Books, Picnics And Murder Page 3

  -The Secret Keeper

  “What is happening?” Clary asked in annoyance.

  “I don’t care,” Marie waved her hand in annoyance. “Listen to me, something is very wrong with Luke. I thought he was just being realistic, but it’s more than that. He knows the child is dead, Clary. How would he even know that?”

  “Maybe it’s just hope,” Adam said suddenly, walking up behind them.

  “What do you mean?” Clary asked him quickly, glad that someone was still talking to her.

  “Listen, I don’t know why you sent that text,” Adam said, giving her a reproving look, “but I can’t argue with your results.”

  “I didn’t…” Clary started, but Adam cut her off.

  “Luke had a lot more shares in the business before Elijah was born. I don’t know how he did it, but Bryan rearranged things so that Elijah will come into most of Northwood’s shares when he’s old enough. Luke will probably lose his seat on the board.” Adam nodded to where Luke was standing, looking noble in his designer clothes and leather shoes. “I don’t know about you, but I think he likes to live big.”

  “You think he did this?” Marie asked.

  “Elijah couldn’t swim, why would he be near the lake?” Adam asked.

  Chapter 4

  “I have to ask,” Clary said, walking up to where Luke was standing, “why are you so convinced that he’s dead?”

  “I can’t tell you,” Luke sighed, “but I didn’t kill him.”

  “More people would believe you if you told us the truth.”

  “More people will believe me when they find him.”

  “Okay,” Clary said heavily, tilting her head thoughtfully. “Tell me about him. About Eli.”

  “I came home this weekend because he called me,” Luke explained, still staring out at the water. He was straining to see, his eyes flitting all over the surface as though he was trying to find his nephew. His shoes were getting wet as the lake water lapped at them, but he didn’t care. He could’ve moved an inch back, but he was standing as close to the edge as he could get. Clary had no doubt that he was contemplating whether he should jump in and start searching by himself.

  “Why did he ask you to come?” Clary asked.

  “He never asked, he just called. I could hear in his voice that something was wrong. I was going to surprise him at the picnic today, but now we’re looking for his body. Life’s strange, isn’t it?”

  “You sound like you’re the one person who would keep looking forever, so why did you give up hope?” she asked, ignoring his philosophical musing. He didn’t sound like a killer, but then again, no one really did. Either he was the most pessimistic person on the planet, or he was the worst murderer. Clary wished she knew which.

  “I didn’t,” Luke admitted. “I just know the truth.”

  “How did he end up in the lake?” she asked. “You said Eli can’t swim. Why would he come to the lake?”

  “It wasn’t an accident,” Luke snapped. “He didn’t choose to come here. He was forced.” His voice broke and Clary put a hand on his shoulder as he tried to collect himself. So far, everything was pointing to Luke. Why would he say something like that?

  “Who forced him to come here? What happened to Payton?”

  “I don’t know where she is,” Luke told her, “and I don’t care. She should’ve done a better job of looking after Eli. If Bryan knew anything about his son, he wouldn’t have chosen her to look after him. This is their fault.”

  “Bryan said that Payton was good for Eli. She kept him company and looked after him. I’m sure she didn’t mean to lose him. Maybe she’s out there looking for him now. Or maybe she’s lost too. You never know what’s going on.”

  “I do,” Luke said firmly. “Don’t pretend to know us. Bryan should’ve done a better job. This is all his fault.”

  “Don’t say that,” Clary said gently, “he loves his son.”

  “Like I said,” Luke moved away, brushing Clary’s hand off his shoulder as he went, “don’t pretend to know us.”

  Clary shook her head and walked back to where Marie was still talking to Adam. She turned back to look at Luke one last time, and so she wasn’t looking when she nearly walked into someone.

  “I’m so sorry,” Clary said quickly, “you won’t believe how many times I do that. Are you okay?”

  “I’m fine,” the young woman said with a tight smile, “you didn’t actually walk into me.”

  “That’s a relief. Are you here to join the pessimists?”

  “Pessimists?” the young woman asked in confusion.

  “Yeah,” Clary sighed, “those who believe that Eli’s in the water.”

  “Oh, no,” the woman shook her head. “I’m here to find Payton, no one seems to care that she’s missing too.”

  “I did notice that,” Clary admitted. “Are you two close?”

  “We’re best friends,” the woman admitted.

  “If you don’t think they’re in the lake, then why are you on this side? Shouldn’t you be with the search party? I think you’ll probably find them quicker if you’re on that side anyway.”

  “I need to talk to Luke,” the woman said uncomfortably.

  “Don’t worry,” Clary said conspiratorially, “lots of people think he’s guilty.”

  “Do you?” the woman asked in a hushed tone.

  “I think he’s acting strangely,” Clary admitted, turning to look at the uncle.

  “Me too,” the woman nodded. “I’m Kim.”

  “I’m Clary. So, Kim, why do you think he’s acting strangely?”

  “He’s always been like that,” Kim told her, glaring at him. “He thinks he’s all that because he’s rich and handsome.”

  “Well, that’s usually enough to drive any woman crazy. How did Payton stay sane?” Kim’s silence told her that Payton had indeed lost her mind over Luke. “How interesting,” Clary said. “Did he like her back?”

  “I don’t know,” Kim shrugged. “I don’t think she ever let on how she felt. She was very professional at work. Payton loves kids, and she really cares about Eli. I don’t think she wanted Eli to think that she was just spending time with him because of Luke.”

  “That was kind of her,” Clary commented. “She doesn’t sound like the type of person who’d leave Eli behind somewhere.”

  “No,” Kim shook her head emphatically. “She’d never. Trust me, wherever Eli is, that’s where we’ll find Payton.”

  “Is that why you want to talk to Luke? You think he knows where Payton is?”

  “He must know,” Kim said.

  “Listen,” Clary said gently. “I wouldn’t go talk to him. You’ll just get upset, he didn’t speak well of her when I spoke to him.”

  “No,” Kim insisted, “you don’t understand. He has to know where she is. He’s the last person who saw her.”

  “Wait, what?” Clary asked. “How do you know that?”

  “I work at the hotel,” Kim said, “she came to see him yesterday afternoon.”

  “You’ve got to be kidding me,” Clary said in annoyance. “He never said anything. Are you sure she went to see him?”

  “She told me so,” Kim said honestly. “She met me in the kitchen, and then she went up to his room.”

  “Where was Eli?” Clary asked urgently.

  “She said he was with a friend.”

  “Which one?”

  “I don’t know,” Kim shrugged. “I’m sorry, but I’ve got to catch him before he gets on the boat.”

  Clary nodded and walked over to where Marie was waiting to get on the boat.

  “Did you find anything?” Marie asked curiously.

  “Yes,” Clary said thoughtfully. “Luke’s hiding something. You’re right.” Marie’s reply was drowned out by the sound of another boat starting up and heading out on the water. The two of them looked up at the sound, and Clary was filled with an inexplicable feeling of dread. Something about the sound raised the hairs at the back of her neck.

>   Kim was standing on the edge of the lake, her face thunderous as Luke’s boat sped off.

  “You ladies need to get on the boat,” the captain said gruffly. “We need to set up the nets, and the divers need to get going.” Clary gave one last longing look at the shore, but quickly climbed aboard, trying to squash the uneasy feeling in her stomach. Marie gave her a knowing look and handed her a life jacket.

  “I think we need to sit this one out,” Marie told her as she laced up the jacket.

  “Why?” Clary asked in confusion. “I thought you wanted to help.”

  “People are angry about that message,” Marie explained. “There are horrible rumors going around. Maybe if we go home and stay out of this one, then people will see that they’re not true.”

  “We can’t do that,” Clary shook her head. “That’s what the Secret Keeper wants. You and I know the truth, that should be enough.”

  “This person is setting you up,” Marie insisted. “Think about it. The notes and sneaking into the shop. Then that text message. They want you to look bad. If you don’t take the bait, then their plan will fail. They’ll find the child without you. You don’t need to be here.”

  “This isn’t about me finding the child,” Clary snapped. “I don’t want attention or glory. I want to help as much as I can. I don’t care who finds him, all I care about is that Payton and Eli come home safely. Marie, shame on you, I thought you’d have more faith in me.”

  “This isn’t about faith,” Marie hissed. “I’m telling you what I found. It’s my opinion.”

  “There aren’t enough people to help Sanchez and Ben. I’m helping them. I’ve found a lot in these few hours. It will take them longer to do it on their own, and they might not have that much time. I don’t care what people think about me. I’ll go home when they’re home too.”

  “You’re being stubborn,” Marie warned her. “What if we find them in the lake?”

  “Then I’ll help them find the murderer.”

  “Why do you do this?” Marie asked in frustration. “Why do you get involved?”

  “I can’t look away when bad things happen,” Clary said in a small voice. “Not because I’m better, or because I’m nosy. I can’t look away, because I’ve seen what happens when everyone does. If I keep looking, then at least one more person is helping out.”

  “You don’t make any sense,” Marie shook her head. The sound of shouting emanated from the other boat, and the two of them got to their feet. Their boat had just come alongside the other one, and people were preparing to attach the nets. One or two people in wetsuits were busy setting up their diving masks and preparing to go under.

  No one was wearing police uniforms, proving once again that this was a privately funded expedition.

  “Here,” the captain said gruffly. His clothes stank of fish and Clary had to stop herself from taking a step back. He thrust a pair of binoculars in their hands and then he was talking to the divers. From their expressions, they didn’t enjoy his body odor or gruff demeanor either.

  “What’s happening on that boat?” the captain shouted to their neighbors. Clary lifted her binoculars and focused on what was happening. People were scrambling to the side, and Luke was pushing them aside as he hoisted a pole over his head.

  “It looks like they found something,” Clary called, her voice full of dread. Everyone on the boat went still with anticipation. The captain pushed his way back and grabbed Marie’s binoculars. She made a sound of protest, but he ignored her as he put them to his eyes.

  “You’re right,” he said, scanning the water below.

  “It can’t be the boy,” Marie said in horror, sitting down on the bench and clasping her hands together. The divers also looked at each other. The shouting from the other boat quietened down until the only sounds were the indignant seagulls and the slapping of water against the boats. Clary kept watching, unable to look away.

  “What’s happening?” one of the divers asked in a subdued tone.

  “I don’t know,” the captain said, shrugging, “it looks like he’s fishing around for something.”

  “Do you think it’s the boy?” Marie asked in a small voice.

  “If it is, then that guy’s going to jail,” the other diver said. It was hard to tell them apart since Clary didn’t know them. The one who had spoken had a small mole on his upper lip, and so she decided to call them Mole and Blondie.

  “If he’s the murderer then he’s the dumbest murderer ever,” Blondie shook his head in disgust. “Maybe he’s some sort of psycho?”

  “My money is on dumb,” Mole snorted, “too much money made him soft. He probably thinks he can get away with it. Not this time, too many people think he did it.”

  “This is hardly the time,” Marie chided in disgust. “Maybe the poor man is crazy with worry. How would you two feel?”

  “We wouldn’t murder our nephew,” Blondie sneered.

  “It’s not a body,” the captain announced as Luke pulled the pole back aboard.

  Marie let out a sigh of relief, but Clary’s heart clenched. Somehow the sight of a child’s baseball cap was worse.

  Chapter 5

  “How do they know it’s Elijah’s baseball cap?” Logan asked curiously.

  “Luke bought it for him,” Clary explained, resting her head against her knees. She shut her eyes to get the world to stop spinning. She groaned when it didn’t work.

  Clary had never gotten seasick before. But when the rest of the search party decided to continue searching the lake after finding Elijah’s baseball cap, her stomach rebelled. Thankfully, the captain didn’t complain too much about taking her back to land. As soon as her feet hit solid ground, the dizziness washed over her like a vicious wave. Marie decided to continue searching for Elijah but had thought ahead to call Logan to Clary’s aid. Unfortunately, he wasn’t doing much to remedy the situation. He patted her back awkwardly and asked her not to throw up on his shoes.

  “Maybe it blew off in the wind,” Logan suggested, but the words didn’t even convince him.

  “Did you guys find anything in the woods?” Clary asked, taking deep breaths.

  “Not really,” Logan said, looking discouraged, “but I’ve heard a few interesting theories.”

  “I don’t even want to know what they’re saying about me,” Clary said quickly, leaning her head backwards.

  “I wasn’t going to say anything about that,” Logan protested, shifting his eyes away. “I was talking about Ava.”

  “Okay,” she said slowly, “what did you hear about Ava?”

  “I’m sure you’ve probably figured out that Bryan isn’t exactly close to his son.”

  “Do I know everything you’re about to tell me?” Clary interrupted, rubbing her temples.

  “No,” he said slowly, “I don’t think so. What do you know about Ava?”

  “Not much,” Clary admitted, “I know she’s Elijah’s stepmother. She doesn’t seem like the motherly type, but I don’t think she’s a bad person.”

  “That’s a matter of opinion,” Logan said. “In this town, not being the motherly type is as bad as it gets. There are four popular theories so far.”

  “And people are saying I’m nosy?” Clary scoffed, the world was starting to spin less, so she risked looking at Logan. He smiled at her encouragingly and held up his thumbs. She shook her head at him, but a small smile tugged at the corners of her mouth.

  “Do you want to hear the theories or not?” he asked, mirroring her little smile.

  “Yeah, okay,” she sighed, stretching her legs out in front of her.

  “Number one, of course, is that dear Uncle Luke did it for the money. The next one is interesting, they’re saying that Payton’s holding him for ransom. Which is unlikely, because she doesn’t seem like she’s stupid, but anyway. They’re also saying that Elijah’s visiting family and Bryan completely forgot.”

  “I’m sure Bryan’s happy about that one,” Clary joked, raising an eyebrow.

  �
��I think he’s focusing on finding Elijah,” Logan said uncomfortably.

  “What’s the last one?” she asked before an awkward silence could interrupt their conversation.

  “They’re saying that Ava did it,” Logan said, standing up and offering his hand to Clary. She hesitated for a second, but then let him help her up.

  “Where are we going?” she asked as she tried not to fall over.

  “I thought you’d want to go talk to her, so I just cut to the chase,” he explained with an impish grin and opened the car door for her. She ignored him and got into the car, hoping that the drive over to Northwood mansion wouldn’t reignite her nausea.

  “Why would I pay attention to these rumors?” Clary asked him as soon as he got in. “They’re saying horrible things about me, and those things aren’t true. They could be doing the same to Ava. Like you said, not being the motherly type is the same as treason around here. I’m not going to bother her if there’s nothing true about the rumors.”

  “I thought so too at first,” Logan explained, “but then I heard what they had to say. Apparently, she never wanted to be Elijah’s mother. Bryan never told her about him until they had been dating for about a year. She was completely blindsided by it all, but then she decided to stick it out. Bryan never spent much time with Elijah, but after he married Ava, he spent even less time with him.”

  “I’m sorry, but I’m not going to blame Ava for Bryan’s distant parenting. If they’re so concerned about Bryan, why aren’t they accusing him of all this?”

  “Bryan’s distant, but apparently Ava’s a nightmare. She can’t always be with him, so she has to stay with Elijah sometimes. Quite a few parents saw her yell at him a few times. I don’t know, maybe she was jealous of him or something. People have done a lot more for a lot less.”

  “I don’t think she should’ve yelled at him,” Clary conceded, “but maybe Elijah didn’t like her either? I can’t imagine what it’s like to try and take care of someone else’s kid, especially if you don’t want to.”

  “You don’t think that’s a little suspicious?” Logan asked in surprise.