The Secrets She Kept

by Brenda Novak

  After that, she sat on the bed in her clothes for probably another hour. She could hear Landon moving around, knew he couldn’t sleep, either. But she didn’t go out to confront him again. She stayed right where she was and eventually fell asleep. She was dreaming of last summer, when they’d taken the kids to see Keith and they’d all gone to Disneyland, so she was reluctant to wake when someone pounded on her door. It was early, too early for her alarm, so she was confused by the fact that she was still fully dressed and Landon wasn’t with her.

  Then she heard him say, “Rocki, open up,” and it all came tumbling back.

  The urgency in his voice put her on edge. What was wrong now?

  Staggering to her feet, she used the furniture to steady herself until she could find her equilibrium and opened the door.

  He pushed her back inside so he could come in, then shut the door behind him. “The police are here,” he whispered. “And they have a search warrant.”

  She blinked at him, still confused. “For...”

  “They’re going to search our house!”

  “Why?”

  “I told them I have proof that I wasn’t even on Fairham when Josephine was killed, that I was on a flight to Vegas that left before the ferry started on Sunday morning. I thought that would stop them from...from barging in here and upsetting you and the kids, since they could easily check. But I was told—” his eyes searched her face “—that you were on Fairham after I left.”

  Rocki’s heart sank to her knees. She would’ve crumpled to the floor if he hadn’t caught her.

  He helped her over to the bed. “That’s not true, is it?” he asked.

  It wasn’t that cold in the house, but her hands felt like blocks of ice. “Yes,” she said, “it is.”

  * * *

  “You need to get up.”

  Keith opened his eyes, squinting at Nancy. At some point, they’d turned off the light, but now the sun was glinting through the shutters, nearly blinding him. “Why?”

  She was standing over him, just like yesterday. Only this time she wasn’t ready for work. Her hair was mussed, her makeup smeared, and she was wearing his robe, which was so big it nearly dragged on the floor. “Because we did a number on your bed. I’m going to straighten the bedding so I can get out of here.”

  “Right now?” He hid a yawn. “You haven’t even showered.”

  “I’ll do that at home.”

  “What’s the rush?”

  “It’s seven forty, and that means Pippa’s going to be here soon. I’d like to get out of the house before she or Tyrone shows up.”

  “Tyrone won’t care. And I bet Pippa’s already guessed that we’re sleeping together. Last night, I wanted you so badly I almost took you on the table right in front of her. I doubt she could miss that level of sexual interest. So see? You don’t have to shower at home. You can shower here. And you certainly don’t have to make the bed.”

  “I’d still like to make the bed.” She motioned at the rumpled bedding and the sheet that was tied to one post. “Otherwise, I’m afraid of what she might imagine...”

  He couldn’t help grinning at the mental image her words evoked. “Whatever she imagines, it won’t be as good as the real thing. I can’t remember when I’ve had sex so many times in one night, especially that kind of sex.”

  She managed to untie the sheet and started trying to put it back on the bed. “Come on. Cooperate with me, okay?”

  Tugging the fabric out of her hands, he pulled her back into bed with him instead. “I say we have twenty minutes before she gets here. Let’s make better use of that time.”

  “You’ve got to be kidding me! You can’t possibly want more. We hardly got any sleep as it was.”

  “That depends.” He opened his robe so he could see her breasts. “Is this my last chance? Or will you come back tonight?”

  His phone buzzed before she could reply, and because she was on the side where he’d dropped his pants, she crawled off the bed to get his cell out of his pocket. She was smiling playfully when she picked it up, giving him the impression that he could talk her into seeing him again. But when she glanced down, her smile disappeared.

  “What is it?” he asked.

  She handed him his phone. “Some woman says she’s missing you and can’t wait until you get home.”

  He checked the text. Dahlia had sent him a picture of herself, naked and bending over in a seductive posture, with the words “Missing you” written in lipstick on her ass.

  He deleted that image, but Nancy wasn’t climbing back onto the bed with him. She was gathering up her clothes.

  “It’s not serious with this woman,” he said.

  “No. I’m sure it’s not. I get that. We just spent the night together, but we’re not serious, either. I’ll be careful never to send you something like this in case it puts you in an awkward situation with the next girl.”

  “Nancy—”

  “I’m joking. I would never send anything like that, period. Anyway, I have to go. I have things to do at home.”

  He was getting up so he could stop her—he didn’t want their fabulous night to end on such a sour note—when his phone rang. If it had been Rocki or anyone else, he might’ve let it go to voice mail, thinking he’d call back in a few minutes. But it was Landon, and Landon rarely, if ever, called him. That made him hesitate, and by the time he glanced up, Nancy had taken her clothes, hurried into the bathroom and shut the door.

  Planning to talk with her after she got dressed, he took the call. “Hello?”

  “Keith?”

  “What is it?”

  “The police are here.”

  “They’re what?”

  “They’re searching our house. They have a warrant and everything. I’ve never been in a situation like this, never been so filled with self-hatred. What the hell have I done? If anything happens to her, I’ll never be able to forgive myself.”

  “She didn’t kill Mom, Landon. Like you, she had an argument with her, but Mom was alive when she left the house.”

  “I know that. And you know that. How do we convince them?”

  Keith remembered Chief Underwood telling him not to get involved in her investigation. But he couldn’t sit idly by. He had to do something to protect his sister. “We’ll figure out who really did it.”

  “How?”

  “We have to find the woman who stopped Marcus Coleman on Wednesday night.”

  “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

  “I’ve got it. Just take care of your family like you should’ve done from the beginning,” he snapped and hung up. Poor Rocki. He could only imagine what she was going through, having the police toss her house on the heels of her husband’s infidelity.

  Keith was so immersed in the news of this latest development, and his worry for Rocki, that Nancy startled him when she came out of the bathroom. “Thanks for everything,” she said. “Last night was fun.”

  She was being a little too casual, and her careless attitude didn’t ring true.

  “You’re not upset, are you?”

  “No. Of course not. What do I have to be upset about?” she asked, and yet, despite all the intimacy of last night, she wasn’t coming near him. Apparently, she wasn’t even going to kiss him goodbye.

  “That picture Dahlia sent—”

  “Is none of my business. Have a good day,” she said and, with a cheery wave, called her dog, who’d been lying on the floor next to the fireplace.

  “Are you coming back?” he called as she walked out. He would’ve hurried after her, but he was stark naked and could easily run into Pippa on her way in.

  “Nancy?” he yelled.

  He never got an answer.

  * * *

  She was an idiot. Not for doi
ng what she’d done. She’d wanted to sleep with Keith, and she’d enjoyed it. But she hadn’t kept it strictly physical, as she’d promised herself she would. She’d let herself believe that she mattered more to him than she really did.

  The funny thing was...she knew better! He was just so damn convincing. The way he made love, as if he was so consumed with her and only her, would’ve thrown any woman off.

  Damn, he was good. No wonder Dahlia was sending him pictures of her bare ass. She wanted him back. Who wouldn’t?

  Nancy puttered around the shop, mostly cleaning and rearranging and waiting for new business. She didn’t have many orders to fill, and the ones she did have she couldn’t start on quite yet. Since flowers lasted only so long, and the events she was servicing weren’t until the weekend, she couldn’t work on those arrangements until Thursday. She wished she was busier. Then she’d have less time to obsess over Keith and the exquisite pleasure he’d provided—

  The bell over the door rang. She hoped it was a customer coming in with a huge order, one that would make her work a lot harder than she was right now. If she had to stay late, she’d have a good excuse for not heading back to Coldiron House.

  But it wasn’t a customer. When she turned the corner, she saw her sister.

  “Brought you lunch,” Jade announced.

  Nancy cringed at the reminder that she hadn’t shown up at the motel with dinner for her sister last night. She’d chosen to stay with Keith instead. “I’m sorry I couldn’t come by,” she began, but Jade put up a hand.

  “No apologies necessary—” her grin turned slightly wicked “—if it was because you were too busy at Coldiron House.”

  “I was...pretty busy,” she admitted and quickly pulled Jade in for a hug so her sister wouldn’t be able to tell that she was suddenly and inexplicably on the brink of tears.

  Jade stiffened. She wasn’t much of a hugger; she preferred to show her affection in other ways. But Nancy was used to that, so she wasn’t offended.

  “And? How’d it go?” her sister asked.

  That split-second reprieve, during which she’d managed to dodge her sister’s piercing gaze, helped. By the time Jade could see her face, Nancy was once again able to fake a smile. “It was...incredible.”

  “Wow. That’s better than good.”

  “Easily the hottest thing I’ve ever experienced.”

  “Really? But wait, maybe I shouldn’t be so excited. The hottest thing you’ve ever experienced isn’t saying much.”

  Nancy managed a laugh. “Not all of us can be as adventurous as you are.”

  “I’m a lesbian. I have to get creative. I could tell you—”

  Nancy shook her head. “Enough!”

  “It’s so much fun to shock you. You’re one of the few people I know who can still blush. Which means I probably won’t get many details about last night.”

  “You’ll get this—he’s a talented lover.”

  “Whoa! Big deal. You told me that before, remember? Did he ask to see you again?”

  “I could go back over, if I want.”

  Jade’s eyebrows knitted. “He doesn’t care one way or the other?”

  “He asked me to return tonight. He sounded as if he’d really like that, but...”

  “But what? You had fun! Why the hesitation?”

  “I’m just another girl to him, Jade—someone to keep him busy while he’s here.”

  “I doubt that’s true.”

  Nancy recalled the text she’d seen from “Dahlia.” “Trust me. It’s true. I’m afraid of getting in too deep. I’d rather not be devastated when he leaves.”

  Jade bit her lip. Nancy expected her to immediately change her position, to retrench, but she didn’t. “You’re strong. You can survive it,” she said at length. “Life is all about taking chances. If you care about him, go with it and see where it leads.”

  “Last night you told me I was walking into the lion’s den. Now that I’m agreeing with you, telling you I nearly didn’t make it out alive, you’re saying I should go back in?”

  “Someone like you...you deserve to find love. That won’t happen if you’re always protecting yourself. Sometimes you’ve got to reach for what you want.”

  Nancy cocked her head. “I’m not sure whether you’re good for me or not.”

  “Don’t you think he’s worth it?”

  If he was as invested as she was, Nancy knew she’d make any sacrifice. But a relationship that was too one-sided wouldn’t go anywhere. “I think you’re blinded by the love you have for me,” she said. “You want me to be happy.”

  “I won’t deny that.”

  Nancy caught a glimpse of something that stopped her from making any type of rejoinder. A black Mercedes had just pulled into the lot—and she recognized it. “He’s here!”

  “Who’s here?” Jade turned around to see for herself. “Aw, lover boy,” she said with satisfaction.

  “Please don’t embarrass me! And in case that isn’t clear, that means no more talk of blow jobs or...anything along those lines.” Nancy whispered this, even though there wasn’t any chance that Keith could hear her from outside. He was just getting out of the car.

  “I won’t embarrass you.” Jade threw her a look that suggested Nancy was being ridiculous to mention it. But Nancy shouldn’t have believed her. As soon as Keith walked through the door, Jade gave him an obvious once-over and said, “I hear you really know how to please the ladies.”

  Keith’s eyebrows slid up but, fortunately, he didn’t act too shocked. “Glad I can do something right.”

  “That’s it,” Nancy said. “You’re leaving,” she told Jade.

  “Oh, relax.” Jade waved her off. “He can take a joke.”

  He blocked her path to the door. “And she can’t leave. I need to talk to her.”

  Although he’d played along with Jade so far, Nancy could tell he wasn’t in the mood for jokes this morning. “What is it?”

  “It’s about my mother.”

  Jade sobered, too. “You want to talk to me about your mother? Should I be worried?”

  “Not at all. I’m hoping you can help me.”

  “How?”

  “Someone broke into Coldiron House last Wednesday night.”

  Jade glanced at Nancy. “I don’t mean to be callous, but...wasn’t your mother already dead by then?”

  “Jade—” Nancy said, but Keith cut her off.

  “Yes, she was. That’s why it’s odd—that four days later someone would break into the house.”

  “I still don’t understand what I have to do with any of this,” Jade said.

  “I’m trying to find a certain young woman who flagged down Marcus Coleman as he passed the turnoff to the cliff late that night. She could be an islander, but he didn’t recognize her, so...maybe she wasn’t.”

  “I know Marcus. I remember him from high school. He just got out of prison and is not a nice dude. I certainly wouldn’t put him at the top of my list of people here who can be trusted.”

  “I think he’s telling the truth,” Keith argued. “I also think...if this person came here from somewhere else, she would’ve needed a place to stay, since she couldn’t get off the island in the middle of the night.”

  “You’re wondering if I had a young woman staying at the Drift Inn last Wednesday night.”

  “Yes. A woman wearing a trench coat and a scarf.”

  “To be honest, I don’t remember anyone like that. But you know how the Drift Inn’s built. It’s garden-style. You don’t have to go through the lobby to reach the rooms, so I would only have seen her if she was the one who checked in.”

  “You don’t remember anything unusual about that night?”

  “No. And I was on duty. But...let me check the registration records.
Maybe that’ll jog my memory as to who was there.”

  “Any chance we could do that right now?”

  Jade pursed her lips. “I’m all for helping out a friend, but since that information is supposed to be kept private, I’d rather have Chief Underwood make the request, if that’s okay.”

  “I’m sure she’ll do that eventually. But by the time she knows what I already know, and makes those registration records a priority, the trail could be cold.”

  “What are you talking about?” Nancy asked. “What do you know?”

  He shoved his hands in his pockets. “That she’s focusing on the wrong person.”

  Fresh worry made Nancy grip the edge of the counter. Rocki, Maisey, Keith—they’d all been through enough. “Landon?”

  “Rocki.”

  “You’re kidding!”

  “No. Underwood’s in Louisiana now. Along with the Lafitte police, she’s searching Rocki’s house.”

  Nancy nudged Jade. “Let him take a look at the registration records. If that turns up nothing, no one’ll have to be the wiser.”

  “Except that Violet’s working today,” Jade said. “She’d love to take over as manager if I get fired.”

  “Can’t you act like you’re there to get something else and make a copy of the records at the same time?” Nancy asked.

  “Probably could, but...what if it goes the other way? What if I do find something?”

  “That would be a good thing,” Keith said. “You could help solve a murder and keep an innocent person from going to prison.”

  “You haven’t mentioned the part where I could lose my job,” she grumbled.

  “If it comes to that, I’ll buy the Drift Inn so Violet never takes your place,” he told her.

  Jade threw up her hands. “Oh, what the hell. It’s not like I plan on managing a motel for the rest of my life, anyway. And you’re not going to use the information to harm anyone, so I don’t have to worry about that. Come on.”

  Keith started to follow her out. Then he turned at the door, walked back and kissed Nancy. “I’ll call you later,” he said.

  25