Come Find Me

by Debra Webb

“Your great-great-grandmother Mattie was Wiccan?” Those curious gold eyes connected with Sarah’s blue ones. “She helped people, just as her daughter did when her time came.”

  Sarah nodded. “Your grandmother, did she help people, too?”

  A shake of the head. “She tried but people didn’t believe. She quit, just started pretending it didn’t matter.”

  “Your mother?”

  The girl belted out a laugh. “She only helps herself.”

  “Why does your mother think Pope is a freak?”

  Someone shouted to the couple on the dock. Matilda’s posture changed, a subtle preparation for an emergency egress. When her attention swung back to Sarah she blinked. “Mom’s just crazy, that’s all.”

  Sarah wanted to ask Matilda more personal questions but that would send her running. Her feet were now flat on the ground, her knees slightly bent. She was ready to bolt. “Life can be tough sometimes.”

  Matilda toyed with the zipper of her jacket. “More for some than others.” She focused a look of challenge on Sarah. “You know what I mean.”

  Not a question. Uncertainty or maybe surprise rippled through Sarah. “I do.” The kid had to be guessing. Maybe she’d done some research on Sarah and knew what little public knowledge there was regarding her crappy childhood. “You’ve read about me, have you?”

  Another noncommittal shrug. “I get these feelings about people and...things.”

  Sarah nodded. “Some people have more heightened senses than others. Have a deeper comprehension of the human psyche. You shouldn’t be ashamed or afraid of your ability to assess a person or situation.”

  The girl’s gaze held Sarah’s. “I’m not afraid of anything. Are you?”

  Apprehension tightened in Sarah’s gut. How could this kid read her so well?

  Before Sarah could question exactly what she meant, Matilda reached into her pocket and pulled out a slender length of leather. She thrust it at Sarah. “You should wear this.”

  Sarah opened her hand and permitted the item to be placed in her palm. Attached to the leather strand was a circular metal disc. It burned her skin. Cold, she told herself. Same sensation as being burned. Or maybe it was the healing abrasions from her close encounter with the vines.

  “Thank you.” She studied the leather necklace that sported a very unique-looking medal symbol. She recognized the design. Pagan.

  “It’s a protection rune. I want you to wear it all the time. Don’t take it off, not even to shower.”

  Sarah draped the leather around her neck and dropped the medallion beneath her blouse. The metal settled between her breasts, making her skin tingle. “Thanks.”

  Matilda looked away, bounced her knees as if antsy. Sarah would be lucky to hang on to her attention another minute, maybe two.

  “You think I need protecting.”

  The girl nodded. Like the other day, she wore the hood of her sweatshirt up, her long dark hair hanging forward on either side of her face. A tattered parka was zipped over that, but no gloves. No makeup; her jeans and shoes had that thrift-store quality that was so fashionable, but, in Matilda’s case, was more likely born of necessity. She wasn’t exactly too thin, but she had that drawn look Sarah met in the mirror every morning. Not enough sleep and maybe too many dreams.

  Maybe too many bad breaks.

  “Is he after me?” Sarah prodded. “The devil, I mean.” Wouldn’t be surprising. Except that she didn’t believe in the devil so he was pretty much wasting his time.

  “He’s real. You must feel him.”

  Now that was truly eerie. Or not. If Sarah had recorded the conversation and analyzed it, the comment was likely a logical progression of thought. “If you believe he is, then he is.”

  “Wear the necklace.” Matilda pushed away from the rock wall. “You’re...” She cast around before meeting Sarah’s eyes again. “He doesn’t like you.”

  He should get in line. “Thanks for the warning.”

  “Gotta go.”

  “Hey,” Sarah called after her. The need to talk to this girl a little longer was suddenly a palpable force inside her. “I was about to have breakfast. You want to join me?”

  Matilda walked backward enough steps to say, “I don’t eat breakfast.”

  Sarah watched her bound off, hands stuffed in her coat pockets. She touched the necklace through her shirt. This kid knew something. She was clearly confusing what she knew with the stories she’d heard from her mother or even with the rumors about her great-great-grandmother. But, whatever she knew, Sarah had a feeling Matilda was close, very close, to being right.

  This killer was a devil...and the police weren’t going to catch him unless he left a crumb trail.

  But Pope? Being rich didn’t make him a murderer. What did Matilda know that she wasn’t telling? Had her mother serviced him? Worked for him?

  Another scenario to investigate.

  The bitter cold wind cut through Sarah. She wasn’t going to get any warmer standing there.

  Fifteen minutes later, she started up the steep drive to the Overlook Inn. At the midway point, a car rounded the upcoming curve. Stepping off the pavement, into the grass and snow, she waited for the black Infiniti to pass.

  Instead of passing her by, it stopped. Matilda’s warning that the devil didn’t like Sarah echoed in her ears. If the devil drove an Infiniti, he was making a better salary than her. Then again, he didn’t live in Manhattan.

  Tinted glass slid down and the driver’s face appeared. Dark sunglasses. Oakleys. Expensive taste.

  “Sarah, I left a message for you at the inn’s registration desk.”

  Speak of the devil. Jerald Pope. Sarah gave herself a mental shake. She could safely say that she hadn’t expected him to show up. “Sorry I missed you.” She gestured to the inn. “I was just on my way back.” Duh. He could see that.

  The memory of him watching her across the treetops through his high-powered lens that night suddenly zinged her with a new kind of tension in view of Matilda’s comments.

  “I wanted to invite you to dinner this evening,” he explained. “If you don’t already have plans. My family and I would be inordinately pleased if you could come.”

  Was it possible he hadn’t heard the news? She glanced toward town. “Are you sure tonight’s a good time?”

  “I thought, considering the latest tragedy, you might like to have a night away from...” He inclined his head. “Away from the turmoil.”

  What she really wanted was an opportunity to pick his brain...and his daughter’s. Maybe even his wife’s. And to see just what it was that bothered Matilda about the guy. “That would be nice. Thank you.”

  “Seven?”

  “Seven.”

  He smiled. “Excellent.”

  Sarah watched him drive away. Interesting.

  Maybe Mr. Pope was simply doing the socially PC thing. But Sarah wasn’t so sure. Everyone was a suspect. Even the rich boat builder and his perfect family.

  Rich people can get away with anything. Even murder. Renewed purpose infused her step. Good thing. The last stretch was straight up; by the time she reached the lobby her legs burned.

  There was no one at the registration desk again.

  Didn’t matter. She already knew about the message Pope had left. If she had any more someone would let her know.

  She climbed the stairs a little slower than usual. Jammed the key into the lock and frowned. The door wasn’t locked. She twisted the knob and let the door glide open.

  The gasp that echoed in the room sounded almost as surprised as Sarah felt. Melody Harvey, hands deep into a drawer, froze like a deer caught in a hunter’s crosshairs.

  Sarah stepped inside, closed the door, and leaned against it. She’d been looking for this opportunity. Sometimes luck bothered to give her a hand after all.

  “I’m sorry.” The girl’s hazel eyes widened with fear, her face paled. She gestured to Sarah’s bedside table where a note lay. “I came to leave your messages, in case no one
was at the desk this evening when you came in.”

  “That’s very efficient of you.” It was also a lie.

  Melody stepped away from the drawer she’d been rummaging through, humiliation overtaking the shocked terror on her face. “I’m sorry, Ms. Newton. Please don’t tell on me.”

  “Don’t worry.” Sarah pushed off the door, tugged her hood free of her hair, and tossed her bag on the bed. “I’m not going to tell.”

  Relief flashed across Melody’s face. “Thank you. I am so sorry.”

  When she would have made a dash for the door, Sarah said, “I wanted the opportunity to talk to you, but I was never able to catch you at the registration desk.”

  Melody stalled at the foot of the bed, bit her bottom lip. “My parents would totally freak out if they caught me...talking to you.”

  Sarah crossed back to the door and locked it. “I don’t think they’ll look for you here.”

  Hands wringing, Melody nodded. “Okay.”

  “Were you friends with Valerie Gerard?” Though she went straight to the point with her question, Sarah took her time approaching the bed, then taking a seat, so as not to spook the girl. Melody looked ready to bolt, locked door or no.

  She nodded. “We graduated high school together.” Melody had the same blond hair and hazel eyes as her younger brother. She was pretty, but not the kind of gorgeous Alicia Appleton had been.

  “Do you recall anyone ever being jealous of her? Like maybe when she won academic awards or spelling bees?” Admittedly, it was a stretch to expect anyone to remember that far back, especially when she wouldn’t have been more than about nine years old.

  Melody shook her head before considering the question. “Valerie was kind of like me. Invisible. Not popular or athletic or anything.”

  Sarah knew that place very well. “So, to your knowledge, no one had any problems with her, past or present?”

  Melody shook her head again but stopped midswing. “When she worked here last summer she had some kind of problem. She wouldn’t talk about it, though.”

  “She worked here?” That was news.

  “Only for a few weeks.”

  Sarah was reasonably sure that if this interview took much longer the kid was going to twist her fingers right off. “If she wouldn’t talk about it, how did you know she had a problem? You noticed something different in her behavior?”

  More lip-biting. “I...sort of walked in on her with my dad once. She was upset. Crying.”

  Sarah’s alert system kicked in full throttle. “Walked in where?”

  “The office behind the desk.” Melody shrugged. “I asked my dad about it and he said Valerie wouldn’t say what was bothering her. He told me not to bother her with it.” She stared at the floor. “I don’t think he was very happy that I interrupted. He was really worried about Valerie.”

  Was this why the innkeeper was so rude to Sarah? Had tried to scare her off? He had a secret he didn’t want her prying into? Well, well. That certainly shed new light on his behavior.

  “Did Valerie have something against your father?” That was about as close as she could get to asking if the two had been involved physically.

  Another wag of her blond head. “I don’t think so. They usually got along fine. Valerie worked hard. My dad liked her. It was just that one time.”

  “You’re sure there was no one at school who especially didn’t like Valerie.”

  “Positive.”

  “Not even the people who were up for awards and didn’t win because Valerie did.”

  “Nobody ever said anything.”

  “What about at church? Did she have any problems at church that you know of?”

  Melody glanced anxiously at the door. “I should go before my parents come looking for me.”

  “Bear with me, Melody,” Sarah pressed, knowing she was losing ground. “Anything you can tell me might make a big difference.”

  Her shoulders lifted as if she intended to shrug but didn’t follow through. “She quit going to church, but I don’t know why.”

  Sarah scrutinized her face, her eyes. She was telling the truth. “What about the reverend’s niece? Was she friends with Valerie?”

  Melody frowned, shook her head. “I don’t think so. Tamara doesn’t really have any friends. Lately she’s been hanging out with Jerri Lynn.” She glanced at the door again. “I really gotta go.”

  Sarah stood and smiled. “Thank you, Melody. If you think of anything else be sure to let me know.”

  Before Melody made it to the door, Sarah realized there were a couple of other questions she should ask. “What about Alicia? Did anyone have a grudge against her?” Clearly reluctant, Melody turned back to Sarah. “Not that I can think of.” She peered longingly at the door once more. “I’m gonna be in big trouble if I don’t get back downstairs.”

  “One last question.” Sarah jerked her head toward the open drawer. “Did you find what you were looking for?” The heat of embarrassment flooded the girl’s face. “I...” She moistened her lips. “You’re from New York.” She shrugged. “I just wanted to see what kind of stuff...clothes you had.”

  Sarah could see a teenage girl doing that, though she wasn’t so sure this teenage girl was telling the truth. Particularly since her clothes were in the dresser, not the bedside table. “I hope you weren’t too disappointed. I’m not a good example of the latest fashion trends.”

  “I...”—Melody gestured to the door—“. . . have to...go.”

  Sarah put her out of her misery. “Thanks for delivering my message.”

  A quick nod and the girl was gone.

  Sarah closed the door and locked it again.

  That was definitely strange. But Sarah wasn’t worried about anyone going through her things. She knew better than to leave anything relevant to her conclusions handy.

  Two young women were dead. Most of the answers Sarah got when she asked questions were the same. How the hell could two girls with no enemies be murdered in a small town where everyone knew everyone else?

  So far the only two leads Sarah had on Valerie Gerard were the falling-out and/or relationship with her minister and some sort of tension with the innkeeper. Alicia Appleton, on the other hand, had only one potential enemy at this point. Jerri Lynn Pope, the would-be competition, if Polly’s assessment was correct. If Brady Harvey was to be believed, Polly had been somewhat of a nuisance to Alicia. But Sarah was relatively certain Polly was harmless.

  The Pope girl Sarah could check out tonight. The innkeeper, she could talk to most anytime. The minister—considering he’d discovered Alicia’s body—wasn’t likely taking visitors. That had never stopped Sarah from showing up.

  The man would be extremely distraught. Particularly vulnerable to interrogation.

  Worked for Sarah.

  All she had to do was get past his militant wife.

  Chapter 24

  Living Word Church, 9:29 A.M.

  Sarah swerved into the church parking area and braked hard.

  An SUV, a police cruiser, and a sedan were parked in front of the reverend’s home. The sedan was a rental.

  Lex August.

  Anger, hatred, and a couple other emotions Sarah couldn’t readily define erupted inside her.

  He was here already. Interviewing the man who’d discovered the body.

  Dammit.

  She wouldn’t be getting anywhere near the house at this point. A deputy was stationed outside. Sarah’s name definitely wouldn’t be on his access list.

  Surveying the street, she didn’t see any sign of Conner’s Jeep, which meant he wasn’t here. Had he been ordered off the investigation as well? That would make learning the facts a hell of a lot harder.

  “Damn it.”

  Fine. She shut off the engine and got out of the car. Waiting hadn’t gone out of style. Neither had badgering. She knew how to do both.

  Leaning against her rental, she crossed her arms over her chest and waited. What she would give for a cigarette right now. Th
e nagging need fueled her frustration.

  When Lex exited the house she would demand answers. She wouldn’t get them but maybe a confrontation would cause him to screw up and let something slip. She could hope. That strategy had worked for her before.

  If it didn’t, there was always bribery.

  Ten minutes. Twenty, then thirty passed. She didn’t care if it took all day. She wasn’t going anywhere.

  Snow and ice crunching beneath tires drew her attention to the lot behind her. Conner’s Jeep pulled into a parking slot. He climbed out and headed her way.

  No surprise there. He was back on babysitting detail. Well, he could forget about it. She wasn’t about to be distracted by him a second longer. Heat stirred deep in her belly as images from last night nudged their way into her thoughts.

  He’d given her a few minutes of physical pleasure. So what? He wasn’t the first, probably wouldn’t be the last. She owed him nothing. The same as he owed her.

  She banished the little voice that balked at her conclusions. This assignment, this man, was no different from any other. More determination was required to exile the denial that sprang instantly in reaction to that concept.

  Stupid, Sarah. Really stupid.

  “Sarah, we need to talk.” That dark gaze plowed into hers. “Now.”

  “Maybe later, Conner.” She turned her attention back to the Mahaney home. “I’m busy right now.”

  That didn’t put Conner off. “You need to come with me. The chief is talking about a restraining order and I can—”

  The front door of the reverend’s home opened and the chief stepped out.

  Sarah straightened. “It’ll have to wait.” Let the chief take out a restraining order against her. There were ways around that scenario, too. Truth Magazine had dozens of attorneys.

  She stared at the door. Willed Lex to exit before the chief spotted her.

  “Sarah—”

  The door opened wide again, cutting off Kale. Sarah’s breath evacuated her lungs.

  Special Agent Lex August strolled onto the stoop and down the steps, his black trench coat unwrinkled and gleaming like he’d only just pulled it off the rack at Nordstrom’s.

  As if he’d sensed her presence, he turned from the chief and settled his gaze on her. Even across the distance of the small yard and broader parking lot, she felt the impact of his stare.