by Joanne Fluke
“The water lily garden in the middle of the lake?” Hannah asked, feeling her panic grow.
“That’s right. It’s where he proposed to her the first time. Isn’t that just too romantic for words?”
Chapter Thirty-One
Things happened so fast that Hannah’s mind spun, even though she was the one who was making them happen. Hannah and Michelle raced for a canoe, while Marge and Andrea waited on the road for Mike so that they could tell him where they’d gone.
No more than two minutes passed before Michelle and Hannah were paddling out in one of the rental canoes. Lisa and Herb had lined them up on the shore for the relatives to enjoy, and Michelle and Hannah had claimed the one on the end for their own.
“Do you know where the water lily garden is?” Michelle asked her.
“It’s just off Sandy Point,” Hannah told her. “Norman took me there.”
It was a still night, and sounds carried across the water. There was the sound of the waves lapping against the shore, the occasional cry of a night bird, and a splash as some creature of the lake surfaced and then dove back down again.
Hannah held her finger to her lips, and Michelle nodded to show she understood. Their words would carry a great distance if they spoke aloud.
Another minute or two of steady paddling and they could hear voices. At first they were indistinct. Only the intonation was heard. It sounded conversational, rather than confrontational, and Hannah took heart. She couldn’t tell how far away they were, but she knew it would take them at least five more minutes of paddling to get to the water lily garden.
Then the tone of the voices changed, and the words became distinct. The woman, Hannah was almost certain it was Patsy, sounded angry.
“I don’t understand!” her voice floated over the water. “What difference does it make if the police know you went for a walk? They can’t arrest you for murdering Gus if you didn’t do it!”
Mac gave a mirthless chuckle. “Oh, but I did,” he said.
“You…did?” Patsy sounded horrified.
“That’s right. I told you I wanted to get that money back, and I went over to the pavilion to get it. Gus said you gave it to him. And since it was your money in the first place, he didn’t have to pay me back.”
“He was right. It wasn’t your money.”
“Sure it was. You’re my wife. I earned it by being married to you all these years.”
Patsy didn’t say anything. Hannah could imagine how hurt and frightened she was.
“When I told him he had to pay it back, he laughed at me. And he wouldn’t quit laughing, so I stabbed him to shut him up.”
“You…killed him,” Patsy said, and Hannah could tell she was close to a state of shock.
“That’s right, and I’m not sorry I did. The only problem I’ve got now is you.”
“But I won’t tell anybody you killed him! I promise, Mac!”
Mac laughed, and it wasn’t a pleasant sound. “Oh, sure. You won’t tell anyone until I take you back to shore and you can run for help. Don’t try to lie to a liar, Patsy. I’m a lot better at it than you are.”
“But I love you, Mac!” Hannah could tell by the tone in Patsy’s voice that she was desperate.
“Well, that’s nice. Too bad I don’t love you, huh?”
There was a moment of silence while Hannah and Michelle paddled hard. Mac was going to kill Patsy. Hannah was convinced of it. She just hoped that they could make it to the water lily garden in time!
We’re on the way. Just keep him talking until we get there! Hannah urged her silently. And that was when Patsy spoke again.
“I can’t testify against you, Mac.”
“What do you mean?”
“Even if I wanted to, I couldn’t.”
“Why not?” Mac sounded suspicious.
“Because a wife can’t testify against her husband. And I’m your wife, Mac. Even if I tell somebody what you said, they can’t use it against you. That would be hearsay. And hearsay’s not admissible in court.”
“You’re sure about that?” Mac sounded as if he were considering her argument, but Hannah had her doubts. It was more likely he was playing with Patsy like Moishe played with a mouse.
“Of course I’m sure,” Patsy said, and to Hannah’s ears she sounded desperate again. “I’ve been a legal secretary for almost thirty years.”
“Well that is interesting. I’ve got to admit that. You’re positive you’re right then?”
Hannah motioned for Michelle to hurry. The water lily garden was just ahead. They’d be on the scene in less than a minute.
“I’d stake my…” Patsy stopped suddenly and gave a little sob. “It’s all true, Mac. There’s no way I can say anything in court to hurt you.”
Mac gave a little chuckle and the hair stood up at the back of Hannah’s neck. She could tell a crisis was coming with the force of a speeding freight train.
“Patsy, Patsy, Patsy,” Mac mock chided her. “You’re talking about a trial here. But there’s not going to be any trial. There’s not even going to be an arrest.”
Hannah could hear Patsy crying. They were very close now.
“We’re all alone out here, and this canoe is going to flip right over.” Mac chuckled again. “And you can’t swim, can you, Patsy girl?”
“Stop!” Hannah shouted out, giving a mighty lunge on her paddle to hurtle them forward. “Stop or I’ll shoot!”
Michelle gave her a startled glance, but she leaned on her paddle and the canoe leaped forward into the clearing that contained the water lily garden.
Mac didn’t wait to see who it was. He just flipped the canoe and Patsy hit the water with a cry. Michelle and Hannah arrived just in time to see her go down into the watery depths.
“I’ll get her,” Michelle shouted.
“Take her to the point.” Hannah gestured toward Sandy Point, which was only a half mile away. “I’ll get him.”
Hannah watched as Michelle grabbed Patsy and started to swim to shore with her. Patsy didn’t panic the way most non swimmers do. Instead she let Michelle support her in the water and kicked with her feet to help them move. Once Hannah was sure they were going to make it, she turned to locate Mac. But before she could do more than glance at the overturned canoe, her own canoe began to tip.
Hannah used an expression she would not have considered around her two nieces, but half of it came out underwater. She was being dragged down to the bottom by Jordan High’s champion swimmer.
If you get dumped in the water with all your clothes on, the first thing to do is get rid of your shoes. The words of Hannah’s first swimming teacher came back to her in a rush. It was good advice. Hannah hated to lose her favorite sneakers at the bottom of Eden Lake, but it was better than losing her life at the bottom of Eden Lake.
If a drowning person gets you in a stranglehold, don’t hold back. Pinch, gouge, bite, do anything you can to get out of it.
The moment that second piece of advice came to mind, Hannah started to fight. She dug her elbow into Mac’s ribs, gouged at his eyes, pinched in a place she hoped would do real damage, and bit down on his arm.
The result was explosive. There was a yelp she could hear underwater, and suddenly she was freed. Hannah didn’t stick around to see what would happen next. She kicked out with all her might and shot away several feet. After two deep breaths to restore her oxygen, and kicking all the while, she dove underwater, changed directions ninety degrees, and swam as far as she could.
When she came up, she saw she’d been successful. Mac was looking for her about ten feet from where she’d emerged. He hadn’t expected her to change directions, but she couldn’t play this hide-and-seek game for long. It was like rolling dice and betting on the outcome. She’d keep changing direction, he’d keep guessing where she would surface, and eventually he’d be right. It was the law of averages, and nobody could break that law. And then he’d grab her again and hang on, prepared for her to put up a fight. The element of surprise
would be gone, and she’d end up at the murky bottom of Eden Lake with no air in her lungs.
“I see you!” His voice floated across the water to her. “You’re a sitting duck, Hannah.”
He’d spotted her! Hannah almost groaned. The moon reflecting off the water was just too bright tonight. She waited until he was about six feet away and then she ducked under the water again. She’d run the same pattern she’d run before. He wouldn’t expect that…she hoped.
Her lungs were burning when she came up for air and discovered that she’d won another round. Mac hadn’t expected her to make exactly the same ninety-degree turn underwater. But he would the next time she dove down. And he’d be waiting for her when she surfaced.
“Ah! There you are! Why don’t you just give it up, Hannah? You’re in lousy shape, and I’m not.”
He was trying to distract her. Hannah knew she shouldn’t listen. She had to plan out what to do next.
“I can keep this up all night. You know I’ll get you eventually. And then I’ll get her. And your sister. But you won’t be around to see that.”
Straight line. Try it, her mind shouted out. What have you got to lose?
My life, Hannah answered. But it was a good idea, and she decided to go with it.
A curious thing happened as she dove beneath the surface of the water. She thought she heard something droning in the distance, something like a motor. Was someone coming to help her? Or was she so scared that she was imagining things?
She snagged something with her hand, and for a moment, Hannah thought he’d come under the water to grab her. But it was something slippery like the stem of a plant or…
She was on the edge of the water lily garden! Hannah hadn’t realized that she was so close. And then she remembered something that she’d said to Norman in what now seemed like eons ago. I could always be a floating face in the middle of any of Monet’s water lily paintings. It would be like Where’s Waldo? and nobody would even spot me.
A quick mental picture of the water lily garden the way she’d seen it that afternoon with Norman, and she knew it was about twenty feet across. Could she dive down even further to get under the shallow roots and swim ten feet in to come up in the middle?
What do you have to lose? her mind asked again, and this time she didn’t bother to answer. She had something to gain if she made it. And if she didn’t, what she’d lose would be lost anyway.
Her lungs felt like they were bursting, but she forced her feet to kick as she propelled herself under the surface, straight for what she hoped was the middle of the water lily garden. She had to surface without a sound. No gasp for breath or splash allowed.
Hannah forced her body on until she knew she couldn’t swim another stroke. And then she wound her body through the maze of floating roots, tangled stems, and blossoms. Once she was close to the surface, she willed herself to remain perfectly stationary and silent, and not to gulp at the air her lungs needed so desperately.
She floated and her nose came up. She breathed the beautiful slightly sweet-smelling air. She took two breaths, and then she let her face just break the surface. There were plant stalks around her, taller than her head. That was very good. She straightened her body and let the top part of her head emerge. Carefully, cautiously, she surfaced up to her nose, no further. And nothing, absolutely nothing, happened!
Of course he was looking for her. Hannah expected no less. But he hadn’t spotted her here in the middle of the water lily garden. She was part of a Monet exhibit, and he wouldn’t think to look for her here.
As she remained there, grabbing roots around her with her legs to keep herself stable, she watched for any sign of him. If he started to swim toward Sandy Point, she’d dive down out of her cover in the water lily garden and grab the nearest canoe. She knew how to right it, and she’d head off after him. A canoe paddle could be a lethal weapon, and she wouldn’t hesitate to use it.
But she could see him there, his head bobbing about the surface of the moonlight-clad water, looking for her in all directions. And then she saw something else coming from Sandy Point. It was a speedboat, and the motor was loud across the surface of the lake. There was a searchlight skimming the water, and Hannah knew that help had arrived.
They’d spotted him! Hannah saw someone dive into the water and haul him to the boat. She was safe. And Michelle and Patsy were too, since the speedboat had stopped at Sandy Point and whoever was on it must know that they were okay.
“Hannah!” an amplified voice called across the surface of the water, and Hannah recognized Mike’s voice. “Hannah!”
It was like Marlon Brando yelling “Stella!” in A Streetcar Named Desire, and Hannah responded to the anguished cry. “I’m here in the water lily garden.”
“Hannah!” Mike yelled again. And this time it was a joyful cry.
Hannah took that as her cue, and she dove down under the garden, deep enough to bypass the roots, stems, and blossoms that had served her so well. This time when she surfaced, there was a smile on her face, and she gave a little wave as she swam out into the bright path of the searchlight that seemed as welcoming as sunlight.
Chapter Thirty-Two
It was Sunday evening, the Beeseman-Herman family reunion was over, and they were gathering in the lobby at the Inn, waiting until they’d all arrived to be seated in the dining room. Andrea, Hannah, and Tracey were sitting on a couch by the mammoth stone fireplace when Michelle walked in.
“Wow!” Michelle said, gazing at Andrea. “You look absolutely fantastic!”
“Thank you,” Andrea gave her a smile.
“I love your hair. That four-color weave is amazing. And your outfit’s gorgeous, too.”
Hannah felt the pangs of guilt begin. Andrea had mentioned she was having a complete makeover this weekend. It was time for a sisterly act of contrition.
“I’m sorry, Andrea,” Hannah apologized. “You do look wonderful. I just didn’t notice.”
“Neither did Bill,” Andrea said, and she didn’t look happy.
“Maybe that’s because you always look like you just walked out of a modeling session,” Michelle told her, covering the situation smoothly. “I’m sure that’s why Bill didn’t notice.”
“Well…maybe.” Andrea looked slightly mollified. “You like the dress then?”
“Gorgeous,” Hannah said, seizing the opportunity and jumping in quickly.
“Hello, darlings!” Delores breezed in with Carrie and Norman. “Bill and Lonnie just pulled into the parking lot, and Lisa and Herb were right behind them.” She turned to smile at all of them and her gaze stopped on Andrea. “You look lovely, dear. Is that a new dress?”
“Yes.” Andrea began to smile.
“Well, it’s perfect for you. And I like your new hairstyle.” Delores turned to Tracey. “Doesn’t your mother look wonderful?”
“Mommy’s always beautiful,” Tracey replied, earning a hug from Andrea.
Once Bill, Lonnie, Lisa, and Herb had joined them, they made their way to the largest table in the dining room of the Lake Eden Inn. As usual, Delores had arranged place cards, and Hannah found hers. She was seated between Mike and Norman again. She gave a little sigh, decided it wasn’t worth making a fuss about, and pulled out her chair to sit down. But before she could take her place at the table, Tracey rushed up to her.
“Aunt Hannah?” Tracey looked anxious. “Will you go to the ladies’ room with me?”
Hannah nodded and slid her chair in again. There was more to this request than met the ear. Tracey was one of the most independent very-soon-to-be first graders in her class. If she’d needed to visit the ladies’ room, she would have told Andrea where she was going, and gone by herself.
Hannah waited until they got out into the carpeted hallway outside the dining room, and then she asked, “Okay, what is it?”
“I want to get three more Girl Scout merit badges before the awards program, and one of them is for cooking. You have to make lunch all by yourself. The only part I
can’t do is dessert, and I want to have cookies.”
Hannah thought she knew what was coming. “And you want me to teach you how to bake cookies?”
“Yes, Aunt Hannah. Will you, please? I can’t ask Mom. You know why. I can’t ask Grandma Delores, either. I know she doesn’t bake. And if I ask Grandma McCann, I might hurt Mom’s feelings.”
“And you don’t think it’ll hurt your mom’s feelings if I teach you to bake?”
“Why would it?” Tracey shrugged, and it was a miniature duplicate of Andrea’s shrug. “You’re the professional, Aunt Hannah. Everybody knows that.”
Flattery will get you everywhere, Hannah thought, and that’s something you did get from your mother! But of course she didn’t say that. She said instead, “I’ll be happy to teach you to bake, Tracey. It’ll be fun.”
“Chocolate Chip Crunch Cookies?” Tracey asked her. “They’re Mom’s favorites and then I can bake them for her.”
“Good idea. Do you want to go on to the ladies’ room? Or was that just a ploy to get me alone to ask me?”
“It was just a ploy. Let’s go back in, Aunt Hannah. I want to use Mom’s cell phone to talk to Bethany. She couldn’t come because she’s too little for one of Grandma’s dinner parties, but I promised I’d call and tell her good night.”
It was a lovely meal. Delores had ordered something new on the menu. It was called “A Taste of the Lake Eden Inn,” and it was a meal of ten small samples of Sally’s best dishes.
“That was great!” Bill said, putting down his fork after eating the last morsel of Sally’s Flourless Chocolate Cake. And then he turned to Andrea. “That tasted almost as good as you look tonight. I’ve got the most beautiful wife in the world.”
For one brief second Andrea looked shocked, but then she started to smile. “Thank you, honey,” she said.
Thank you, Bill, Hannah thought, but she didn’t say it. She was glad Bill had taken her advice when she’d cued him in about Andrea’s makeover. “Thank you, Mother,” she said instead. “That was a wonderful meal!”
