Chapter Eleven. I went back to my car, trying to shake off the feeling of being watched, and fumbled to the put the car in gear

I went back to my car, trying to shake off the feeling of being watched, and fumbled to the put the car in gear. Good grief, Ryan, calm down.

I glanced in the rear view mirror and saw her. She was standing right behind me in the same white dress she'd had on earlier. I jumped out of the car, but she had already vanished without a trace.

The woods were totally still. Okay, that's enough. I jumped into the Jeep and sped away, occasionally glancing in the rear view mirror.

When I returned I found Maggie and Hannah in the living room where a repairman was replacing the French doors. They both looked up when I came in.

"Good, you're back," Hannah said. "Teri and Mac went for a walk with Chance."

Maggie ignored me completely for some reason. I looked at Hannah but couldn't tell what in the hell was going on by the look on her face.

"Good. Well, I stopped into town and..." I started.

Maggie interrupted me. Good grief, these people! "Where did you go this afternoon? Allison called. She told me she saw you coming out of the diner with Steve. She mentioned that perhaps I shouldn't trust you. With you sneaking off to Steve and thinking I was lying about the saddle, I'm not so sure she's wrong." She had that defensive look again.

"Margaret that's enough," Hannah said.

Maggie stared at me, completely ignoring Hannah.

I was getting a little tired of that look. I closed my eyes and rubbed my forehead. I was beyond tired and had had enough. "First of all I don't sneak. I'm trying to find out what's going on and what it has to do with your mother's murder. So trust either your girlfriend or me. Which is it going to be?" I turned away and looked out the door. Christ she was infuriating. I looked at my watch; it was nearly four-thirty. I'd been gone longer than I thought. I turned back to Maggie, who was standing by the fireplace.

She looked tired, lonely and worn and I felt bad for the way I'd reacted. "Look, this is a very unusual situation, Maggie. Things are beginning to unravel here and I don't want it to get away from me. My fuse is a little short, I apologize," I said.

She turned to me with tears in her sparkling blue eyes. Now I felt worse. I hated that look. "No, I apologize," she said. "You're right, too much has happened in the last twenty-four hours. My nerves are a little shot, too."

"Okay, let's forget it. Did you meet Teri and Mac?" I asked.

"Yes, are you sure you want your family in on this?" She gave me a worried look.

"Well, you've met Mac. I may ask you the same question."

"They're very nice. You have a great family, Kate."

"They're so disgustingly in love," I said.

Maggie laughed openly and once again, I chuckled along with her contagious laughter.

"Boy all this is yours? I'd hate to have to mow that lawn," Mac said as he and Teri walked up to the porch.

"Bedford's been doing that for almost thirty years, he does takes care of this place," Maggie said.

Hannah walked out onto the deck and smiled happily. "Well, did you enjoy your walk?"

"It's beautiful. Someone is burning leaves," Teri said.

"I remember when we were kids. I loved that smell," I said.

"When I was a little girl, Bedford would rake the leaves and let me play in them and ride my bike through them," Maggie said. I noticed a sad tone in her voice.

All at once, I felt bad for her. Growing up in an Irish neighborhood you took for granted that you had family and friends to play and fight with. I wondered if she was lonely as a child.

"I remember when I was young, we would have piles and piles of leaves, smoldering for weeks at time," Hannah said.

"So you're the one who screwed up the ozone," I accused.

We all had a good laugh as Hannah shook her head. "You nut. I'm going back to the kitchen. Oh, Margaret, don't forget to remind me to call the caterers tonight. We have the party tomorrow after the Fall Festival," she said over her shoulder, and disappeared into the house.

"Fall Festival?" Mac asked and looked at Maggie.

"Yes, it's in town during the day. Aunt Hannah prides herself on her one big bash of the year afterward," she said. "Now, what did Steve tell you, Kate?"

"Let's go in and I'll fill you all in."

Mac and Teri walked ahead of us, I gently held Maggie back.

"What's wrong?" she asked.

"Maggie, Steve gave me the police report to read and there are certain aspects of your mother's murder... Well, I don't want them to upset you. Or Hannah."

I realized I was holding her hands in my own. We were silent for a long moment and all I could think of was how soft her small hands felt. I let go of them and got back to the matter at hand. The poor kid had been through a great deal and I didn't want to add to it if it were at all possible.

Maggie then reached down and grasped my hand, once again. "Kate, I've been living with this my whole life. I'd like it cleared up so I can move on. I know my mother was murdered and I know there are gruesome details. I can handle it, if that's what you're worried about."

"I'm sure you can. I just want you..." I stopped, not knowing what I was going to say.

Maggie gave me a curious crooked smile. "You want me...?" she prompted.

When I didn't say anything, she smiled and caressed by hand before she let it go.

"Well, you'll have to finish that sentence, but, thanks, I'll be fine."

I looked down into her eyes and frowned. I realized I had no idea how to finish that sentence. This little woman was beginning to...

"Kate, the fireplace looks awfully lonely," Hannah called from the doorway.

I had the fire blazing within minutes and we sat in comfortable silence staring at the mesmerizing flames. Chance, of course, was sound asleep, once again sprawled out in front of it.

"Okay, Kate, what do you know so far?" my sister asked.

I began pacing in front of the fire. I'm a pacer. When I think, I have to move.

Hannah came into the living room and set down a tray of all sorts of goodies. "Mac, will you tend bar please?"

Mac got up and rubbed his hands together. "My pleasure," he said and went over to the bar. "Okay gals, name your poison."

I was pacing, not paying attention. "Don't mind that two-headed nature lover. She's in another world," Mac said, handing Maggie a drink.

Staring at the fire, I thought of how to piece together what I knew. I forgot where I was and thought I heard Teri say to Maggie, "She's in her thinking mode."

"I've noticed that," Maggie replied.

Hannah said, "Sshh! Let her think."

"Kate's mind: a finely honed machine," my smart-ass brother-in-law said.

I gave him a sarcastic grin. "Thanks. Okay, here's what we know: First, someone murdered Miranda twenty years ago, on Halloween."

Mac stopped pouring and looked at me. Teri's eyes got as big as saucers. I glanced at Hannah and Maggie. Maggie gave me an encouraging nod, so I continued.

"For some reason, the murderer buried the jewelry soon after the murder. Yesterday, Chance dug it up, from where I don't know, and brought it back here, where I found it today.

"In the police report, Tom Caldwell stated that the murderer took everything but didn't bother to look in her pocket to find her car and house keys. He found that a little odd. I agree with Tom Caldwell, but we'll get back to that. Now, two months or so ago, weird things start happening to Maggie. She got knocked on the head in the stable and stalked through the woods. Then yesterday morning, I come along and she got thrown from her horse." I cleared my throat and avoided eye contact with the smug doctor as I continued. "The saddle, I discovered, had been tampered with...the stirrup had been cut almost clean through. I found it hidden in the stable earlier this morning. Bedford said he was coming to 'fetch it and get it fixed' I believe." I looked at Hannah and Maggie. "I know Bedford has been with you for a long time, but I think he knows something and I need to find out what. Maybe I'll have a chat with him later. So, to continue, last night, well we all know what happened last night: An intruder broke in and whispered in my ear that I shouldn't be here. She also left a note on Maggie's pillow. Today, we see a woman in the woods and Maggie's horse bolted and then"...I stopped and took a deep breath..."I saw the woman in the woods again this afternoon. It was quick, I could be mistaken, but when I looked in my rearview mirror, I saw her. When I got out of the car, she, of course was gone."

Maggie's face lost all color. "What in the world is happening?"

"It's a good thing you saw her," Teri said.

We all looked at her as if she was crazy.

"How do you figure, sweetie?" Mac asked.

It dawned on me. "Because if this woman, whoever or whatever she is, wanted only to scare the life out of Maggie, or hurt her, why show herself to me? Or, if Maggie was the only one who saw her, we'd all have a very good reasonable doubt as to Maggie's state of mind." I looked at Maggie. "We both saw her. You weren't imagining anything. She's real."

Maggie said, "So this means..."

"You're not nuts!" Mac declared through a mouthful of cheese.

Teri shot Mac a horrified look. I hung my head and Maggie laughed out loud.

"I like him," Hannah reaffirmed with a wink.

"Who do you suppose this woman is?" Teri asked, still scowling at Mac.

"I don't know, but I'd bet big bucks she's not trying to harm Maggie. I just get that feeling," I said, looking at Maggie.

Maggie nodded. "I have to admit when I saw her I was shocked, but I wasn't afraid. I wanted to know who she was."

Teri had that look on her face as if she knew something but didn't want to say.

Maggie apparently saw it, too. "If you think of something, please go ahead and share. As Kate said, this is an unusual situation. So please, don't hold back."

"What did this woman look like and what exactly was she wearing?" Teri asked.

Maggie started, "Well, from what I could see, she had long brown hair and wore a white dress, but with the trees in my way, I didn't see much."

I had to agree. "She was standing there looking at us, but not in a malicious way, just looking. Like she was waiting for us to do something. I don't know. The minute we started in her direction, she turned and faded into the woods...somewhat like last night when I saw whoever or whatever at the edge of the woods. Maybe that's who I saw last night." I turned to Maggie. "Did you ever see her before? Think...at any time, did you or Hannah ever see her?"

"No, dear. I have to say I've never seen anyone like that," Hannah said and looked to Maggie.

"Not before today, though I don't venture to woods too often," Maggie said.

"Okay, let's move along. Chance, who seems to be doing all the leg work here, finds the jewelry...Miranda's wedding ring, watch and a locket that has Maggie's picture in it, but also has her uncle's picture as well." I looked at Maggie and Hannah and asked, "Why would Miranda have Nathan's picture in her locket?"

Maggie shook her head and stared at the fire. "I have no idea." She looked at Hannah.

I figured this was as good a time as any. "Hannah, what do you know about the locket? Please tell me, if you know anything or even if you think of anything," I pleaded.

Hannah looked at her glass. "Kate, it is all speculation. I knew Miranda and Nathan were close. As I said, back in those days we were all close to Miranda, because Jonathan was always gone. She was in this big house alone for most of the time. I discussed it with Nathan and Walt. None of us liked to see her all alone. I was with Miranda constantly after Maggie was born. I haven't thought about it in years."

I looked at Maggie. "There's a connection between your mother's murder, your father's death and what's been happening to you. It doesn't take much too see that." I looked around at the tired and confused faces. "Let's take a break, shall we? This is a lot to absorb right now. Hannah, how's dinner?"

"Should be ready in half an hour," Hannah announced.

Teri got up and grabbed Mac's hand. "Well, I think Mac and I will unpack." They went upstairs.

I stood looking at the fire. Chance was lying at my feet and I sat down on the hearth and ruffled her ears.

"Well, I'm stumped pooch. I can feel I'm close but..." I grunted and rubbed the back of my neck. I was exhausted. I went out to the back porch. It had turned very cool, and as I turned to get my sweater, Maggie came out and handed it to me.

"Thanks," I said. I looked up into night sky. There were a few stars; the moon would be up in a while. I smiled wistfully, thinking how much I loved being in the outdoors. The scenery here was beautiful.

Maggie interrupted my thoughts. "It's getting chilly. How are your shoulder and your head? I feel responsible for this," she said with regret as she looked out at the woods.

"Don't be silly. I'm a little accident-prone. You should see me when I'm working. I can't tell you how many times I've tripped, fallen...you name it. I think I have a scar for every state of the union. Teri and Mac wince every time I pick up my camera."

"I'd probably worry, too, if you came back all banged up after an assignment. Maybe you should get a nice, safe desk job," she said and I laughed at the idea.

"Wouldn't matter. I'd staple myself to something," I said.

"So, I take it you and a letter opener would not be great friends?" Maggie asked through her laughter.

Once again, her contagious laughter pulled me right in as I let out a good laugh and nodded in complete agreement.

During all this, I looked down to see my hand covering hers. Maggie noticed it as well.

"This is a good feeling," Maggie said as she moved her fingers through mine.

"Y-Yes, laughter is a good relief mechanism. I-It releases stress and, and helps, um..."

Maggie chuckled and shook her head.

"C'mon, it's getting chilly. Let's get back inside."

I tried to get ready for dinner in peace. That was not going to happen. There was a soft knock at my door and Teri poked her head in.

"I wanted to see your room. Ours is huge. It's like being at a hotel. Do you have your own bathroom?"

"Yep," I said and motioned to the door.

Teri was looking out the window. "So, what do you think is happening?" She looked back to me.

"Ter, I don't know. For some reason, someone is trying to scare the hell out of Maggie or maybe even kill her. Whoever it is, they're sure doing a good job of scaring me. You should have seen that saddle. If Maggie had been riding any faster, she'd have broken her neck." I rubbed my neck and yawned wildly. "I need to sleep."

"You're right," Teri said. She went back to the window and looked out. "Who is the woman in the woods, Kate?"

"I wish I knew. It spooks me. I was petrified when I saw her in my rear view mirror this afternoon. It was definitely the same woman. She looked content, you know, not scary or dangerous. I don't know."

"Well, I was going to ask this earlier, but I don't want them to think I'm a psychic nut or something, but I'd love to see what Maggie's mother looked like. I have a feeling, Kate." She shivered and walked over to me.

I could feel my eyebrows getting lost in my hairline. "You think the woman is Maggie's mother?" I wished I would quit shivering.

She nodded. "I do."

"Maggie's mother," I repeated, making sure I understood her. "Maggie's dead, murdered, mother," I said again.

"Yes, I do."

I found a chair and eased myself into it. "Crap."

Поиск по сайту: