Silent Warning

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Kelly started at the heat sparking between them. “Just what is it you did up North?”

“Corporate development.” Dan spoke the words flatly, as if he hadn’t appreciated her asking.

“And now?”

He inhaled sharply. “And now I figure out what really happened to my sister…and Rachel.”

They rode in silence for several long seconds. Kelly turned to stare out the side window, her focus landing on a small cemetery tucked away along the side of the road.

“Diane would have celebrated her birthday later this week.” Dan’s voice broke the silence. “Instead she’s in there.”

Kelly’s heart squeezed. She turned, intending to reach for his hand, but catching herself before she made the far-too-intimate gesture. “I’m sorry.”

The fact she’d come so close to touching him shocked her. She hadn’t felt compelled to reach for any man since Brian had stomped all over her faith in the opposite sex, yet the raw emotion strangled inside Dan’s voice had registered deep inside her. She’d have to watch herself, and her reactions.

Silence beat between them yet again.

“I’m a graphic designer,” Kelly blurted out, suddenly uncomfortable with the tension squeezing the air out of the small car. “You don’t suppose a business owner like a pharmacist could use a new brochure every now and then to boost business, do you?”

She turned toward Dan in time to see the lines of his profile sharpen. “Might be worth a shot.” He jerked a thumb toward the colorful notebook still sitting on her lap. “Anything?”

Kelly flipped through the blank pages. “Not much. Just one word on the last page.” She fanned the sheets. “And it looks like several pages are missing.”

“What’s the word?”

“Shakespeare.”

“Shakespeare?” He grimaced, shooting a glance at Kelly. “Was she a big fan?”

“No.” Kelly shook her head. “She couldn’t stand him.”

She stared at the word then flipped the notebook closed. Disappointment eased through her. She’d hoped the notebook would hold more than one word. At least they had the pharmacy board lead.

“Do you think ‘S’ could be Shakespeare?” she asked.

“I’ll call and find out.” Dan pulled into the driveway of Rachel’s house and cut the engine. “I’ll meet you at the chamber at six. Miller shouldn’t see us together.”

Kelly gathered the mail and the notebook and hesitated as she climbed out of the small car. Tension still filled the space between them, but the fact he’d accepted her idea had shifted something intangible between them. “Thanks.”

He nodded, averting his gaze from her face. “I’ll see what I can find out about our friend Shakespeare.”

She climbed to the top of the steps, pausing to watch as his car pulled away. What had Rachel gotten herself into? Whatever it was, Kelly had a sinking feeling it had gotten her killed.

DAN SAT staring through the car windshield at the Sunset Assisted Living complex. Lilac mums lined the sidewalk and hunter-green shutters framed spotless windows. The sun reflected off the bright white vinyl siding.

The building looked so calm on the outside. Orderly and neat. Nothing like the inside where minds and bodies failed—some slowly, some quickly.

His mother had been a resident for almost a year, since her dementia had worsened to the point where she needed round-the-clock care. She seemed content here, though. As content as could be expected.

Dan sat for a moment, letting his thoughts trace back over his conversation with Kelly. He shouldn’t have mentioned Diane’s birthday when they passed the cemetery. He wasn’t a fan of sharing personal details, let alone details that hinted at weakness. Kelly and her questions had somehow burrowed beneath his skin like an itch he had no intention of scratching. He’d have to be more careful when he saw her again tonight.

Dan’s stomach tightened at the thought, but he shook it off, refocusing on the building waiting before him. He pulled the key from the ignition and climbed from the small car, slamming the door shut before heading for the entrance.

“How are you doing, Dolores?”

The strawberry-blonde sitting at the reception desk looked up, flashing a warm smile as Dan pushed through the glass doors. “Pretty good, Mr. Steele. How ’bout you?”

“Can’t complain.” Liar. “Is she down in activities?”

The young woman glanced at the clock on the wall. “Should be.”

“Thanks.”

A long walk later, he found his mother sitting in a wingback chair facing a window. The familiar ache pulled at his heart. She deserved so much more.

The rest of the unit residents sat in a circle, tossing a beach ball from one to another. Strains of Glenn Miller filled the air.

His mother’s back served as a wall between herself and the others, so unlike the vital, social woman she’d once been before her world had fallen apart.

Dan nodded to the activities aide and pulled up a chair. He put his hand on the arm of his mother’s chair, letting his gaze follow hers.

Gulls floated in the breeze above the sound. Sunshine glistened off the surface of the water, broken only by the wake of a small sailboat headed back toward the marina.

“Mom.”

She turned to face him, her soft white hair seeming to have grown even thinner since last week, her pale blue eyes more milky.

“It’s me, Dan.”

“I know who you are.” She turned her attention back to the window. “How’s your sister?”

“She’s d… She’s okay, Mom.” He’d probably go to hell for lying to her, but why not?

“I saw him kill her, you know.”

His pulse quickened. “What?”

His mother’s gaze stayed fixed on the sound. She raised her hand, pointing a bony finger toward the water. “Right there. I tried to tell her. They wouldn’t let me tell her.”

She lowered her hand to her lap and fingered the zipper on her housecoat.

“Who, Mom? Diane?”

“No.” She frowned, the grimace accentuating the wrinkles left by age and the life she’d loved alongside the ocean. “The other girl. I tried to tell her, but they wouldn’t let me.”

“I don’t understand, Mom. Who?”

“At the market. I saw her at the market.” She looked at him with searching eyes, gripping his hand with a force that shocked him. “She’s dead, Danny. I saw him kill her and they wouldn’t let me tell her.” She looked back toward the water. “They made me leave.”

Sadness squeezed Dan’s heart, twisted his stomach. His mother had never done a thing to deserve this fate—this smothering disease that nibbled away at her mind a little more with each passing day.

“Wouldn’t let me tell her.” Her voice trailed off into a faint whisper.

Not fair at all, Dan thought.

KELLY PULLED into the lot outside the chamber’s office a little before six. The warm architecture made the building look more like a home than a professional building. People milled about on the covered porch, shaking hands, patting backs and sipping drinks.

She climbed out of her Jetta and checked her purse one last time. She tucked her business-card holder into the back pocket of the bag, making it easily accessible. Head high, Kelly took a deep breath, smoothing her skirt before heading for the entrance.

A middle-aged woman with short gray hair greeted her at the top of the steps. “I’m Barb Parker,” she said with an outstretched hand. “Welcome to the chamber. Are you a guest this evening?”

“I am.” Kelly shook the woman’s hand, giving her warmest smile. “I spoke to you earlier today on the phone. I’m Kelly Weir.”

“Well, welcome.” The woman’s demeanor slipped from pleasant to curious in the span of a split second. “So sorry about your friend, Rachel. Have you finished packing up her house?”

“Working on it.”

“Come on in. Let’s get you a name tag and get you introduced around.” She put her hand on the back of Kelly’s shoulder, steering her toward the registration table. “What was it you do again?”

“Public Relations and Marketing.” Kelly concentrated on tamping down the nerves clawing their way up her throat. “Graphic design… Writing.”

The next few minutes passed in a whirlwind of handshakes, greetings and smiles. Kelly wondered if she would ever remember any of these names.

“Ms. Weir.” A gruff voice behind her made her jump. Kelly spun around. “How are you getting settled in?” Frank Healey, the Realtor who’d given her the key to Rachel’s house stood smiling, his expression expectant.

“Fine, thanks,” Kelly said, relieved to see a familiar face. “It’s good to see you.”

“You, too. This is my wife, Marge.”

Kelly shook hands with a plump woman of about fifty. Her blond hair fell smartly in a short crop. She wore no makeup, and her skin showed the wrinkles that came from years of sun exposure.

“It’s nice to meet you.” Marge nodded thoughtfully, measuring Kelly. “Frank said you looked like Rachel. He was right.”

“I’ve heard that most of my life.” Kelly smiled. “I take it as a compliment.”

“You should.” The skin around Marge’s eyes softened. “Rachel was a lovely girl. Such a shame.”

“Horrible accident.” A deep ache blossomed in Kelly’s chest. She straightened, feeling a renewed determination to get to the bottom of what had actually happened.

“Well.” Marge looked over both shoulders and leaned toward Kelly, dropping her voice to a whisper. “I heard it was drugs.”

Kelly pasted on a shocked expression. As much as she hated gossips, she might have hit the jackpot with Marge Healey.

“Margie,” Frank snapped.

Marge shrugged. “I was shocked to hear it. Not that I’d ever speak ill of the dead.”

Frank cleared his throat, his expression amused. “You need to know anything in this town, Margie’s your gal. Dead or not, she’s got the latest dirt on everyone.”

Sadness flickered through Kelly. Had Rachel changed so much these people wouldn’t question drugs in her system? It didn’t seem possible. “I don’t believe she’d use drugs.” She directed the comment to Marge, hoping for an explanation.

Marge pressed her lips together, shooting a glance at Frank.

“The thought is she got hooked while she worked at the institute,” he said.

“The institute?” Kelly frowned.

“Serenity Pain Institute.” Marge gave a shake of her short hair. “She didn’t last long. Last I heard she was a freelance reporter.”

“We called that out of a job in my day.” Frank fell silent as his gaze landed on Kelly’s serious stance. “Are you enjoying it here?” He patted Kelly’s arm, obviously trying to change the subject. “As much as you can under the circumstances.”

“I am. But, I can’t help admitting I’m concerned about Rachel’s death. Do you think one of her stories got her into trouble?”

Frank and Marge exchanged a quick glance. Kelly’s pulse quickened. She’d obviously struck a chord.

“Now why would you ask that?” Marge gave a tight smile. “Someone been putting ideas in your head?” Marge touched her fingertips to Kelly’s shoulder. “Don’t go looking for trouble where there is none.”

The woman’s comment didn’t sit well. Kelly’s instincts screamed that trouble was exactly what Rachel had discovered, and as the result of her work.

“You folks are monopolizing this young lady’s time.” A deep voice rumbled from behind her, pricking the hairs on the back of her neck to attention.

She turned, chilled instantly by the coldest pair of blue eyes she’d ever seen.

“Vince Miller.” The man extended a hand. “Pleased to meet you.”

Chapter Four

The woman on the other end of the phone let out an exasperated sigh.

“I know it’s a tall order,” Dan said. “But I need a list of your employees whose first names start with ‘S’. Someone left me a message and I couldn’t make out what they said. It’s urgent I reach whoever it was.” He mentally crossed his fingers. If the woman bought his version of the truth, she just might help.

“You do know it’s after hours and I’m the last one here,” she replied. “I was just locking up. Why don’t you call back tomorrow?”

Dan glanced at his watch. Five forty-five. He had to get going to meet Kelly at the chamber. The last thing he wanted was for her to be alone with Miller without him close by.

“I apologize, and I appreciate your time. I do.” He thought for a moment then asked, “What about Shakespeare? Anyone named Shakespeare?”