” She began sobbing, the sounds of her grief terrible and heart wrenching.

  Zoe’s heart broke. Shayna was dead. The sheriff and the deputy exchanged a quick glance. Neither man moved.

  Chapter 11

  Heedless of her own tears, Zoe rushed over to her adoptive mother and wrapped her arms around her. “Shh, Mama Bell. Come on, let’s get you inside.”

  With the sheriff’s help, they got the older woman up and inside the house. First she’d lost her husband. And now she had to learn her beloved daughter was also gone.

  Once Zoe had the still-sobbing Mama settled on the couch with a box of tissue, Zoe turned to face the sheriff. “Tell us what happened. Where did you find her? How did she die?”

  Clearing his throat, Roger took a deep breath. Visibly shaken, he walked over to the front window and peered out for a moment before turning to face them.

  “The tornado knocked some trees down on Old Fort Road, near the lake. We used a backhoe to clear the road.”

  Zoe nodded.

  “While doing that, we found her. She’d been buried in a shallow grave about thirty feet from the road.” He swallowed hard, his face pale. “Long story short, the tornado unearthed what was left of her remains. We found positive ID on the body, though we’ll be confirming with dental records.”

  This town, Zoe shuddered. Now, not only would every dark corner replay the moment her mother had been murdered, but Shayna, too. Yet again, someone she loved had been murdered.

  “What happened?” Zoe choked out. “How did she die?”

  “We don’t know at this point, Zoe. Right now, it looks like it’s a homicide investigation.”

  Homicide. Murder.

  From the rigid way Mama Bell straightened, Zoe knew she’d caught the word, too. Shayna had been murdered. Yet another act of senseless violence in a town where people had believed it had once been so safe that no one locked their doors. Once Zoe’s mother had been killed, Zoe had known better.

  “Where is she?” Wiping at her eyes, Mama Bell spoke up, her mouth trembling. “I want to see my baby’s body.”

  Clearly uncomfortable, the sheriff tugged at his collar. “Her remains were sent to the Henderson County Coroner’s Office. Mrs. Bell, I should warn you the remains are in no kind of shape to be viewed. In addition to scavengers, the backhoe—”

  “Enough.” Zoe cut him off. “We understand. Thank you so much for coming.” She shepherded them to the door, practically pushing them outside. “I’ll notify the rest of the family.”

  Sheriff Giles nodded. He and his deputy climbed into the squad car without another word and drove away.

  Only when they were gone, did the enormity of what had happened truly sink in. Shayna was dead. She hadn’t taken off—she’d been murdered. Someone had killed her.

  Wiping her eyes, Zoe went back inside the house. There were phone calls to make, first among them to Mr. Bell. No matter their differences, he needed to come back home and help his wife in this time of loss.

  Luckily, Mama Bell kept a printed list of numbers taped to the inside of a notebook that sat near the phone. Heart breaking, Zoe dialed Mr. Bell’s cell phone. As soon as he answered, she told him what the sheriff had said.

  “I’m on my way,” he told her, and ended the call.

  Though there were a dozen more people she needed to notify, Zoe called Brock next. As soon as she heard his deep voice, she broke down, crying so hard he could barely make out what she was trying to say.

  Eventually, when he understood, he said he’d be right there. Relieved, she thanked him and then sat staring at the phone, too drained to move.

  Shayna’s death—or murder, Zoe reminded herself—changed everything. All along, everyone—including Zoe—had been going on the supposition that Shayna had taken off. Now they had to find out who had killed her and why. And judging from the craziness of the life Shayna had been living, there were way too many people with motive.

  Marshall Bell walked in a few minutes after Zoe’s call. He went straight to his wife and wrapped her in his arms. The two of them huddled in the den. Mama wept while her husband murmured what sounded like soothing words. Watching the two of them locked together in their mutual grief and sorrow broke another chunk off Zoe’s already shredded heart.

  Brock arrived ten minutes later, which meant he’d broken every speed limit on the way over. Zoe’d been pacing by the front picture window, watching and waiting for him. As soon as he pulled up in the driveway, she opened the front door, wiping at her streaming eyes.

  She filled him in again, aware she’d been barely intelligible when they’d talked over the phone.

  “A homicide investigation?” Pacing, Brock sounded angry. “So now the sheriff’s office is taking this seriously? When it’s too damn late. All along, every time I tried to talk to him, Roger Giles acted as if he was absolutely positive Shayna had simply left town. He had me convinced, as well.”

  “A lot of people thought that,” Zoe felt compelled to point out, when both of the Bells didn’t react. They sat together on the couch, arms around each other, huddling close. Mr. Bell handed his wife tissue as she continued to intermittently sob and blow her nose.

  “True. But who would kill her?” Brock’s closed expression and the fury in his eyes made him look as if he wanted to take a swing at someone. Zoe had the strongest urge to go to him and offer comfort, as if by leaning on each other, like the Bells, they could manage to get through the pain of this awful time.

  As if they were a couple. Which they most definitely were not. Though she ached for comfort, she stayed where she was.

  “We can discuss this another time,” Zoe gently pointed out, motioning with her head toward the Bells. “Right now we’ve got funeral arrangements to work out.”

  “Not yet.” Mama Bell spoke up, her voice both broken and fierce. “I want to see her body first. I need to make sure this isn’t some sort of mistake.”

  Mr. Bell raised a face wet with tears, his jaw tight. “I agree. But I’ll do it, Eunice. You heard what the sheriff said. I don’t want you to see her that way.”

  Mama Bell gave him a mutinous look but didn’t argue.

  “We need to notify the rest of the family,” Zoe said, keeping her voice mellow.

  “Not until we know for sure.” Mama Bell’s angry whisper spoke of deep emotion. She seemed about to say something more, but instead she folded over on herself, sobbing.

  At that, the iron control Zoe had imposed on herself gave way. Tears filling her eyes, she got up and ran from the room.

  A moment later, Brock followed. Waving him away, she went into her old bedroom, closed the door and locked it.

  * * *

  The next day, Zoe called him and let him know she was going with the Bells to identify the remains. Immedi
ately, Brock asked if he could accompany them. After a moment’s hesitation, Zoe agreed.

  Brock had talked to the sheriff immediately after leaving the Bells the afternoon before. From what Roger had reiterated, the remains were so badly damaged and decomposed, they weren’t even recognizable. Only Shayna’s jewelry and the driver’s license she’d tucked in her pocket enabled them to identify her. The Henderson County Coroner’s Office had custody, and they’d have to drive to the county seat and visit the morgue there.

  He couldn’t think of anything he’d dreaded more, though sitting in the Bells’ living room, tangible grief swirling all around him, ranked right up there.

  While they stood side by side, the Bells weren’t touching or speaking. After insisting she be allowed to accompany them, Mrs. Bell appeared to have turned in on herself. Meanwhile, Mr. Bell also seemed to have checked out.

  And, through it all, Zoe was...their rock.

  Though he had to admire the brave front Zoe presented to the world, Brock knew how close to the surface her raw emotions ran. He kept his arm around her slender shoulders, both to offer his support and also because he wanted to keep her close. He could feel the way she was shivering, which made him wish she could draw on his warmth. Though they hadn’t settled anything between them, if he knew Zoe—and he did—she’d be catching the first flight back to her beloved New York City as soon as this was all over. He hoped he’d get a chance to change her mind.

  Before they made the drive out to Henderson, they were headed to the sheriff’s office. Roger had promised a police escort to make things easier. The Bells waited in the car while Brock and Zoe went in. Brock had never seen the place so busy.

  “Hey, Brock.” One of the uniformed officers glanced up and nodded.

  “Is Roger around?” Brock asked, keeping his tone deliberately casual.

  “No, he’s out on a call.” The man cleared his throat. “But I’ve been assigned as your escort. Are you ready to go?”

  “We are,” Zoe said, only the dark sunglasses over her eyes to show she’d been crying. “Lead the way.”

  Though their guide nodded, he shot Brock another curious glance, evidently wondering about his silence.

  On the drive, Brock had replayed a hundred scenarios in his mind. If at all possible, they had to keep Mrs. Bell away from the remains. Her insistence to be present was, while understandable, bad enough. No way did anyone want her to see what was left of her daughter. Marshall Bell had taken Brock aside and emphatically stated he needed Brock’s help.

  But once they got there, Mrs. Bell ignored both men and Zoe and demanded she be taken back to the morgue. The county coroner led them into his office, where he informed them that a positive ID had been made using dental records.

  Rather than breaking down at his words, the normally stoic Mrs. Bell became combative and irate. With her husband on one side and Brock on the other, she was led from the office, muttering under her breath and using swearwords Brock hadn’t even been aware she knew.

  On the way home, she huddled in the corner, crying into her hands and ignoring them all.

  Finally, they got her home. She and Mr. Bell disappeared into the bedroom. When Zoe suggested that they give the Bells some privacy, he agreed.

  “I know we’re both shell-shocked, and I’m sort of embarrassed that I’m thinking of things like eating, but are you hungry?” he asked her, as they walked to his truck. He wanted to be around her longer, and this was the only way he could think of extending their time together. Well, that and...not going there.

  Cautiously eyeing him, she considered. “Grief is a strange thing,” she mused. “Part of me wants to curl up and die, but I could eat, I guess. What did you have in mind?”

  He remembered what had been her favorite meal. Stupid, the kind of weird stuff he remembered. It hit him when he least expected it, like a surprise punch to the gut.

  So he said the one thing he knew she couldn’t resist. “How about some catfish?”

  Immediately her expression brightened. Not quite a smile but better than tears. “Sue’s? I haven’t been there in ages.”

  Sue’s Catfish Hut was one of the most popular eateries in Anniversary and Zoe had always loved it. At one point, she’d wanted to have the wedding rehearsal dinner there.

  Again, more unwanted and unnecessary thoughts. He shoved them away.

  “Let’s go,” he said, resisting the urge to hold out his hand for her to take.

  The instant they stepped into Sue’s, Brock felt they’d traveled back into the past. He’d stopped in for catfish a time or two since Zoe had left, but by and large he tended to avoid the place. Too many unwanted memories.

  “Hey!” Tina, one of the waitresses, rushed over and gave Zoe a big hug. “Zoe Onella. I heard you were back in town and I was wondering if you were going to stop in.”

  “I couldn’t resist.” Zoe tried to smile but failed miserably.

  “I’m sorry.” Tina hugged her again. “I heard about Shayna. I was hoping she’d just moved away or something.”

  Zoe nodded. “Me, too.”

  Tina led them to a booth. Luckily, one of the back corner ones was available, which would give them some privacy. They both ordered iced tea and the catfish basket, handing back the menus unopened.

  After Tina had brought their drinks and hurried away, Brock decided he might as well get this over with. “About the other night,” he began.

  Zoe’s eyes widened. “Now, Brock?” she asked, her voice rising. “You want to discuss this right now?”

  “Why not?” Keeping his tone deliberately casual, Brock leaned his elbows on the table.

  “Because it seems pointless.” She exhaled, looking anywhere but at him. “You know as well as I do that what happened was a mistake.”

  “Was it?” He didn’t know why he felt compelled to push her buttons, but he did. As she’d said, grief did strange things. “How so?”

  Instead of answering immediately, she looked down at her hands. “We took a trip down memory lane.”

  “I see.” But he didn’t, not by a long shot. Still, if that’s how she was going to play it, damned if he’d try to dissuade her. She hadn’t cared enough about him to come back at all when she knew she was out of danger. Had he really thought anything had changed?

  “How about mutual comfort? Comfort sex might help us forget,” he said, leaning back in his chair and hoping like hell he looked calm. Actually, anything except the way he really felt. Hurt and stupid. And through it all, the sharp pain of grief.

  Sipping her tea, she lifted one shoulder, making him frown. Was she actually agreeing with him?

  A buzz, desire again, thrummed through him.

  “Maybe it’s the heartache talking, but that might not be a bad idea.”

  Suddenly, he felt as if he’d walked to the middle of what he’d thought was solid ground, only to learn he was on cracking ice. Cursing himself, he said the one thing guaranteed to stop whatever this was before it started. “Though once Shayna has been laid to rest, I guess you’ll head back home.”

  At this, Zoe stared at him as if he’d suggested she run down Main Street naked. “I’m not going anywhere until I find whoever did this to her.”

  Yet again, she’d succeeded in surprising him. Careful not to show any emotion, he crossed his arms. “I’m sure the sheriff’s office is running an investigation.”

  She snorted. “That idiot you call Sheriff couldn’t find his own car in a mall parking lot. I sure miss Renee.”

  “We all do, but we’ve got to let due process take its course.”

  “Due process? Come on, Brock. The sheriff was one of Shayna’s lovers,” she pointed out.

  He shrugged. “He’s single, so there’s no reason why he shouldn’t have been.”

  “Don’t you think that’s a conflic
t of interest?”

  Narrow eyed, he studied her. “Surely you don’t think the sheriff had something to do with her death.”

  “Anything is possible. I want to make sure he’s investigating everyone. Every man Shayna dated and even those she didn’t. It could be—”

  “Zoe.” He reached across the table and took her hand. “Despite his misguided call on what happened to Shayna, Roger knows how to do his job. Now that there’s been a crime, he’ll be on the ball. And he’s got some of the best officers working for him. Remember Mac Riordan, the guy I talked to earlier? He used to work for the Albany, New York, police department. He’s got years of experience.”

  She let herself relax the tiniest bit. Still she persisted. “He needs to talk to Cristine immediately.”

  “I’m sure he will.” Suddenly, he realized what he was doing and let go of her fingers. Anyone who’d seen them across the crowded restaurant would have thought they were intimate. While they had been, he wasn’t sure he wanted news of that hitting the gossip rounds in town. The last thing he needed was pity when Zoe left this time. Once had already been bad enough.

  Zoe’s words finally registered. He frowned. “I agree he needs to talk to Cristine, but why immediately? Roger has enough on his plate between the tornado and Shayna’s murder.”

  Gently she moved her hand from the tabletop to her lap. “With all the drama that’s been going on, I’d forgotten you didn’t know.”

  “Know what?”

  Glancing left and then right, she leaned forward. “Marshall Bell had an affair with Cristine.”

  He let his mouth drop open. “What? No way. Are you sure?”

  “He confessed to Mama Bell shortly before the sheriff arrived to give us the news. And worse, Shayna walked in on them.”

  “When?” He dragged a hand through his hair.

  “Right before she disappeared. Mr. Bell said Shayna wouldn’t have anything to do with him after that. Neither would Cristine. I’m guessing she was embarrassed, though with her, you never know.”