by Brenda Novak
“Because then you might have to explain where it came from.”
“Who’d tell on him?”
“A friend or neighbor.”
“Out here? No. He wouldn’t have admitted to being our caller if he was also the person who murdered my mother.”
“Unless he was afraid we’d eventually figure out it was him and was covering for that.”
Keith shrugged off her words. “He’s been in the system. He knows that kind of phone is untraceable.”
“Okay. Well...we’ll see what they find at the autopsy tomorrow. Maybe that’ll clarify a few things—since this didn’t.”
He called and told Chief Underwood what they’d learned. Then he surprised Nancy by taking her hand. She thought he might try to persuade her to stay the night, since he’d mentioned it before. But they passed the turnoff to Coldiron House and continued to Keys Crossing with his fingers threaded through hers.
“It’s good to see you again,” he said.
Although he sounded sincere, she refused to read anything into that comment. “It’s good to see you, too.”
19
You still awake?
NANCY WAS SCRATCHING Simba’s belly, since he was lying on the couch with her, when Keith’s text came in. Keith had said good-night when he dropped her off so she hadn’t expected to hear from him again. But it wasn’t all that late—only eleven.
Yeah. I’m up, she wrote back. You okay?
Fine. Just worried about Rocki.
When are you going to tell her about Landon?
Not until after the autopsy. I hope Dr. Pendergast determines that it was suicide. And that I’ll be able to accept and believe it if he does.
I think you already know how you’ll react. Isn’t that why you hired him in the first place?
Maybe that’s why I can’t sleep.
You’ve got to try. You need your rest.
Any chance you’ll come over and keep me company? We could play some pool or darts or watch a movie. There are so many rooms here. You can use one of them after we’re done. You don’t have to sleep with me.
He didn’t want to be alone. He’d never liked being alone. His demons came out at night. For her own sake, Nancy wanted to say no. Being around him was increasing the desire to touch him and be touched by him. But she cared too much about Keith not to support him during what had to be a difficult time.
Somehow she’d deal with her own feelings. Plenty of people suffered broken hearts. At least she’d never been through anything like he’d been through.
What about Simba? she wrote.
His response was almost immediate. Bring him.
Nancy tapped her fingernails on her phone. “I know better than to do this,” she told her dog. But Simba sat up and wagged his tail as if he didn’t see anything wrong with going.
Her phone vibrated to signal a new text. Are you coming? I have food. Loads of food. And I’ll give you a back rub, if you want.
She wanted a lot more than a back rub. That was the problem. But she couldn’t refuse him. This was as close to a plea for help as he ever got. Just the thought of him prowling around that big house, on edge and unable to relax, made it impossible to say no. If she did, she’d ramble around her own house, feeling miserable and worried about him. Yeah. I’m coming.
* * *
Once Nancy got to Coldiron House, Keith was as good as his word. He offered her food, did everything he could to entertain her. And he didn’t make one sexual comment—didn’t even try to touch her. He seemed grateful just to have her there.
After they’d eaten and he’d won several games of pool—except for the one time he let her win—they put on Last of the Mohicans, which he happened to remember was her favorite movie.
By then, it was late—nearly two. Nancy had to open the flower shop at ten. She’d be tired most of the day if she didn’t sleep soon. But she didn’t care. She was enjoying every minute of this night and was glad she hadn’t turned Keith down when he’d asked her to come over. As dangerous as it was to feel the way she did, she was so happy right now that she didn’t even want to sleep. She couldn’t remember ever finding so much satisfaction in simply being with someone.
She could tell Keith was getting tired, too, that he was struggling to stay awake. She had the feeling that he was afraid she’d leave if he fell asleep. But while they lounged on one of the big, soft couches in the theater room, with Simba at their feet, he started leaning more heavily against her as his body relaxed. She helped him get comfortable by letting him lay his head on her lap. As she combed her fingers through his hair, his eyelids fluttered open for a brief second and he looked up at her with a grateful smile. Then he drifted off as if he found her touch so soothing he couldn’t fight the fatigue any longer.
Nancy didn’t mind. She was glad to see him get some rest. She had the movie to keep her entertained—not that she was paying much attention to it. She’d seen it so many times she could almost recite the actors’ lines. She was just enjoying the darkness, the drama of the sound score and, more than anything, finally having the freedom to once again touch the man she loved.
Five years have changed nothing, she thought. Except...it had changed him. Keith was different these days, more mature, more emotionally stable, less volatile. That she was proud of him for hauling himself up by his bootstraps—all on his own—didn’t help her maintain any emotional distance. The tenderness she felt nearly overwhelmed her as she watched him sleep.
When the movie ended, she used the remote to turn off the projector. Then she scooted down beside him as she pulled up the blanket that’d been covering their legs and fell asleep snuggled against his warm body.
* * *
Someone was jiggling his arm. Keith dragged himself out of the heavy but healing darkness he’d had so much trouble finding since he’d come home and opened his eyes, half expecting Pippa to be standing over him. But it was Nancy, freshly showered and dressed for the day.
The fact that she’d stayed all night was a welcome surprise.
“I’m leaving for the store,” she said. “Your phone’s been going off. Your sisters are trying to get hold of you. With the autopsy under way, they’re probably nervous. But I wanted to let you sleep as long as possible, so after I took Simba out, I brought your phone into the bathroom with me while I got ready. I didn’t want it to wake you. I hope that’s okay.”
“You’re leaving?” That was about all his groggy mind could grasp—that and a certain reluctance to see her go.
She put his phone in his hands. “Yes. I have to work.”
“Will you come back?”
When she hesitated, his mind started sifting through everything he’d said and done last night. “I was on my best behavior, right? I didn’t...I didn’t try anything.”
She chuckled. “No, you were perfect.”
“So we’ll have dinner tonight?”
“I don’t know. Pippa’s going to think we’re seeing each other again...”
“She won’t even be here today. It’s Sunday—” he said, then caught himself. He’d told Pippa she could come in to make up for one of the days she’d been off last week. He’d told her not to worry about it, that she’d still get a full paycheck, but she’d insisted. “Never mind. I just remembered. She is coming.”
“Then there’s that. And if she says something about finding me here, it’ll spread all over the island...”
“Does that matter? What do we care what people think?”
“You’re going back to LA. I can see why you wouldn’t care. You’ve never cared. I’m the one staying here, so I’ll have to deal with all the questions—You and Keith aren’t together anymore? He left for LA? Is he coming back? Then there’ll be the pity I’ll get for being dumped again.”
“Tell them you d
umped me. I’ll say the same. Just come back.”
“We’ll see.”
“Great. Dinner it is.”
“I said we’ll see,” she said with a laugh.
She called for Simba but he stopped her. “Give me the keys to your house. I’ll bring Simba home later.”
“Why? If I leave now, I should have time to drop him off.”
“There’s no need. I’ll do it. Have you fed him?”
“Of course.”
“Then he’s fine until dinner.”
“He should be, as long as you let him out once in a while and there’s water in his bowl.”
“Does he know where the bowl is?”
“Yes. In the kitchen.” She looked as if she was suppressing a smile. “Now you both know.”
He caught her hand. “Why don’t you bring over some of that lingerie tonight?”
“What happened to being on your best behavior?”
“It’s the least you can do if I’m going to watch your dog.”
She gaped at him. “I didn’t ask you to watch my dog!”
“Well, it’s nice of me, isn’t it? Better than leaving him alone all day. I’ll even take him out for a run.”
“That’ll be good for both of you. Maybe it’ll help pass the time until the autopsy’s done. But be forewarned, he won’t run far. He is my dog, after all.”
He seemed to find that amusing. “Duly noted. So about that lingerie...”
She just gave him a look.
“What? If I want something, I ask for it.”
She tossed him a grin but didn’t commit herself on the lingerie. “I’ll see you tonight. Take good care of my dog.”
“Of course! Simba loves me as much as he loves you,” he called after her.
“Don’t kid yourself,” she called back.
He let his head drop onto the couch pillows they’d been using and checked his call history. He could hear Nancy talking to Pippa, knew Pippa would assume, as Nancy had said, that they were sleeping together. He was pretty sure last night was the first time he’d ever spent the night with a woman he didn’t touch in that way. He wouldn’t admit it to Nancy, or anyone else, but being with her had been gratifying in its own right.
He remembered the moment she’d first shifted so she could hold him on her lap and the soothing way she’d run her fingers through his hair. That was when the anxiety that so often plagued him had released its death grip, had all but disappeared. Her calming influence created a solid defense against the turmoil that crept up and threatened to overcome him at night. He hadn’t thought of cocaine once the whole time he was with her.
He had, however, considered stripping off her clothes. That idea had cycled through his head at least every five seconds.
His phone rang. Maisey again. She’d already tried to reach him twice.
He pushed the answer button. “Hey,” he said and pulled himself into a sitting position. God, it felt good to have slept deeply for a change. “I was just about to call you.”
“So you’re up?”
He covered a yawn. “Sort of.”
“I wish I could’ve slept in. Took me until almost dawn to fall asleep. And then I had to get up with Bryson so Rafe could take Laney to his mother’s before church.”
“I’m sorry you had a bad night. That’s miserable. I know the feeling.” He shoved a hand through his hair. “What are you doing this morning?”
“Just looking after Bryson and worrying. You?”
“I hadn’t started worrying quite yet, but now I’m right there with you. Thanks for making sure I was on the same program.”
“You’re welcome.” She didn’t sound repentant. “What do you think the pathologist will find?”
“Evidence of murder.”
“How long do you suppose it’ll take?”
“We may get some information later today—perhaps the cause of death. Dr. Pendergast told me he’d call me afterward and give me his thoughts. But all the toxicology reports and such...that could take weeks, depending on how backed up the lab is.”
“Bottom line, we’re not going to receive the quick resolution we’re hoping for.”
“True. But that phone call last week? The one that brought Chief Underwood to my door?”
“Yeah?”
“I found out who placed it.”
“Who?”
“Tyrone’s son, Marcus. He just happened to be passing the turnoff to Coldiron House when a woman flagged him down, said there was something going on at Coldiron House and asked him to call the police.”
“What woman?”
“He didn’t recognize her and can’t describe her. It was dark and rainy out, and she was bundled up.”
“So what does that tell us?”
“Nothing new,” he admitted. “The break-in could be a separate crime, or it could be part of Mom’s murder.”
“Which one are you leaning toward?”
“I don’t believe in coincidence. As far as I’m concerned, it’s related.”
“Keith...”
Her tone had become even more somber. “What is it?” he asked.
“No matter what happens, I love you. Nothing else is important, right? It’s love that makes people family, that holds a family together.”
That was certainly true for Nancy’s family. They weren’t connected by blood; love was all they had. But Maisey wasn’t usually so maudlin and sentimental. Their mother’s death was really getting to her. “I haven’t broken down, Mais. Not once. In case you’re wondering.”
“What are you talking about?”
“Drugs. Isn’t that what you’re talking about?”
“Not this time. I have confidence in you. You understand that drugs wouldn’t help anything, even if...even if we get bad news, right?”
“What’s going on with you? The way you’re talking—don’t tell me you killed Mom,” he joked.
“That’s not the slightest bit funny!” she cried. “I can’t believe you said that!”
“I’m sorry,” he said. “Sometimes I need an outlet, and laughing helps. But don’t worry. I’m doing great.” Last night was his best night yet. He was excited to think Nancy would be coming back. Maybe, instead of taking her out, he’d have Pippa make them a fancy steak dinner. Served with some flowers and candlelight, dinner in the dining room would be private and romantic...
“I just...want you to know how much you mean to me. That’s all,” she said. Then she mumbled something about Bryson getting into the wrong drawer and told him she had to go.
Keith was still a little perplexed when she disconnected, but he didn’t have time to think about their conversation because Rocki called him next.
“Morning,” he said, falling back on the couch.
“Morning.”
“How are you feeling?”
“I’ve been better.” She sounded tired, stressed.
“Don’t get too worked up. Dr. Pendergast is performing the autopsy today, but that doesn’t mean he’ll have much to tell us. He has to send slides of Mom’s organs out to various labs and—”
“Please, don’t give me the gory details,” she broke in. “I’m only calling to tell you that you don’t have to worry about Landon. He didn’t hurt Mom, and we can prove it.”
Keith got to his feet. “How?”
“Don’t act so damn relieved! I thought you were on our side.”
“I am on your side. Always.” Just not Landon’s—not after seeing that photo. “So...what do you have?”
“A plane ticket. Landon did go to Fairham, and he did argue with Mom. But he flew out of Charleston early Sunday morning, before the first ferry. That means he got off the island on one of the last ferries Saturday night. And Mom was still a
live then. I know because I talked to her myself.”
“Why didn’t he tell us this before?”
“He and I were too busy arguing over the fact that he’d been there at all. It wasn’t until I explained what was at stake that he realized we had more to worry about than whether or not he’d asked my mother for a loan without my knowledge or consent.”
There was that loan business again, but Keith no longer believed a word of it, not after seeing that damn picture. “So what time did he take the ferry off the island?”
“Five.”
That meant it was the second-to-last ferry of the day. Keith would’ve been more reassured if Landon had never even gone to Fairham, but he felt confident that five o’clock would exclude him.
“I’m glad to hear it, Rock,” he said. “Chief Underwood should have no problem confirming that he was on a plane. And once she does, he has an airtight alibi.” Then maybe what he, the police chief and Maisey knew about Landon’s sending that naked photo could be forgotten. They could assume it was a mistake, couldn’t they? Give Landon the benefit of the doubt and leave Rocki and her husband to carry on just as they had in the past? Because even if Landon had slept with Josephine, maybe it was a one-time thing. The desire to possess something exotic for a change. She’d mentioned that he seemed to be going through a midlife crisis. A single night of stupidity didn’t need to destroy an entire family.
Keith wasn’t convinced he could get Maisey to agree with him on that, though. She’d been pretty definite when they were talking about telling Rocki—and he had a tendency to be more practical in the first place. But keeping quiet might be the best approach. Especially since they were all trying to cope with Josephine’s death. He could always hire a private detective to make sure Landon wasn’t cheating on Rocki now, have him watched for a year or so and then decide what to do, based on his behavior.
Relieved that their mother’s death might not cause a domino effect, after all—that the rest of his family might be safe—he looked up at the ceiling. Thank you, God. He wasn’t religious, but he was grateful. “I’m glad you called. I’ll let Chief Underwood know right away,” he said, but he didn’t have to call Harper. She called him just as he and Rocki were signing off.
