The Secrets She Kept

After three calls and a bit of negotiating—which included the offer of a bonus to get a Dr. Pendergast to rearrange his schedule—they had it booked for early Sunday morning. Maisey contacted the funeral home to arrange for transportation, since the coroner didn’t provide that, while Keith started to drive them back to Fairham. After Maisey was done, they called Rocki on his Bluetooth so they could update her.

“It’s all set,” Maisey told her. “The funeral home will pick up Mom’s body from the coroner and take it to the hospital here in Charleston first thing Sunday morning.”

“That’s soon,” Rocki said. “You must be happy about that, Keith.”

“I am,” he said.

“How much are they going to charge us?” she asked.

“Don’t worry about the cost,” Keith replied. “I got it.”

“Are you sure?” Rocki asked. “Doesn’t seem fair.”

“We should all split it,” Maisey suggested, but he shook his head.

“No, this will be on me.”

Maisey loosened her seat belt as if she was having trouble getting comfortable. “There’s just one thing.”

“What?” He was finally feeling encouraged that they were making progress. So why did she sound so concerned and reluctant?

“You’re a very passionate person,” she responded. “Once you grab hold of something, you don’t let go.”

She was right about that. Even when he’d been trying to destroy himself, he’d done a damn fine job of it. “So?” He stopped at a traffic light before taking the turn that would bring them to the ferry and then the island.

“Rocki, do you know where she’s going with this?”

“I’m pretty sure I can guess,” she said.

“As your sisters, we agree with what you’re doing,” Maisey explained. “But we’re also a little worried that Mom’s death will consume you, take over your life.”

Even though Rocki couldn’t see him, he waved their concerns away. “I’m going to catch the bastard who killed her, no matter what.”

“We don’t even know she was killed,” Rocki told him.

“I do,” he said.

8

NANCY SIGHED AS she clicked through the messages she’d received from potential “matches” via the online dating site where she’d put up her profile a couple of months ago. This was where she’d met Tom. Although their relationship hadn’t completely ended, it wasn’t very promising. There had to be someone else out there for her. But she felt no enthusiasm for flirting, didn’t even care to return the messages.

The uncertainty in her life was getting to her, she decided. She refused to believe her disinterest had anything to do with Keith’s presence on the island. She knew better than to let the sight of him change anything. She’d lost her employer and could be losing her job. That was why she’d lost her zest for dating.

Too bad she hadn’t also lost her zest for eating. Tempted to drown her anxiety and frustration in a fudge brownie sundae, she glanced at the kitchen. She didn’t have any brownies. She’d have to bake.

On the plus side, no one could bake more delicious brownies than she could...

She’d just gotten up from her desk when her phone rang. Her sister was calling; she could see Jade’s name and photograph on the screen.

Eager for the distraction, she snatched up her cell. “Hey, what’s going on?”

“I just saw him!” Jade exclaimed.

Nancy was on her way to the pantry so she could take stock of her supplies. Although she’d already gotten groceries, she hadn’t purchased any powdered cocoa, so she’d have to run over to Smitty’s, the island’s only grocery store, again. But at this, she forgot about the brownies. “Saw who?” She thought she had a good idea but hoped she was wrong...

“Keith Lazarow! He and his sister were on the same ferry I was. They were parked right next to me!”

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