Thick as Thieves

by Sandra Brown

  Being the coward that he was, he passed his daughters’ bedrooms without looking in on them. If Arden woke up, he could ease her back to sleep with a white lie and a reassuring pat.

  But not Lisa. She would see straight through any malarkey he tried to put over on her. The truth would come out. And then what would he do? What would she do?

  In any case, he didn’t risk an encounter. He descended the stairs, avoiding the treads that creaked, and left through the back door. He started across the field behind the house. It was a moonless night, sultry and still with the heavy scent of rain, which Lisa had forecast. He hoped it would hold off for a while longer.

  The ground was uneven, and he wasn’t that sure-footed because of the whiskey he’d drunk, so the walk to the cypress grove took him longer than expected, and when he reached it, he was leaking sour-smelling sweat from every pore.

  He was glad to have the cover of the trees, although their density, and the darkness it created, made him claustrophobic. He didn’t dare risk a flashlight.

  Stumbling around in the marshland, feeling his way in the dark, he didn’t find the rowboat right away, and, ever aware of the time constraints, his search for it became frantic.

  His pants legs got soaked. More than once, he banged his shins on cypress knees. He walked into a clump of ghostly moss hanging from a low-lying branch, and smacked his forehead on another.

  The discomforts did help to sober him up, however, and, eventually, he located the boat. It was a wonder he had, because vegetation had overtaken it, and it took some effort to pull it free.

  Like everything else in his life, the craft had been neglected. As a family, they had taken it out on the lake frequently. “Nature excursions,” Marjorie had called them. They’d competed to see who could spot and name the most species of birds and wildlife. Whoever caught the first fish got the largest chocolate chip cookie from the picnic basket. Like that. How had his family deteriorated from that idyllic example of harmony to this?

  Tonight, the boat looked as hopeless as regaining those happier days. He wasn’t even sure that it was still watertight. He wouldn’t trust it, except that going by car to the designated place would mean taking the long way around. Weaving through the intersecting bayous of the lake would take less time, but only for someone who had grown up doing it.

  Joe had. Even in the dark, he would have no trouble navigating the swampy labyrinth. The future of his family depended on it.

  He dragged the boat into the water and clambered aboard.

  Chapter 26

  Following her conversation with Lisa, Arden had determined that if she wanted to learn more about the ongoing feud between the smarmy district attorney and Ledge, a good place to start would be with the woman at the core of it.

  Arden recalled Ledge telling her about his “friend” who owned the hair and nail salon where the errant squirrel had done damage in the attic. It hadn’t been difficult to link his Crystal with Crystal’s Salon on Main Street, a house that had been charmingly converted into a business. It was a white frame structure with pale blue shutters and purple petunias in window boxes.

  Arden had planned to arrive just as the salon was closing for the day, and her timing was perfect. As she pulled into the shallow parking lot in front, a woman was locking the front door. Arden got out of her car.

  The woman turned and smiled. “Hi.”

  “Hello.” Arden continued up the walkway toward her.

  “I’m sorry, the salon is closed,” she said. “But I’ll be happy to make you an appointment.”

  “Are you Crystal?”

  “Yes.”

  It was easy to understand Ledge’s enduring attraction. She was stunning. Her long, dark hair was as sleek as a seal’s pelt. Her eyes were captivating, both in color and shape.

  “I’m Arden Maxwell.”

  “I thought you might be.”

  “You’ve heard talk?”

  “Around here, gossip is the number one pastime. I was hoping you would come into the salon one day so I could form my own opinion.”

  “What’s your impression so far?”

  Crystal smiled. “You’ve got great hair.”

  “Thanks. The humidity makes any attempt at control futile.”

  “I’ve got product that could help.”

  “I’m sure.” Arden looked aside, then came back to her and said, “I was hoping I could talk to you about a private matter.”

  “Ledge?” When Arden reacted with shock, she added, “He told me you had consulted him about doing some handiwork.”

  “I did, but this isn’t about that. It’s about the bad blood between him and Rusty Dyle.”

  Arden sensed the other woman’s subtle, cautionary withdrawal. “What do you know about that?”

  “Not enough.”

  Crystal considered it for several moments before seeming to come to a decision. “That discussion calls for at least one glass of wine. My house is directly behind the salon.” She pointed. “You can walk across the lawn with me, or drive around.”

  “I’ll take my car.”

  By the time Arden had driven around the corner to the front of Crystal’s house, she was standing on the threshold of the open front door. Arden hadn’t expected her to be this agreeable to talking about Ledge. She’d even feared that when she stated her business, Crystal might tell her to get lost. She had envisioned the “hot ticket” being coarse and blowsy. Not as refined, or cordial, or overall appealing.

  She couldn’t deny a stab of jealousy.

  “Thank you for this,” she said as Crystal led her into a homey, pleasant living area. It was neat and uncluttered, but felt lived in. “I thought of calling ahead, but—”

  “You thought an ambush would be more effective.”

  Arden gave her an abashed look. “Truthfully? Yes. Someone recently pulled a similar stunt on me.”

  “Ledge?”

  “He, uh, wanted to demonstrate the inadequacies of my locks.”

  “Sounds like him.”

  Arden didn’t take it further than that.

  Crystal motioned her into a chair. “In any case, I’m glad you sought me out. Red or white?”

  “Whichever.”

  “How about a bourbon?”

  Arden laughed nervously. “Do I look like I need it?”

  “A bit.”

  Once they had drinks in hand, and Crystal was sitting opposite her on the sofa, she said, “I heard about the loss of your baby. I’m so sorry.”

  “Thank you.” Arden couldn’t think of a graceful way to ask if Crystal had children or planned to, so she kept her curiosity at bay.

  To break that solemn spell, each took a sip of her drink. Crystal said, “I suppose you came to me because you’re aware of my close relationship with Ledge.”

  “I don’t believe it’s a secret to anyone.”

  Crystal gave a wry smile over that. “What I want you to understand is that my loyalty lies with him. He’s very protective of my privacy, and it works both ways. I won’t betray any of his confidences.”

  “I wouldn’t expect you to.”

  “Good.” She settled more comfortably on the sofa. “What is it you want to ask me?”

  “Ledge told me himself that he and the current DA have been in a grudge match for many years. But he didn’t tell me why.” She stared into the exotic pair of eyes. “Is it over you?”

  Crystal looked down into her drink. “It was. I mean, they already disliked each other before I entered the picture, but it intensified when we got to high school and Ledge and I started hanging out. Rusty felt entitled to having anything he wanted.”

  “He wanted you, and you were Ledge’s girl.”

  She gave a small shrug. “Rusty hated that.”

  “I know that Ledge enlisted in the army even before he graduated.”

  “He’s told you quite a lot about himself.”

  “I twisted his arm. He told me about how he came to be a soldier and how long he served. That was a lon
g time for the two of you to be separated.”

  “We were each busy doing our thing. I started out a beautician in the salon. When the owner got ready to retire, I got a small business loan and took it over.”

  “And obviously made a success of it.” Wanting to get back to the subject of the hostility between the two men, she said, “With Ledge away, you were left free for the competition.”

  “Believe me, Rusty was never competition, but he took advantage of Ledge’s absence. He tried numerous times to get something going with me, even after he married and started his family. Anywhere I happened to be, he would show up and make sure that people saw us talking.”

  “Insinuating that there was something between you.”

  “Exactly.” She looked sorrowfully into the near distance. “Judy, his wife, believed there was. Still does. She despises me. Little does she know how much I despise him.”

  “Why don’t you tell her?”

  “Have a showdown? Her accusing, me denying?” She shook her head. “That would only spawn more gossip. But Rusty knows full well how much I detest him. I made it plain to him that I wouldn’t have anything to do with him, even if Ledge didn’t exist.”

  “He didn’t take no for an answer.”

  “He doesn’t,” she said.

  “He still pursues you?”

  “Not as openly. He stopped doing that when Ledge came back. Ledge may be the only person in the world who intimidates him. Which, of course, makes Rusty even more resentful of him.”

  She paused before adding thoughtfully, “But their feud isn’t only about me anymore. It’s evolved over the years. It’s over something that runs much deeper.”

  “What?”

  “You’ll have to get that from one of them.”

  Unsurprised by her evasion, but also frustrated by it, Arden said, “Do you know what it is?”

  “Aspects of it. Not everything.”

  Arden covered her hesitation to continue by taking a sip of her drink. “I think their conflict has something to do with the night my father disappeared.”

  Crystal’s eyes widened fractionally, indicating to Arden that she had knowledge of the night in question. Her guard went up again. “What would be the connection?”

  “Ledge was arrested that same night.”

  Crystal replied with a soft yes.

  “He claims Rusty set him up.”

  “He’s certain of it,” Crystal said.

  “Do you believe that’s the case?”

  “I believe Rusty is that unscrupulous.”

  “So do I.”

  “I didn’t know you had met him.”

  “Not until today. He intercepted me this morning as I was leaving the courthouse.” She explained why she was at the courthouse in the first place, and then told her how the encounter with Rusty had come about. “He more or less trapped me between my car and his. That’s how it felt, anyway. He poured on the charm, but I couldn’t wait to get away from him. He gave off sinister vibes.”

  “I know the vibe you mean,” Crystal said. “Once you’ve had experience with someone like that, you know to watch for it.”

  Arden was struck by the gravity of her tone and waited to see if she would elaborate. But she didn’t, so Arden continued.

  “But besides my meeting with Rusty, something else disconcerting happened while I was there. I learned from the detective who furnished me with the investigation reports that Ledge had acquired copies of them. Only days ago. Did you know that?”

  “No.”

  “He’s said nothing to you about getting those reports?”

  “No.”

  Arden didn’t believe she was lying, but she wasn’t being completely open, either. “Crystal, why would Ledge have any interest in them?”

  “Why does it matter?”

  “That’s what I need to know. Why would Ledge care what was in those reports?”

  “You’ll have to ask him.”

  “I can’t.” The words came our harsher than she’d intended. Backing down a bit, she said, “It would be awkward for me to seek him out now. We had something of a falling out.”

  “When?”

  “Last night.”

  “Over what?”

  “I didn’t hire him.”

  “Why not? He does excellent work.”

  “I’m sure he does. That wasn’t the issue. It was a personality clash. We rub each other the wrong way.”

  The track of the conversation was making her distinctly uncomfortable, as was Crystal’s sharpened scrutiny. Arden wondered if she perceived her guilt. Crystal’s niceness made her feel wretched over those damn kisses. She had never poached on another woman and had a low opinion of women who did. She wouldn’t be one of them.

  “I apologize, Crystal.”

  “Apologize?”

  For wishing you were ugly and crass and not Ledge’s lover. “For placing you in the position of having to choose between being polite to me and breaching confidences. I had hoped you could shed light, but I realize now how awful it was of me to ask.” She set her glass on the coffee table and stood.

  “You don’t have to go. We can talk about something else.”

  “Thank you. Another time, maybe.”

  “I’m sorry I couldn’t tell you more.”

  “I understand completely.”

  Crystal walked her to the front door. “Will you be staying in Penton?”

  “I haven’t decided yet.”

  “I hope you’ll try the salon. Some of my clients would kill for your hair color. But I don’t think it can be duplicated out of a bottle. You have to be born with it.” Smiling, she pulled open the door.

  Ledge was standing on the other side of the threshold, one hand high on the doorjamb, as though he was about to push his way through it. He pulled off his sunglasses and gave both of them a blast of his icy blue glare before it settled on Arden.

  “Well, hello there,” Crystal said brightly. “Did you stop by for happy hour?”

  “No.” Without taking his eyes off Arden, he said, “Marty asked me to meet her here.”

  “I didn’t hear your truck.”

  “I parked in front of the salon. Saw that it was closed. Walked over. Saw her car here.”

  It irritated Arden for him to refer to her in the third person when she was standing less than a foot away from him. “I was just leaving.”

  “What are you doing here?”

  Crystal intervened. “Arden got here as I was closing up shop. I was so glad to finally meet her, I invited her over for a drink.”

  “It was very nice of you to have me,” Arden said, turning to Crystal. “Thanks again. I’ll stop by and take a look at those products. Bye.”

  Ledge stepped in her path. “As long as you’re here, we’ve got business to settle.”

  “We settled our business.”

  “Except for the hundred dollars you owe me for working up the estimates. Due upon receipt. That’s printed in red on the invoice.”

  “I didn’t receive an invoice and—”

  “Have you checked your email?”

  “—and furthermore, you told me we were even-steven.”

  “That was conditional. You didn’t hold up your end of the bargain.”

  “I—”

  “Here’s Marty.” Crystal eased around Ledge and went to greet whoever had pulled a car into the driveway.

  A woman got out of it, then reached back in for a large, white paper sack. As they approached the house, Crystal said something to her that caused the woman to look at Arden with ill-concealed curiosity. Arden reciprocated. The newcomer was dressed in medical scrubs, but, from the neck up, she looked like a punk rock star.

  When they reached the porch, Crystal made the introductions. “Marty, Arden Maxwell. Arden, my housemate, Marty Camp.”

  They exchanged hellos. Crystal said, “Arden already knows Ledge.”

  “Does she?” Marty looked her up and down, then turned to him and raised a raven-black eyebrow
.

  He said, “You’re late.”

  “I stopped for Chinese.” Marty hefted the sack.

  “Well?”

  She took a sealed letter envelope from the outside pocket of her cross-body purse and handed it to him, saying drolly, “You’re welcome.”

  Without even looking at the envelope, he folded it in half and slid it into the back pocket of his jeans. “How did you—”

  “Don’t ask. And, anyway, I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

  “Thanks, Marty. I owe you.”

  “You certainly do. Be afraid.” She then looked at the three of them in turn and said, “This feels like one of those awkward situations you walk into and, for the sake of all concerned, should probably keep walking. If you’ll excuse me?” She went inside but left the door ajar.

  Crystal heaved a sigh. “This isn’t only awkward, it’s silly. So I’m going to be the grown-up. Last night, you,” she said to Ledge, “and Arden today, came to me, talking about and around the same subject. She has questions that I can’t answer.

  “I think it’s time for the two of you to go somewhere and have an honest conversation, while Marty and I carry on with our plan for the evening, which is to curl up on the sofa, gorge on Chinese, and binge watch a series about vampires. Goodbye.”

  She stepped inside and soundly closed the door.

  Ledge kept pace with Arden as she walked toward her car. “What questions?”

  “Go away.” Reaching her car, she jerked open the door, then stood in the wedge, staring back at the house. “I don’t feel right about this at all.”

  “What were you talking to Crystal about?”

  She turned to him. “Why don’t the two of you live together?”

  “That’s one of the questions you asked her?”

  “No!”

  “Then what was the subject you talked about and around?”

  “Never mind.” She was about to get into the car, but he hooked his hand in the bend of her elbow.

  “You’re not leaving until you tell me why you came to Crystal with questions that you wouldn’t ask me.”

  “Because I don’t trust you.” She pulled her arm free. “And Crystal’s faith in you is grossly misplaced.”