“What did she want?”

  “Oh, you know Mary. Nothing of importance.”

  His gaze softened. “I’m sorry you got dragged into all of this. Whenever my daughter’s in town, she creates a circus, and this time, Mary’s a part of it. It will all be over soon.”

  “It’s not important. I’m fine.”

  “So what exactly did she say?”

  Why was she on edge all of a sudden? It wasn’t like she believed a former hippie who had never grown up or contributed to society much. Lawrence didn’t have much respect for Mary or their daughter. He had a point, didn’t he? That was what he, what they believed. Mary couldn’t be trusted. She lived in her own reality. Wasn’t that the truth?

  “Some ramblings about how I’m not going to be happy with you in the long run. It was pitiful, really.”

  “If she comes around again when I’m not here, call me. I don’t want you in any danger.”

  “From Mary?” She gave a surprised laugh that, Renée realized, sounded slightly off. This conversation was almost as bizarre as the one she’d had with Mary. And Mary was the crazy, paranoid, vengeful one.

  “We need to be careful, that’s all. I wouldn’t want anything to happen to you, and as you’ve seen, people get hurt around her.”

  “If she contacts me again, I’ll let you know,” Renée promised. “What would you like for dinner?”

  “Renée, I haven’t finished my drink yet,” he said. “I’ll let you know when I’m hungry.”

  * * * *

  They went to visit Vanessa who was, against medical advice and to Theo’s chagrin, resting at home. Afterwards, Joanna went back to the basic internet search she’d done on Mary before. Most of it was recent, about the cover band, the concert at the Colosseum and the murder that had happened there.

  She found a few video channels with uploads of recent performances. MaryRocks. MaryKilledMeSoftly. She flinched at the latter. Most of the comments came from people who had attended one of the concerts, and they were mostly positive, or backhanded compliments, like pretty good voice for her age. Still looks good. Because looks and age were always the first things that people noticed, and that mattered to them about a woman. She made a frustrated sound and picked up her wine glass. Instead of going down to the restaurant, they had bought a few snacks after seeing Vanessa.

  I went to college with Mary, and she’s always been amazing.

  Too old for my taste.

  Hey, you idiot, get off my channel.

  The more she read, the more grateful Joanna was that she’d never found the time to develop much of an online presence.

  Too bad. She could have had a great career if she hadn’t become the second wife of a jerk almost twice her age.

  Wait. What did that mean? She couldn’t be talking about Lawrence?

  “If that’s true, I’m one hell of a lousy cop,” she said out loud, and Rue gave her an amused look. Rue had been a lot more relaxed since it was decided, and they had a date for their flight home.

  “Is it a good time to remind you?”

  “I’m not a cop? I’m aware, thanks, but come look at this.”

  “It’s trolls on the Internet. I wouldn’t give much weight to that. There were some people who thought Short and Lester were the original Bonnie and Clyde.”

  “Yes, but…” Joanna opened the channel of the woman who had made those baffling claims—if that picture was her. She had always assumed, and never questioned, that her parents’ marriage had been the first for both Mary and Lawrence. Then again, he was much older, so it wasn’t completely far-fetched that he could have been married before? She shook her head. “Why am I surprised? It’s not like anyone ever told me the truth, about anything. For all I know, I should ask for a DNA test.”

  “You should be planning your wedding,” Rue reminded her.

  “I can do both. I’d feel better if Mary could come with us. Maybe she’d be more open with the distance.”

  When Joanna looked up from the screen, she was relieved to find Rue’s expression pensive, without sympathy or pity.

  “Theo had some concerns about her safety too.”

  “Then the police should make sure she’s safe. I’m not sure how I feel about bringing all of this to the island…not Mary,” she corrected herself quickly. “She’s your mom, of course she’s welcome. But perhaps she’s right to say that you should leave the past in the past. It’s not like Decker…or any of them.”

  Joanna cast another look at the screen.

  That’s some MILF.

  Leave her alone, bastard.

  What’s it to you?

  You’re going to find out.

  She closed the page. “Let’s look at dresses,” she said.

  * * * *

  Joanna couldn’t let go of the idea, especially when they were about to enter their own marriage. It all fit together. For Lawrence Mitchell, marriage was between a man and a woman only. That didn’t mean there had to be only one woman, or that love was any consideration. Did Mary know? Did Renée Madison know? The woman, online troll or real person with some knowledge about events long gone, how did they find that information, and were they a friend to Mary? She could accept the fact that she was no longer a cop. It wasn’t her job to solve the murders, and the fact that she had barely escaped going to jail for one of them, should tell her everything she needed to know.

  But this was her family history. She deserved to know, especially after Mary and Lawrence had stalled her at every turn.

  It was late. She didn’t care.

  Lawrence didn’t pick up the phone after eight rings, so she tried again. And a third time.

  “For Christ’s sake, you’re as crazy as your mother. Do I need a restraining order for both of you?”

  It was a chilling thought that he might have friends in high enough places to make it happen.

  “I don’t think so, but you tell me. Were you married before you met Mary? Do I have siblings?”

  “Are you on drugs?” he asked irritably. “That’s none of your business.”

  He hadn’t said no.

  “You’re my father.”

  “That doesn’t entitle you to any of this. God, can’t you see you’re embarrassing yourself?”

  That tone, and choice of words, still struck a nerve.

  “I’m going to find out either way. Those are public records.”

  “Knock yourself out. My first wife died. I met Mary two years after. Are you satisfied now?”

  “How did she die?” She might as well go there.

  “It was a tragic accident. Now leave me alone, or I will consider that restraining order.”

  “Thank you,” she said. “Good night.”

  He scoffed. Joanna ended the call, and opened the computer again. With a sigh, Rue poured another glass for both of them.

  * * * *

  Anna-Louise Mitchell, thirty-two, had been drinking after an argument with her husband, wandered around in the backyard where she fell and drowned in the small pond on the property. It sounded like a creepy Gothic novel, where the new heroine would come in and solve the murder.

  “Joanna. Please. I know you’re not mad, but you’re going to make yourself. Stop this.”

  “How could I not know this?”

  “Why would you, if nobody told you? You had enough on your plate, with your mom gone, and your dad being an insensitive…individual,” Rue chose the term carefully. “It was wrong, what they both did, but you became the amazing woman you are anyway. You already rose beyond all this. Why can’t you leave it alone?”

  This wasn’t the first time anyone had asked her this question. It wasn’t the first time Rue had asked her the question, and it never took Joanna long to find an answer.

  “I should have done something sooner.” They both knew she wasn’t talking about Mary, or Lawrence’s late wife, any longer. “It feels like I failed…all over again.”

  “But you didn’t. Mila, Vanessa, Allison—me. We’re alive. You are. And I love you.”

  One day, that would have to be enough, or she’d live the rest of her life in crippling doubt. Being with Rue, waking up to the sound of the ocean every day, a routine keeping the nightmares at a bearable distance…It had to be enough. She’d been given so much more than she could have ever expected.

  The phone rang.

  * * * *

  “Theo? It’s good that you called. I think there’s something you need to consider.” The thought had been vague before, but with the information revealed about Anna-Louise Mitchell, it was getting clearer, the possible implications harder to ignore.

  Perhaps the stalker wasn’t just connected to Mary. What if Lawrence was the central figure, and Anna-Louise’s death was no accident? A jealous lover, a business rival, someone who held a grudge for a long time and chose the women to get back at Lawrence? There were still holes in that theory, but, as everyone reminded her, she wasn’t a cop, not anymore.

  “Joanna. There’s something I need to tell you.” He sounded serious, though not as though for her to assume something happened to Vanessa. No, he’d be…different.

  “My father’s first wife died under mysterious circumstances. I think that all leads back to that stalker story. It would be like him, to keep it under wraps because of his reputation.”

  “Please, stop for a second. Has Mary contacted you?”

  “No, why?”

  “Look, all hell is breaking loose here. She had an appointment with her manager this morning. It’s in his agenda.”

  Joanna immediately understood there was no reason for Theo to know all this. Except…

  “Is she okay?”

  “We don’t know, to be honest. We found him dead in his office. The secretary called us. She didn’t see Mary, or anyone, but Joanna, this is serious. We can’t reach your mother.”

  “With the body count, I’d say it’s serious. I still think someone is trying to get back at Lawrence. He’s bound to have done some shady business dealings over the years. Or someone was jealous. It always leads back to him!”

  “We don’t know that yet.”

  “You’ve met Mary,” she said, incredulous. Joanna felt beyond weary. “You don’t think she had anything to do with that?”

  “I don’t know what to think, except I never thought you would…It seems like a lot of men have taken advantage of her over time.”

  “Right. If every woman killed because of that, there would be few men left.”

  “I don’t have time to discuss this now, but either way, it’s important that we find her. She’s too close to all of this.”

  Joanna could only agree. “I’ll let you know if she calls me,” she said, though she doubted she’d be high on Mary’s list. Come to think of it, the atmosphere at the brunch had felt much like goodbye. Again.

  Chapter Ten

  She called the number Mary had given her, not much surprised to find the number was out of service.

  “What the hell is going on?” she said out loud. “I don’t believe that she all of a sudden starts to kill people who have done her wrong. She made some mistakes, maybe, but not like that. I had the impression she liked the guy.”

  “We’re unlikely to find out until the weekend,” Rue gently reminded her. “Unless…”

  “I can’t wait another twenty-five years. If Mary’s gone, that’s because she wanted to.”

  Even as she said it out loud, Joanna was aware she sounded uncertain.

  “I hate to say it, but we’ve been spending a lot of money, even the part that was not helping the police find Lester. Perhaps she needed some time to herself, maybe she never even went to see her manager. In that case, she might contact you again, and you can invite her. If not…She left you before. I know she had her reasons. The same might be true now.”

  “Someone has been targeting Mary all along, or they have been targeting Lawrence. If the latter is true…”

  Rue’s eyes widened. “You think they’ll go after Renée next?”

  “At this point, I’m not ruling anything out. I’d hate to go see Lawrence again, but I don’t know if I can avoid it.”

  “Maybe you can. Somewhere between those Martinis she gave me her number and told me not to bother a busy man again.”

  “That’s perfect. Let’s at least warn her.”

  To Joanna’s surprise, Rue caught Renée on the phone right away. Rue held the phone out to her. “You tell her?”

  “I’m busy,” Renée Madison said without preamble. “If this is about Mary missing, the police were here already. Lawrence is at work, I’m working from home today, and we have no idea where she is. We’re good?”

  “Ms. Madison, hear me out please. We have reason to believe that you might be in danger.”

  The other woman laughed. “Like mother, like daughter. It’s frankly pathetic. Sorry to be so blunt, but I don’t know how to say it any other way. Lawrence is a good man. I understand neither of you is able to see that, but I’d prefer it if you left us alone. I’m not going to leave him.”

  “I wasn’t going to tell you that. Lawrence’s first wife died. Mary is missing. All I’m saying is that you need to be careful.”

  “I’m starting to think you need to be in a padded cell. Isn’t that true, you consider yourself to be some avenger for the women of the world? Your father lost his first wife in a tragic accident. I’m aware of that. Your mother is a flake, and you…Just stop this. Don’t come around, don’t call me or Lawrence. We’re sick and tired of your drama.”

  She didn’t give Joanna a chance to answer.

  “Wow,” Rue who had heard every word, said. “I guess we’ve done our due diligence here? I’m sorry.”

  “Don’t be. You’re right. I still want to raise the idea with Theo, but I guess this is it for us. I can’t wait to be home. I swear we’re done with the drama.”

  Rue smiled. “It sounds so much better when you say it. And don’t believe her. She’s wrong on everything.”

  Joanna shrugged. “Actually, I hope I am too, in this, anyway. I want her to wake up and get the hell out. I don’t want anything to happen to her.”

  She picked up her phone and sent Theo a text.

  “Where were we on those dresses?”

  * * * *

  Renée Madison had little patience for women she thought blamed every misfortune in their lives on men—Mary, Joanna, even her girlfriend who’d had a cushy job with Lawrence’s firm and one day decided she should be flaunting her lifestyle instead. With Joanna of all people.

  Weak, pathetic, those were the words that she’d learned early on, and she’d spent all her life trying to prove she wasn’t any of those things. She didn’t complain, didn’t ask for special rights, and she’d made her way into a top position in a male-dominated field anyway. Unlike Joanna, she knew when to draw the line. She hated them for sowing doubts in her mind, about more than her relationship with Lawrence.

  This was ridiculous. They didn’t care about her, or if she was in danger. Joanna Mitchell just needed to put herself at the center of every story. Renée couldn’t wait until she and Rue had gone back to the island, Mary would go back to her happy life, more as a never-was than a has-been, and they could all move on.

  She knew Lawrence would be holed up in his office until the late evening, so she’d likely have to have dinner alone. She got up to go downstairs, in the mood for a snack. Lawrence liked her for her discipline in everything, so she rarely indulged herself when he was home—but this wasn’t any other day. She had earned a freaking cupcake.

  Downstairs in the kitchen, she brewed herself a latte first, and took a plate out of the cabinet.

  She wasn’t sure when she sensed a presence behind her, and even when she did, it didn’t make sense to her. She was supposed to be alone in the house.

  Renée saw his reflection in the glass of the cabinet, a shadow dressed in black. She thought of the gun she kept upstairs, but the next moment every thought and hope was drowned out by excruciating pain and the scent of tinged flesh, the hardwood floor the only thing in her vision. And none of this made sense either.

  * * * *

  They were going to miss that damn plane. As they were browsing websites of bridal shops once more, every sound from the hallway seeming to startle Joanna, Rue knew that much for sure. The island would fade further from her mind. They might never be able to leave.

  She was going to miss the plane and wake up nearly naked in a psychopath’s attic…

  No. Rue became aware that she was well on her way to sliding into a flashback. She had learned strategies to keep them at bay, and they mostly worked, but it had been a while since she’d seen Dr. Shepherd. Or had a training session with Zach.

  As much as she liked being able to see her parents more often while she and Joanna were here, she was starting to feel as antsy and scared as she had before Vanessa had made her a once in a lifetime offer, to be with Joanna.

  If it wasn’t for Joanna, she would have never left the city. Now, because they couldn’t seem to solve the complicated riddles of the past, they seemed to be stuck here for the foreseeable future.

  “Joanna,” she said.

  “Yeah, I heard what you said about spending money. Those are a bit pricey, but it’s just for inspiration. We’re going to find something we like on the island.”

  Are we? She almost asked.

  “I need to go home.”

  “And we will, this weekend. I promise you.”

  “I’m not okay.” Rue almost regretted her words when she saw Joanna’s face fall. She knew she needed to be honest. “I want to support you most of all, but I can’t when I feel like everything is falling apart. I’m having nightmares, and you do too. I need to see Dr. Shepherd. I guess I could find a gym around here, but—”

  “You won’t have to.” To her relief, Joanna didn’t sound like she’d caught her off guard. “I know a lot of things haven’t gone as planned here. We have a life elsewhere. I promise you we’ll get on that plane this Sunday. As soon as we’ve settled in, we’re going to set a date, and buy dresses.” With a wistful smile, she added, “Ones that we can afford.”

 

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11