Haven of Swans

  Bree’s lips flattened. “Some. He’ll be upset for a few days. When we get back, we’ll play with the dogs. That will help.” She pointed toward the grave. “What’s weird is there’s a peanut butter sandwich on the remains. It looks fresh.”

  “How odd,” Elena whispered. She felt the blood drain from her face.

  Bree studied Elena’s face. “What’s wrong, Elena?”

  Elena shivered even though the air was oppressively warm. She rubbed her arms. “Something about peanut butter.” Was it her imagination, or did she hear someone move in the thicket? She peered into the dark shadows but saw nothing.

  “Oh, Elena,” Bree whispered. She moved toward her and put her arms around Elena’s shoulders. “This poor woman has been dead for several years. It can’t have anything to do with you.”

  “You’re right. Of course you’re right.” Elena clamped her lips shut, but they trembled anyway. She could feel Bree’s stare, could sense Naomi’s speculation and concern. Lodgepole pine reached for glimpses of blue sky. She’d found solace in these quiet hills and valleys where moose and black bear still roamed. The peace of this place had been shattered. Elena knew it as clearly as if she’d heard the foghorn of Bree’s lighthouse home.

  He’d found her.

  10

  Iris Chen is squawking about the people who died last week.” Cyril tossed a manila file onto Nick’s desk. “She doesn’t seem ready to let it go.”

  The picture of Eve was in Nick’s hand. He didn’t want to relinquish it long enough to look at the file his dad had brought in. “I killed the wrong guy, Dad.” He’d been immersed in the Gideon case.

  “You only did what you had to do.”

  “I know.” Nick rubbed his aching head, then thumbed loose a Rolaids and popped it into his mouth. “I was sure Bechtol was Gideon. Now we have no leads.”

  “What about the geocaching group?”

  “I pumped Zack for information, but he only goes with this small group and hasn’t gone to any bigger events. One interesting thing—the guy who found Eve’s remains was in Zack’s group.”

  His dad paused. “You think he could have anything to do with it?”

  “Zack says he’s harmless.” He turned the picture over and looked at it again.

  Cyril saw the picture in Nick’s hand. “You’ve got to let it go, Son. There are no clues in that picture.”

  “I like looking at it.” Nick put it down on the desk, but his gaze strayed back. “It was taken the night Eve danced in Swan Lake. He had to be there. The stage is in the background, and she’s wearing her white costume.”

  “Maybe it was a media picture,” his dad suggested.

  Nick shook his head. “It’s just a Polaroid. A news photographer would have used a better camera. This might have even been the night we met. I’d never seen anyone more beautiful.” He could still see her in his mind, his heart. So light, so fragile.

  “Don’t, Nick.”

  “I wanted to kill him, you know.” Nick stared into his father’s face. “I wasn’t aiming to, but I was happy when that bullet struck home, when he crumpled. He deserved to die. Iris told us he intended to force her to become his third wife. He was scum.” He slumped back in his chair. “But he’s innocent of hurting Eve and Keri. I don’t understand why he had the picture though.” He picked up the folder. “Tell me about Iris.”

  His dad pulled up a chair. “She’s claiming there was no need to use deadly force to free her. I have no doubt you’ll be exonerated, but you’d better expect some heat for now.”

  “I can handle heat. What I can’t handle is not knowing what’s happened to Keri. Finding Eve’s body was hard, but at least there was closure, you know? I keep waiting for the other shoe to drop.”

  “Maybe it won’t. Maybe Keri is alive and happy somewhere.”

  “She adored Eve. She wouldn’t be happy without her.”

  “She’s young. Children forget.”

  Nick didn’t want to hear it. So long as he and Keri kept Eve in their memories, she wasn’t truly gone.

  Cyril stood. “Your sister is in the waiting room.”

  “What’s she want?”

  His father shrugged. “She wouldn’t tell me. I fended her off until I had a chance to talk to you, but she’s not going anywhere until you see her.”

  “Send her in. I might as well get it over with.”

  His dad nodded and left the office. There was no telling what Layna wanted. She could have stopped by to see how he was holding up, or she could have come to cry on his shoulder. Either way, she was a trial. He wished she’d go back to the way she used to be when they were growing up. The bitterness she held like a shield got tiresome.

  At least she was smiling when she came into the office. “Hey, brother of mine.”

  He stood and went around his desk to hug her. Her strong perfume made him sneeze. “Hi, Sis.” Stepping back, he pulled the chair away from the desk. “Have a seat.”

  Dressed in black jeans with a red jacket over a black lace thing that Eve used to call a camisole, Layna looked cool and elegant. Her hair was swept up in some kind of knot on her head.

  Nick went around the desk and dropped into his chair. “What’s up?”

  “Does something have to be up for me to stop by and visit my favorite brother?”

  “I’m your only brother.” He tried not to look at his watch. There was a ton of work on his desk.

  Her smile widened. “I wanted to invite you to dinner tonight.”

  “That’s it? You could have called for that.” She looked down, and he knew there was more to her intent than a simple dinner invitation. “What?” he asked.

  “Um, I invited Jessica over too.”

  Nick leaned back and blew out his breath. “Why do you do things like this?” he asked, careful to keep his voice down.

  Her chin jutted out. “It’s time you move on, Nick. Jessica has never gotten over you. If Eve hadn’t moved in on you . . .” She bit her lip when he glared. “I think you could care about Jess again.”

  “Layna, I’m not interested. All I want to do right now is find Keri.”

  “She’s not even—”

  “Not even what?” He stood. “Look, let’s not fight about this. I’d be happy to come to dinner sometime, but not when you’re trying to fix me up. I still love my wife.”

  “Your ex-wife,” she pointed out, getting to her feet. “Nicky, she was never good enough for you. And she proved it with that affair with that dancer . . . Will, or whatever his name was.”

  “It wasn’t an affair!”

  “You caught them at dinner,” she pointed out.

  “She was just lonely, eating with a friend. Nothing happened.” He saw the pity in his sister’s eyes and tried to hold on to his temper.

  “Nothing you’ll admit to yourself.”

  Maybe she was right—he didn’t want to believe more than he saw. Eve had sworn there was nothing more than friendship between them, and Nick let it drop. And tried to get home more for dinner. His new pledge to be there for her had lasted all of four days.

  BIRDS CHIRPED OVERHEAD, A MUCH TOO CHEERFUL sound for the drama playing out in the middle of the woods. Elena tried to tell herself it wasn’t so, couldn’t be true. There was no way he could have tracked her here. The car was in the lake. No one knew where she was from. He couldn’t possibly have found her in this remote place. She was being paranoid.

  But the fear grew.

  She jerked when Naomi touched her arm. “Sorry,” she muttered.

  “Talk to us, Elena,” Bree said. “You’re pale and shaking. Let us help you.”

  Elena bit her lip and wished she could talk to her friends about it. She didn’t even know what to say. Some male figure menaced her dreams, but she didn’t know if it was her ex-husband or someone else.

  She saw a truck through the trees. Shiny-new and black, it pulled off the side of the road. “There’s the deputy.”

  Bree gave her a last worried glance, then she
and Naomi went down the hillside to greet the deputies. Elena called the dogs to her. They both meandered over with their noses pointing down and their tails still between their legs. The dogs plopped down beside her and put their heads in her lap.

  Their warm fur strengthened her. Of course this wasn’t about her. Her earlier certainty dissipated as fast as Superior’s morning fog. She stood as Bree and the deputies arrived on the scene.

  Deputy Montgomery was a big man, easily six-five and three hundred pounds, and the white booties he slipped over his boots looked awkward on him. He squatted near the site. “Looks like nicks in some of the bones. I’d say she was stabbed. There’s a knife buried here with the bones too.”

  “Any idea who she is?” Naomi asked.

  “Nope.” He motioned to the other men. “I’m going to have to call the sheriff in Finland.” He dialed his cell phone. “You gals can go. I’ll stop by and take your statement when I’m done here.” Turning his back on the women, he began to speak into the phone.

  “Let’s get out of here.” Bree snapped her fingers, and Samson came to her. The women and the dogs walked down the slope covered with wildflowers.

  Elena drew in a lungful of pure air not tainted by the smell of death. But the scent still clung to her clothes, her hair, and her skin. She longed to get home and shower away the stench. The farther away they moved, the easier it was to tell herself this death had nothing to do with her.

  “Hey, wait here a minute.” Bree told Samson to stay, then ran back up the hillside. “I want to check the GPS.” When Bree returned a few minutes later, her eyes were grim. “It’s a match with the cache. The killer intended us to find her. Wasn’t there something like that in the news a few months ago?”

  Spots danced in Elena’s vision, and she swayed. The blackness receded. “It’s him,” Elena whispered. “I know it’s him.” A dark, shadowy figure hovered in her memory.

  Bree grabbed her hand. “You okay? Sit down.” She guided Elena to a nearby rock and pushed her head between her knees. “Take deep breaths.”

  Elena pushed Bree away. “I’m fine.”

  “Who do you think it is?” Bree’s voice was sharp.

  “The man, the one who attacked me.” There was a vile taste in Elena’s mouth. “I’ve got to get Terri and get out of here. It isn’t safe. He’s found me.” Aware she was babbling but unable to stop, Elena leaped up and ran for the Jeep. “Hurry!”

  Panic chased her down the hillside to Bree’s Jeep. She heard Bree and Naomi shout after her, but nothing could stop the surge of adrenaline that propelled her. Samson caught up with her, then darted in front as if herding her. She stumbled. Her knee dug into the soft earth, then she pitched headfirst into a roll down the hillside.

  The scenery rushed past. Her arm slammed into a downed jack pine, and her leg scraped over tiny rocks embedded in the dirt. The scent of moss and dirt invaded her nose. She hurtled down and came to rest at the base of the hill. Dazed, she sat up and began to pick the twigs out of her hair. Every muscle in her body screamed.

  Bree reached her. “Are you all right?”

  “I think so.” Abrasions on her legs and arms began to sting, but she didn’t think anything was broken. Her nylon headgear had come off. Samson licked her face, and she pushed him away to take the hand Bree extended. “Thanks.” Grass stains and tears marred her favorite jeans.

  Bree put her hands on her hips. “Why do you think this has anything to do with you?”

  Elena didn’t answer. She limped toward the Jeep and got in on the passenger side.

  Bree put the dogs in the back and slid behind the wheel. Naomi climbed in behind Elena.

  “Lock the doors,” Elena said, thumbing down her lock button.

  “For heaven’s sake, Elena,” Bree began.

  Elena gave her a fierce look. “Just do it!” The shadows gathered in the forest, hiding him somewhere. She felt vulnerable, exposed. “Drive.”

  “When are you going to tell us what this is all about?” Bree slipped the transmission into drive and put her foot on the accelerator.

  Elena put her head in her hands. “All I know is that there’s a man after me.” She pressed her fingers over her eyes. Nausea roiled her stomach. “When I saw that grave, all this fear flooded in.” She shuddered. “Oh, why can’t I remember?” she moaned, pressing fingers over her eyes.

  Bree touched Elena’s hand. “Are you all right?”

  “I feel it here.” Elena put her hand over her chest. “Call Montgomery and ask him if anything is missing on the woman,” she whispered.

  “Missing? What do you mean?” Bree asked.

  “As in parts of her!” Elena nearly screamed the words. Her hands began to shake, and she clenched them together. She wouldn’t panic again. Right now she needed every smart cell in her brain. She didn’t know how she knew this, but her certainty was as hard and sure as the seat beneath her.

  Bree steered the Jeep to the side of the road and put it in park. She got out her cell phone and dialed. “Doug, is the victim missing any body parts?” She listened a few moments. “I see. Thanks.” She clicked off her phone.

  “What?” Elena demanded.

  “He can’t tell yet.”

  Elena threw open the door and retched, but nothing came up. Perspiration dotted her forehead. “I have to get to Terri! Please, let’s go there now.”

  Bree nodded and put the Jeep back into gear. The vehicle fishtailed around the curves at the speed she drove. “We’ll protect you, Elena. Don’t panic.”

  “I don’t know who he is though,” Elena muttered. “It’s hard to protect against a ghost.”

  “Do you remember anything?” Naomi asked.

  “Nothing. But I know it’s him.”

  Bree slowed at the city limits. Rock Harbor had been perfect from Elena’s point of view. Her sanctuary. But he’d invaded it. As soon as Bree stopped in front of Anu’s house, Elena sprang from the vehicle and ran inside.

  Anu never locked the door and had told her not to bother knocking. Elena threw open the door and rushed inside. “Terri!” The scent of baking cookies didn’t comfort her.

  Anu came from the kitchen. “What is wrong, Elena? You look distraught.”

  Bree rushed in behind her. “Elena, Montgomery could assign you some protection.”

  Anu’s face creased. “Kulta, what is going on?”

  Elena looked around for the sight of a bright blonde head. “Where’s Terri?”

  “She’s in the kitchen, decorating cookies.”

  Elena darted past Anu into the blue-and-yellow kitchen. The sweet scent of sugar cookies permeated the air. Elena went to the children and swept the little girl into her arms.

  Terri wiggled. “Down,” she commanded. “Cookie.” She pointed to a lopsided bunny cookie with more frosting than substance.

  “We need to go, Terri.” Far, far away.

  Terri thrust out her lower lip, a trick that usually melted Elena. But today it only upped her frustration. She didn’t know where she could go, only that she needed to get away.

  Bree and Anu were standing arm in arm and talking in low voices when she turned. “I need to get home,” Elena said. “Can you take me now?”

  “Of course,” Bree said.

  “Leave Davy and let him finish decorating his cookies,” Anu said.

  “You sure?” Bree asked.

  “I shall bring him home later,” Anu said.

  “Okay.”

  Elena waited by the door until Bree went to tell Davy good-bye. She wanted to scream with the need to hurry. And where could they go? There was no one she could turn to for help. As she carried Terri to the Jeep, the back of her neck prickled. Was he watching her even now from behind the blank stares of some storefront?

  And more important—who was he?

  Bree held open the back door, and Elena buckled Terri into her car seat in the back. Samson immediately plopped his head on the child’s lap. Terri giggled and began to stroke his ears. He gave a blissful
groan.

  The lighthouse at the end of the road felt like home. Elena felt a pang at the thought of leaving it. She saw it with new eyes, the slate covering its steeply pointed roof and the window mullions that gave it even more character.

  Sitting on top of the bluff, she felt safe. Or at least she had until today.

  BREE WIGGLED THE MOUSE, AND THE COMPUTER screen came to life. Elena might not be able to tell her what was going on, but maybe there was some clue they’d overlooked online. She Gooogled “geocache murder.” Something touched her shoulder, and she jumped.

  She looked up into the smiling blue eyes of her husband. “You scared me to death,” she scolded. “Did you lock the door?”

  “This is Rock Harbor.”

  “We found a dead body today.” She told him the story. “Elena is terrified, Kade. It was all I could do to talk her into not making any decisions tonight. I thought I’d see what I can find online.”

  “Snooping?” He pulled a chair up beside her.

  “I’m frightened for her.” Bree shuddered, and Kade put his arm around her. She snuggled into the comfort of his embrace. The search engine brought up numerous sites.

  She clicked on one and leaned forward to read it. “This one was in Bay City just last week,” she said. “It says a woman was found stabbed to death in the woods. Geocachers found her. Her hands were amputated.” She nearly gagged at the thought. “And her face was missing.”

  Kade leaned over her shoulder. “Hey, the guy left clues online after the woman was found. ‘Authorities were alerted to a post allegedly made by the killer within hours of the body’s discovery,’” he read aloud. “‘Oh, ye! Think ye that Incal will accept the blood of innocent animals for your crimes? Whoso sayeth this doth lie! Incal, God, will never take blood of anything, nor symbol of any sort which placeth an innocent in a guilty one’s stead!’”

  Bree’s eyes widened. “That’s spooky.” She shook her head. I wonder if there’s anything at the site where today’s cache was listed.”

  “You should let Montgomery handle it.”

  “I wish Mason were here.” Her sheriff brother-in-law was a rock. He would have known what to do.