After tossing and turning for two solid hours, unable to stop obsessing about Kira and what might be happening in New Dresden, Guthrie threw off the covers, yanked on his robe, and went into the living room to dismantle the tree. Christmas had been a disaster. He didn’t need anything around to remind him of it.
As he reached for the angel at the top of the tree, his cell phone rang. He rushed back to the bedroom and grabbed it off the nightstand. “Hello?”
“Hi, Guthrie.”
“Kira. God, I’m so glad you called.” He glanced at the alarm clock next to an empty bottle of Corona Extra. The blue numbers read 2:09 AM. “I’m sorry about Christmas Eve. I know I’m pushing too hard. But it’s because I love you and I miss you.”
“Guthrie?”
“Yes?”
“About those photos you said you have? You really think they’re real?”
“I’m sorry, sweetheart, but I do. I had a private investigator look at them. They’re not official police photos. Technically, what I have is proof that your mother was murdered, but no indication who did it.”
“But you could see marks on her neck?”
“You have to use an enlarging loupe, but when you do, yes, you can clearly see them. It’s not just a shadow or a trick of the light.”
“But … my grandmother told me the chief of police was at our house that day. So was my great-uncle Brian, and my uncle Doug. They all saw her and said the death was accidental.”
“They covered it up. All of them. There’s no other explanation. Why would they do that unless they were protecting someone they loved?”
Kira was silent for almost a minute.
“Are you still there?” asked Guthrie.
“Yeah.”
“Honey, I’m not trying to hurt you. I’d give anything to make this go away.” He waited a few seconds then said, “What are you thinking?”
“If what you say is true, I’m angry. Really angry. And I’m confused.”
“It’s just, when you combine the photos, the note—”
“What note?”
He’d forgotten that he hadn’t had time to tell her about it on Christmas Eve. “The photos were sent directly to me—the postmark was Henderson, Wisconsin.”
“That’s not far from here.”
“I know. The packet included a note. It said, ‘Proof Delia Adler was murdered. Stay out of it or the same thing will happen to you.’”
“Oh my God. Are you kidding me? Someone threatened you?”
“This is serious. It’s why I’m frightened for you, why I want you to come back.”
“I can’t, Guthrie. Not yet.”
“Then you’ve got to promise me you won’t say anything to your family until we’ve had more time to talk, to figure out what to do.”
“Why?”
“Just to be on the safe side.”
“They’d never hurt me, if that’s what you’re suggesting.”
He had to tread carefully. If it seemed as if he was criticizing them, she’d be forced to their defense. What she refused to see was that, when survival was at stake, when people felt pushed to the wall and saw no good way out, normal behavior went into the garbage with the rest of the trash. “No, of course not. I’m just saying that, since we don’t know all the facts, it might be best to wait, not to talk about it until we do.”
“And how would we find out those facts?”
“I’m working on it.”
“Meaning what?”
“I’ve hired someone.”
“Who?”
“A private investigator.”
“Oh Lord. This just gets worse and worse. I need you to listen to me. Are you listening?”
“Yeah.”
“Call that person off. Stop snooping into my family’s business.”
“Kira—”
“I get the impression that you think I’m some sort of passive victim. Have we met, Guthrie? Do you have any idea who I am? I’m nobody’s victim.”
“I’m just trying to help.”
“You’re not helping. Call off your dog. If you want to ruin our relationship, this is the way to do it.”
He was stunned. He’d never considered that she’d have such a reaction.
“I don’t want anyone looking into my family. Are we clear on that?”
“Okay. Yeah, we’re clear.”
“I’ve got to go.”
“Not when you’re so angry.”
“I need time, Guthrie. To work this out. I’ve said that before but you never seem to get it. Don’t call me again. When I want to talk to you, I’ll call you. I’ll be fine. There’s no need to worry.”
“Right,” he said, knowing there was no point in arguing. If she didn’t see that she was in danger after what he’d just told her, nothing was going to change her mind. “I love you.”
“And I love you.”
He held the phone in his hand until he saw that she’d ended the call. Falling backward onto the bed, he pounded the mattress and let loose with every swear word he’d ever heard.
It didn’t help.
* * *
Jane left the Sportsman’s that night and drove around town, looking for a spot where her phone could connect to a cell phone tower. She needed to check her voice mail messages and texts, and she also wanted to call Cordelia. Ten minutes into her search, holding her phone open in her hand and heading for the south side of town, she realized she should have asked Kevin what he did when he needed to use his cell. It would have saved her a lot of time. On the other hand, after being inside all day, she felt like breathing some fresh air. She pulled up next to a grain elevator, got out and leaned against the rear bumper of her SUV, and for a few minutes, gazed up at the night sky. This far away from the lights of a big city, the stars were the best show in town.
A while later, on the east end of town, two bars began to appear on the cell phone screen, though once again, as quickly as the phone connected, it lost the signal. She wasn’t far from the Adlers’ farmhouse, so she continued on toward the county highway. She would have missed the narrow dirt-and-gravel road Kevin had turned onto earlier in the day except for the glow of lights from the Adlers’ barn. In contrast, the farmhouse, with the exception of a single lamp burning in what was probably an upstairs bedroom, was dark.
Not wanting to upset the quiet of the farmstead by pulling into the drive, Jane stopped by the side of the graveled road and let the CR-V idle as she checked her cell again. Amazingly, three bars held steady in the screen’s top-left corner. A flood of texts, messages and e-mails began to download. Instead of reading them, she tapped in Cordelia’s number.
Three rings later: “Where have you been?” demanded Cordelia’s voice, all but hyperventilating. “I was worried sick.”
“Why?”
“Because you left without me.”
“You said you couldn’t come.”
“Exactly.”
“You’re saying you’re the only thing that stands between me and total disaster?”
“Good. I’m glad you finally admit it.”
Once again, Jane’s eyes rose to the stars. “I’m fine. In fact, I got a part-time job bartending at Kevin Adler’s tavern.”
“Heavens. How loathsome. Why?”
“Where are you?”
“It was poker night at the castle. Merriman and I are just doing a little cleaning up.”
“Am I interrupting?”
“If you will bear with me. I’m sashaying over to this overstuffed couch and draping myself—decoratively—across it.”
Jane could hear some grunting.
“There. Now, spill.”
Jane briefed her on the high points. “I want to spend the next couple of days focusing on Delia, on what her life was like before she died. If I can shine a spotlight on that, I’ll know far more about who might have done it.”
“The husband did it.”
“Maybe. Maybe not.”
“Who else could have?”
“You and I both know things aren’t always what they seem.”
“Meaning what?”
“Meaning—I never expected to like Kevin.”
“You’re saying that murderers are never likable?”
“Seems like they shouldn’t be.”
“But you’ll be back for my New Year’s Eve bash on Monday night, right?”
“Yes, Cordelia. I’ll be back.”
“By the way, Guthrie is driving me nuts.”
“Why’s that?”
“He’s like a bloodhound. Wherever I am, he finds me. And then he sits around, moping, until I throw him out. He’s been as crazed by not hearing from you as I was.”
“I’ve only been gone a little more than a day.”
“Exactly. With no updates.”
“Cell phone reception is lousy here.”
“I know that. Why, oh why, did we give up on carrier pigeons?”
“It’s no longer the Middle Ages.”
“It is in my castle.”
“Right. Look—” At the sound of a rap on the driver’s window next to her, Jane jumped. A strong beam of light hit her square in the eyes.
“Janey? Are you there? What’s going on?”
When the light swung away, Jane could see that Kevin was outside. She glanced up at the rearview mirror looking for his van, but saw nothing. It was as if he’d appeared out of nowhere. She rolled down the window.
“What are you doing here?” he said, an edge in his voice.
Jane held up her phone. “Give me one minute,” she said. Returning to Cordelia, she said, “I’ve got to go.”
“No you don’t. Not until you tell me whose voice that was.”
“Love to everyone,” said Jane, keeping her tone cheerful as she smiled at Kevin. Cordelia continued to sputter in her ear. “Yes, no worries. I’m well. Employed. Even have a nice place to stay. Maybe I’ll get down your way in the spring. Okay, then. Good to hear from you. Bye.” She cut the line and quickly turned off the phone. Cordelia would be sure to call back within milliseconds. “Hey, Kevin. What’s up?”
“What are you doing out here?”
The coldness in his voice startled her. “I’ve been driving around, looking for a place to find cell phone service. It’s not easy in this town.”
He watched her stonily, suspicion radiating off his stiff posture. Debating for a few seconds, he leaned closer and said, “You’re right. A lot of dead spots. The best place to catch a signal is over by the courthouse. You been past there? Know where it is?”
“I’ll find it.”
“Best not to come out here. Cars and such, especially late at night, can spook my mom.”
“Oh, sure,” said Jane. “I didn’t think about that.”
“Okay, so … you just get on back to town,” he said, slapping the hood and standing back.
“See you tomorrow,” said Jane.
He didn’t smile. “’Night.”
As she put the car in gear, she glanced over her shoulder. A light had come on in the farmhouse’s first-floor living room. One of the drapes looked as if it had been pulled back. Had Evangeline seen the Honda’s headlights and called her son to come check it out? Were they that afraid someone might be watching them?
This was the first time since coming to New Dresden that Jane had felt any sense of danger. It wasn’t surprising, she supposed, that it had come from Kevin. If nothing else, it served as a good reminder that she needed to be careful.