His Last Secret

Chapter 6

The knock comes at dawn.

I'm already awake. I haven't slept all night.

Julian answers the door in his robe. His hair is disheveled. He looks like he stayed up too.

Detective Morrison stands on the step. Two officers flank him on either side.

"Mr. Blackwood." His voice is ice cold.

"Detective."

"We need to talk."

Julian doesn't move. "Now isn't a good time."

"It's never a good time when you're obstructing an investigation."

I come up behind Julian. Morrison's eyes land on me immediately.

"Ms. Thorne. I told you to stay away from this case."

"I'm employed here."

"That's not what I'm talking about."

He knows about the cabin. About the photos. Alex must have told him everything.

"I'd like to ask you both some questions. Inside. Now."

Julian steps aside. We don't have a choice.

The officers stay on the porch. Morrison follows us to the study.

He doesn't sit down.

"You went to the Webb cabin last night."

"Who told you that?" Julian asks.

"Your brother."

"Alex called you?"

"Alex is worried about you. He should be."

Morrison pulls out a notebook. Flips it open.

"Elena Blackwood's phone records show activity from that location. Strange, since her phone was never recovered."

"We found it."

"And you didn't think to turn it over to evidence?"

"It was disconnected."

Morrison's jaw tightens.

"Ms. Thorne, you're a forensic accountant. Not a detective. Not a PI. Every step you take could compromise the prosecution."

"What prosecution?"

"Excuse me?"

"There's no suspect. No charges. You haven't arrested anyone."

Morrison's face reddens with anger.

"That doesn't mean you get to play hero."

"I'm not playing anything. I'm trying to find out what happened to Elena. Isn't that your job?"

"He's doing his job," Julian says. "I dragged her into this."

"Stay out of this, Blackwood."

"No. Elena was my wife. I have a right to know."

"You have a right to stay alive."

The room goes quiet.

Morrison looks at me. His expression shifts to something almost like concern.

"I've been doing this job for twenty years. I've seen what happens to people who dig too deep."

"Cases like what?"

"Cases with powerful families. Hidden money. Buried secrets."

"Then help us."

"I can't."

"Why not?"

"Because I answer to people too."

The admission hangs in the air between us.

"The chief of police," I say slowly. "He's connected to the Blackwoods."

Morrison doesn't confirm it. He doesn't have to.

"There's a network here, Ms. Thorne. One that's been in place for decades. You don't break it by poking around old cabins."

"So I should just walk away?"

"Yes. While you still can."

Julian steps forward. "I lost my wife. My unborn child. I deserve answers."

"You deserve to live."

"And what about Elena? What does she deserve?"

Morrison closes his notebook. He looks tired.

"She deserves justice. But justice doesn't always come from the truth."

"Then where does it come from?"

He doesn't answer.

He walks to the door. Pauses with his hand on the handle.

"Alex told me about the adoption agency. Hope's Promise."

"Then you know there's a connection."

"I know that place was shut down for a reason. Reopening old wounds won't help anyone."

"Not even Elena?"

"Especially not Elena."

He leaves.

The front door closes. I hear his car pull away.

I turn to Julian.

"He knows more than he's saying."

"He's been bought."

"Or threatened."

"Same thing."

We stand in silence for a long moment.

"Does that change anything?" I ask.

"Does it change anything for you?"

I think about the threats. The car chase. The cabin with its secrets.

"I'm not stopping."

Julian almost smiles.

"Good. Because we're going to find Margaret."

"Morrison will find out."

"Let him."

We grab our coats from the hall closet.

The estate is waking up around us. Cooks in the kitchen. Groundskeepers outside.

I feel eyes on me as we walk to the car.

"Someone's going to tell him."

"Let them."

Julian starts the engine.

"Margaret Webb. Last known address is in the town records."

"Where?"

"Rosewood Lane. Twenty minutes from here."

"You know the address?"

"I know everything about the people connected to my wife."

I look at him. There's something dark in his voice.

"How long have you been investigating, Julian?"

He doesn't answer.

"Before you hired me?"

"Yes."

"What did you find?"

"Nothing. They were too careful."

"But you kept digging."

"I had to."

"Why?"

He grips the wheel tight.

"Because I loved her. And I need to know why she died."

The car pulls out of the gates.

I watch the mansion shrink in the side mirror.

Someone is watching from a window.

I can't tell who it is.

"Julian."

"What?"

"We're being followed."

He checks the mirror. A black sedan sits two cars back.

"Morrison."

"Or one of his people."

"Or someone else."

We take a sharp left turn. The sedan follows.

"Hang on."

Julian floors the accelerator.

The car roars as we tear through side streets. The sedan keeps perfect pace.

"They're good."

"Too good."

Julian takes another turn. Then another.

The sedan is still right behind us.

"Whoever they are, they know these streets."

"Blackwood land. Everyone knows it."

We approach a roundabout.

"Hold on."

Julian whips the car around. We spin in a full circle.

The sedan brakes hard to avoid hitting us.

We're facing them now.

I see the driver clearly.

Mrs. Harlow.

The housekeeper.

She stares at us through the windshield. No expression at all.

Then she reverses and drives away.

"Mrs. Harlow was following us?"

"Apparently."

"Why?"

"Because she's loyal to someone."

"Who?"

"Not me."

We sit in the silent car.

"She works for Alex."

"Alex works for himself."

"So what does that make her?"

Julian's face is pale.

"I don't know anymore."

We drive to Rosewood Lane.

But now I know someone else is watching.

And she's much closer than we ever thought.