Hidden in the Wall

by Valerie Hansen

  “Good morning! Come, sit by me. I’m dying to hear what you’ve been up to lately.” She gestured at the maid. “Another place setting. Quickly.”

  Steff gave her mother a brief peck on the cheek and chose the chair usually reserved for her brother. “Morning, Mom. This will do fine since Luke isn’t here. Just coffee for me, thanks.”

  J.T. peered around the side of his open newspaper. “We almost never see you unless there’s something wrong. What is it this time?”

  You mean, besides the fact that I was almost kidnapped a couple of nights ago? She knew her father had to have heard about her close call on campus, yet he didn’t bring it up, nor did he commiserate about the rash of burglaries involving both her and the college.

  Steff laid a manila envelope next to her empty plate and delayed her answer by pouring cream into the hot coffee she had just been served. She refused to echo her father’s gruffness and took a moment in which to compose herself.

  Finally she simply pushed the envelope closer to him. “I thought you should see this.”

  He eyed it as if it were so inconsequential he couldn’t be bothered. “What is it?”

  “Figures on a recent Fowler Brothers’ project at Magnolia Christian Church,” she said. “If you’ll look closely at the notes I made, you’ll see that Fowlers have padded their costs in more than one instance.”

  Still, he didn’t make a move to touch the envelope.

  “Go ahead. Open it,” Steff urged.

  “I don’t need to. I’ve known Nat since he and I were in school together. He’d never cheat me.”

  “He most likely did cheat you, Dad, whether you’re willing to admit it or not.”

  Her father arched a graying eyebrow as he neatly folded his newspaper and placed it next to his place setting. “And just where did you obtain this supposed proof, Stephanie?”

  This was the tricky part. She could lose credibility if didn’t choose her words carefully. “I had my suspicions all along. When the records of the last big project Fowlers handled for the college mysteriously disappeared from the basement, I borrowed copies of paperwork from the only other job I had easy access to. The point is, will you look over these figures or not?”

  “I may,” J.T. said. “Eventually. I’m sure there’s a logical explanation for everything, even if it may seem odd on the surface. We’ve dealt with Fowler Brothers for longer than you’ve been around and we’ve always been fully satisfied with their work and their ethics.”

  “That doesn’t mean there haven’t been changes in their operations over the years,” Steff countered.

  Her mother intervened. “Now, now, dear. Your father has always had a wonderful head for business. I’m sure, if there was a problem, he’d have noticed at once.”

  “Not if he wasn’t looking for it.” She took another sip of her coffee. It suddenly tasted bitter and she pushed it away. “Well, I’d better be going. Don’t get up. I’ll see myself out.”

  Myra’s bright orange-and-yellow caftan flowed around her like silk butterfly wings as she followed Steff to the door. “Don’t be unreasonable, Stephanie. You know how your father can be when he makes up his mind. There’s no sense butting heads with him.”

  “I’m right, Mother.”

  “Be that as it may, why do you have to create a conflict every time we see you? Why can’t you be more like Luke or…”

  “Or Adam? Say it, Mother. You always did favor the boys. Both of you did. I’ve never been able to do anything as well as they do, or did.”

  “I never said that.”

  “No, but you were thinking it. Dad feels the same way. Nobody has to spell it out for me.”

  “We just don’t understand why you insist on having a career, that’s all. Your trust fund provides all the income you’ll ever need. Why work? We don’t see the point.”

  “I love my job,” Steff answered. “Except for Dad’s position on the board, I’m the only Kessler who’s actively supporting our ancestors’ contribution to higher education. You and he should be thrilled, not condemning me for it.”

  “We don’t condemn you, dear,” Myra said. “We simply can’t see why you must always put yourself first.”

  “What?”

  “You know what I mean. You could be living here with us, or already married and giving us grandchildren, yet you insist on going off and making a career.”

  This wasn’t the first time Steff had heard those opinions expressed and she was tired of trying to overlook them. “You have a grandchild. Adam’s daughter.”

  Myra’s lips pressed into a thin line as she shook her head. “No. If she were really Adam’s, her mother wouldn’t have resisted the DNA testing we asked for.”

  Sighing, Steff gave up. “All right. Forget I mentioned it. But do try to get Dad to look at those figures I brought, will you? He really should.”

  “I’ll see what I can do,” Myra called after her as Steff headed for her car. “’Bye, dear.”

  Steff’s hands gripped the steering wheel until her fingers ached. Once again she had failed in her efforts to be taken seriously. Not only that, she’d had a perfect opportunity to mention her decision to marry Trevor when her mother had brought up the subject and she had let the moment pass.

  In retrospect, Steff decided that keeping silent had been for the best. Breaking news like that when her father was already upset would have been beyond foolish. Listening to his rants was going to be hard enough under the best of circumstances.

  Right now, what she wanted most was to put her family and her former life behind her and begin anew. Thanks to the grace of God, she and Trevor had rediscovered their affection for each other.

  Judged in comparison to their love and shared faith, everything else seemed inconsequential. Everything else was inconsequential.

  Trevor was standing outside when Steff arrived at her office. He jogged over and held her car door for her as she climbed out. “Well? What did he say?”

  “He didn’t believe me,” Steff said, shaking her head sadly. “He wouldn’t even listen. I don’t know why I was surprised but I was.”

  “That settles it, then.” He patted her shoulder for encouragement. “Don’t worry. At least we tried.”

  “There is one more thing we might do,” Steff said, looking thoughtful. “Dad went to school with the current Magnolia Falls police chief. If I asked the chief directly, maybe he’d look into the possibility that Fowlers were responsible for helping themselves to the records that disappeared from the basement.”

  “I hate to see you get more involved. Leave the sleuthing to the cops.”

  “I will. But it won’t hurt to bring it up. Besides, even if Dad won’t believe me, he may believe the chief, assuming some proof surfaces. It’s certainly worth one phone call.”

  Trevor wasn’t convinced. “Then I’ll do it.”

  “No. I will. We may as well reap some benefit from the fact that I’m a Kessler.”

  Trevor slipped one arm around her shoulders as he escorted her to her office. “You won’t have to worry about that for long. As soon as you’re ready, I’ll make you Stephanie Whittaker.”

  She leaned her head against his shoulder. “Mmm. Sounds wonderful. What did Pastor Rogers say? Is he available?”

  “The sanctuary is spoken for until after the first of August,” Trevor said, “but he’s promised to schedule us soon after that unless you think we should wait and get to know each other better.”

  “Better than what?” Steff asked. “I’ve known you for years.”

  Trevor gifted her with a smile. “Yes, if you count my days of acting the part of a juvenile delinquent. Thinking back, I must have seemed pretty ridiculous.”

  “Hey, don’t worry about it, Rebel. I didn’t get the nickname of Princess by being down-to-earth.”

  That made him chuckle softly and give her shoulders a quick squeeze before he released her. “You were a pretty stuck-up little thing back then, but I liked you anyway. If you and my sister hadn�
�t been roommates, though, I doubt you’d have given me a second look.”

  Obviously amused, Steff giggled. “Oh, yeah? I looked plenty, mister, I just didn’t want you to realize that I was doing it.”

  “Well, well. Since it’s true confession time, I supposed I should admit that I was as interested in getting to know you as I was in protecting my baby sister. Alicia wasn’t the only reason I hung around you two so much.”

  “It seems we wasted a lot of time, didn’t we?”

  “Yes, but we can make up for it if we spend the next fifty years or so together.”

  “That sounds perfect.”

  He was about to take her in his arms again when Brenda stuck her head through the doorway and grinned at them.

  “Morning, folks. What’s new? Any more excitement?”

  Steff rolled her eyes. “No. It’s been several days since Trevor’s had to rescue me. I must be slipping.”

  Her coworker giggled. “Guess so. Listen, if you think you’re up to it, your father’s on line one. I was just telling him that you weren’t in the office yet when you two walked in. Want me to stall?”

  “No.” Steff circled her desk and reached for the phone. “I’ll take it. Thanks.”

  She sank into her chair and said, “Hello?” as Trevor perched a hip on the edge of the desktop.

  “Stephanie. Why didn’t you tell me you’d been abducted?” J.T. demanded gruffly.

  “I figured you already knew. It happened on campus and you keep close tabs on this place.” She paused, unsure whether or not he expected her to elaborate.

  To her surprise his voice sounded shaky when he said, “I didn’t hear a thing until I talked to Jim Anderson a few minutes ago. I wanted more details on the loss of the records you mentioned this morning and he told me about your kidnapping.”

  “Everything turned out okay, Dad. Don’t worry.”

  “Worry? Of course I worry. All the time, if you must know.”

  “About me?”

  “Yes. Your mother told me what you said about your brothers. I don’t know where you got such a ridiculous notion. All my children matter to me. It’s just that the boys always seemed to need more guidance than you did and now that Luke is the only son I have left, it’s even worse. From the time you were little you were always more capable and levelheaded than your brothers. Maybe that’s why they got more attention. It certainly wasn’t intentional.”

  Steff was speechless. Unshed tears misted her vision.

  Trevor reached for her free hand as he mouthed, “What’s wrong?”

  She shook her head. What could she say? What should she say? Hearing such a heartfelt confession from her stern, taciturn father was astounding.

  J.T. cleared his throat and seemed to have recovered his self-control when he further astounded her by saying, “I not only looked at the papers you brought me, I then discussed the recent rash of burglaries with the police. In detail. They’re going to investigate Fowlers for me and let us know if Nat’s boys have been up to no good. It certainly looks like they have.”

  “Thank you,” she replied.

  “I also heard how Whittaker has been looking after you,” her father said. “Tell him I owe him.”

  “I think you should tell him yourself,” Steff said. “He’s right here.”

  When Trevor accepted the telephone receiver, he stared at it for a second as if it were a live rattlesnake, then put it up to his ear and said, “Hello?”

  Steff sat back and listened to the man she loved speaking with her father as an equal. She hadn’t been able to pray for her dad nearly as fervently as she’d hoped to, yet her unspoken prayers for his and Trevor’s association had apparently been answered just the same.

  The conversation was brief. Trevor thanked J.T., bid him goodbye and hung up.

  Steff was too curious to keep quiet. “Well? What did he tell you? I couldn’t believe all he said to me.”

  “I’m pretty surprised, too.” Trevor began to smile, then to grin. “You’re not going to believe this. Your father just promised me he’d try to see that I got the contract for the library annex.”

  She stood and threw her arms around his neck. “Oh, Trevor! That’s wonderful!”

  “It’s more than that,” he said, pulling her close for a kiss. “It’s mind-boggling. I’d almost think…”

  “What?”

  He placed his hands on her shoulders and held her away so he could look into her eyes. “Did you tell him about us? Is that why he offered me the contract?”

  “No! Not a word. And if I were you, I’d wait until the trustees have voted and everybody’s signed on the dotted line before I mentioned it.”

  “Why? Do you think I might lose my new, favored status?”

  “Yes,” she said, laughing. “I certainly do.”

  FOURTEEN

  I t was several more weeks before everything was finalized and Trevor could start digging the foundations for the new annex. He parked near the library, climbed out of his pickup and immediately spotted Steff standing next to his waiting backhoe. That figured. She had never been content to leave details to anyone else, not even a seasoned pro like him. He wouldn’t have been surprised if she’d insisted on helping him varnish the bookcases he’d built in her office, as well.

  Passing beneath clumps of waving Spanish moss that festooned the massive live oaks, he smiled and waved as he approached. “Morning, Princess. How’s my favorite girl?”

  Her welcoming grin warmed him far more than the Georgia summer. “Good morning, Rebel. I’d better be your only girl.”

  He drew an imaginary X on his chest. “Cross my heart. Hope you haven’t had to wait long.”

  “No. You’re right on time.”

  “Like I always say, we aim to please.” Trevor briefly scanned her casual clothing and noted the canvas gloves she wore. “What are you dressed for?”

  “Gardening.”

  That made him chuckle. “Well, well. You’re a woman of many talents. I had no idea you were into gardening.”

  “Why not? Did you think I wouldn’t get my hands dirty?”

  “Hey, I never said that.”

  “But you were thinking it.”

  “Only because you complained that I ruined your manicure when we tore down the office wall. Remember?”

  “Of course. That’s why I wore gloves this morning.” She pointed at the area next to the sidewalk where he was supposed to begin. “Cassie and I’ve decided to rescue that beautiful azalea bush.”

  “It’s pretty old. I doubt it’ll survive transplanting, especially in all this heat.”

  “I agree. But Cassie says azalea roots are shallow so we decided to try. I had planned to have it dug out by the time you got here but the ground is awfully hard. If you can scoop it up for us and drop it in this wheelbarrow, we’ll take care of the rest.”

  “Okay. You’re the boss.”

  “You’d better believe it,” she taunted.

  Her melodious laughter echoed as he climbed aboard the backhoe and went to work. The bucket moved smoothly, deliberately, while Steff stood to one side and watched. As soon as he had broken up the thin sidewalk and uprooted the azalea, she maneuvered her wheelbarrow closer and Trevor was easily able to drop the bush into it.

  “Perfect!” Steff said. “I’ll just go park this in the shade for Cassie. Carry on.”

  “Yes, ma’am.”

  Trevor hoped she’d take her time because he needed to focus solely on this job and when Steff was around, concentration was nearly impossible. Who was he kidding? She was pretty much all he thought about, period.

  He swung the boom back and took several more cautious bites of earth, deepening the excavation with each pass. If he hadn’t been paying such close attention he might have missed feeling a momentary stutter of the equipment. He peered into the depths of the partially dug trench. Worried that he might have hit buried utilities, he climbed down to take a closer look.

  Steff had left her shovel leaning against
the building so he dug with it instead of returning to his truck for his own tools. The blade connected with something hard. Trevor peered at it. It looked like…

  His breath caught. He dropped the shovel and fell to his knees, frantically clawing at the heavy, wet Georgia clay. With trembling fingers he pushed aside enough dirt to be certain his imagination wasn’t playing tricks on him.

  He reeled back on his haunches, appalled. These weren’t water or electric lines he had unearthed, they were bones. Human bones!

  Suddenly a shadow fell across the trench. Trevor leaped to his feet, blocked Steff’s view with his body and grabbed her arms to control her. “Don’t look.”

  She frowned at his hands as she tried to twist free. “Why not? Let me go, Trevor. You’re getting me all muddy.”

  “No. There’s…” He thought about trying to distract her instead of revealing his gruesome find, then realized she’d never accept anything but the truth. “There’s a skeleton in the trench,” he said hoarsely. “It’s a grave.”

  “It can’t be!”

  “I’m afraid it can and it is. I’ll stay here and watch so no one disturbs things. You go inside and call the police.”

  Steff whipped off her gloves, threw them aside and reached into the pocket of her walking shorts. “I won’t need to go anywhere. I’ll use my cell phone.”

  Trevor’s initial aim had been to get her to leave so he could cover the exposed bones. When she chose to stay with him instead, he decided it was probably for the best since he knew he shouldn’t disturb the site any more than he inadvertently had.

  That brought him to the sobering realization that, no matter what happened from here on out, he was not going to be able to complete his excavations on schedule. The authorities wouldn’t care how badly his timetable was disrupted or what financial straits that would put him in. All they’d care about was the poor soul in the trench, which was as it should be.

  Keeping his body between Steff and the skeleton, Trevor glanced sideways at it. He wasn’t acquainted with forensics other than what he’d seen on television and he supposed those details were less than accurate. Still, the top of the skull seemed small and the arm bone he’d partially uncovered was thin, leading him to surmise that the deceased had been a woman or a young man of slight build.