Search the Dark

Bennett had closed down his medical practice a few years ago, but he was always ready to listen and sympathize with Mom’s complaints. He’d describe himself as a family friend, probably, but Meredith had always believed he didn’t care much for her. She was too sensible and practical, too much like her father. Bennett, ridiculously old-fashioned for his age, liked women who were frilly and flirtatious, and who at least pretended to be a bit helpless when there was a man around.

Still, she had to be grateful to Bennett for tonight’s visit, since it removed the temptation to confront her mother about searching her room.

A flicker of movement from outside caught Meredith’s eye, and she leaned forward for a better look. Someone had come down the drive, apparently, and was headed toward the path to the pond. A faint uneasiness touched her, moving like a breeze across her skin.

People did come through this way, even though it involved walking across their property. She wouldn’t ordinarily say anything, but something about the way that figure drifted silently along...

Her breath caught. She recognized the shape and the movement. It was Laura Hammond.

What was Laura doing here? She rarely went out at night, and certainly not alone and on foot. The unease strengthened to concern. With a quick glance toward the door to the living room, Meredith slipped out onto the back porch.

Dusk drew in earlier now, and the air had cooled down from this afternoon’s balmy seventies. She should go back for a flashlight and jacket, but something insisted she hurry. Laura was already disappearing into the trees.

Meredith walked swiftly across the back lawn. Daylight lingered enough here to make the way easily visible, but shadows gathered beyond, where the path wound toward the dam.

Laura had every right to go there, but at the risk of appearing a hopeless busybody, Meredith knew she couldn’t ignore this visit. Certainly Victor didn’t know Laura was heading for the spot where she used to meet Aaron, the place where Aaron died.

The woods closed around Meredith once she reached the path. She could call to Laura, but the same impulse that had compelled her to follow also urged her to silence.

A thought struck her, nearly taking her breath away. What if Laura was meeting someone else there, where she’d once met Aaron? Her step faltered. Well, if so, Meredith would have to hope she could slip away undetected.

Her sneakers made no sound on the soft earth, and only the faint rustle of the weeds on either side of the path disturbed the stillness.

A branch snapped somewhere off to her left, and her heart stuttered. Foolish. An animal, probably.

She could see the surface of the pool now, gleaming through the trees, and she slowed, coming to a cautious halt when she reached the edge of the clearing. She drew in a breath. Where was Laura? The path didn’t lead anywhere else, but the clearing lay empty before her.

A sound drifted through the air—a kind of tuneless humming that started and stopped. As Meredith’s eyes adjusted to the dark she spotted Laura, sitting on a log in the shadow of the big oak that overhung the dam. Her arms were wrapped around her knees, and she rocked back and forth, as if in time to some music only she could hear.

Meredith approached slowly, trying not to startle her. “Laura?”

Laura didn’t turn, but the slightest movement of her shoulders acknowledged Meredith’s presence.

“What are you doing out here by yourself?” Some instinct kept her voice soft, her movements slow.

She sat down next to Laura on the log, feeling the rough bark even through her khakis. Laura was wearing a short-sleeved sweater and a soft, full skirt—hardly the apparel for walking in the woods.

“I come...sometimes.” Her words were as soft and fragmented as the tune she’d been humming. “I...” She seemed to lose focus for a moment. “I’m waiting.”

Meredith pressed her hands against the log, grateful for the bite of the texture grounding her. If she really wanted to find out what Laura knew about Aaron’s death, this might be the only opportunity she’d have.

“What are you waiting for?”

Laura’s forehead puckered. “I don’t remember.”

She was on something, Meredith felt sure. The slightly slurred speech, the unfocused stare... Still, it might be a medication that had been prescribed for her. Even so, she shouldn’t be out here alone, and the pity Meredith felt for her overwhelmed her desire to question the poor woman.

“It’s getting chilly, and you don’t have a jacket. Why don’t you come in the house with me? I’ll make you a cup of tea.”

“That’s very kind of you.” From somewhere, Laura pulled up the appropriate response. “But I can’t go yet. I have to tell him something.”

“Tell who?” She thought she already knew the answer, and a chill settled inside her.

“Aaron, of course.” Laura looked at her, an expression of surprise on her face. “You know that. You know I have to tell him.”

Was Laura imagining that Meredith was one of her high school friends? Jeannette, maybe, who’d always been her best friend, even when they were teenagers. She’d always thought Jeannette an odd choice of best friend for the most popular girl in the valley.

“I don’t think he’d want you to wait out here in the cold, would he?” She took Laura’s arm, attempting to get her to her feet. “Let’s go back to the house.”

“I can’t.” Laura rose, but her voice rose, too. “You know I can’t. It’s important. I have to tell him. It changes everything. I have to tell Aaron.”

The chill seemed to expand, surrounding Meredith’s heart. Laura wasn’t talking about whispering a message to Aaron in the place he’d died. She was back there, twenty years ago, waiting for Aaron to meet her.

“Aaron? Where are you?” Laura called out, taking a step toward the dam and the foaming water.

Meredith caught her arm. “He’s not here. He couldn’t come tonight. You can tell him later.” She tugged at her, suddenly desperate to get Laura back to lights and warmth and other people.

Laura strained toward the dam. Meredith held on, afraid of what Laura might do if she let go. She needed help, she couldn’t cope with this alone—

The pressure on Meredith’s hand stopped. Laura stared at the water. And then she buried her face in her hands, her body trembling as she began to weep soundlessly.

Meredith wrapped an arm around her and hustled her toward the path. “It’s all right. Really. We’ll soon get you home. Everything will be all right.”

Nonsense words, and false besides. She didn’t think everything was going to be all right for Laura for a long time, maybe not ever. But the words were meant to comfort, and maybe they did that, at least.

They stumbled up the path. It wasn’t really wide enough for two, but Meredith was afraid to let go of the woman, so she walked through the weeds. Berry brambles caught at her pant legs, but she kept forging ahead, absurdly glad to see the lights of the house still on and even to see her mother and Bennett seated at the card table in the living room.

Bennett was a doctor. Maybe she should ask him for help with Laura.

But Bennett was also an incurable busybody, and if her mother saw Laura like this, it would be all over Deer Run by morning. Better just to put Laura in the car and run her home. Her mother would hear the car going out, of course, but Meredith could think of some explanation by the time she got back.

But she didn’t have her keys. She’d have to go in the house for them, risk having her mother hear what was going on—

A light stabbed her in the face, and she lifted one hand to shield her eyes, clutching Laura with the other.

“What are you doing with Laura?” Jeannette lowered the flashlight she held, rushing toward them like an avenging angel.

“Keep your voice down unless you want my mother and Bennett Campbell out here,” Meredith said in a furious whisper. “I was about to run Laura home.”

Jeannette shielded the flashlight with her fingers, letting out enough light to examine Laura’s face. The tears had stopped, thank goodness, but her face was still wet with them, and she’d begun humming again. Meredith’s heart clenched with pity.

“My car’s still out,” Jeannette said abruptly. “I’ll drive her.”

Meredith nodded. She had no desire to face Victor with explanations. “I’ll help you get her to the car.”

Laura’s humming had been replaced with a soft murmur of words Meredith couldn’t understand. Did Jeannette? She glanced at Jeannette in the circle of light from the streetlamp as they crossed the road, but Jeannette’s face was expressionless. Maybe she was used to this. Being Laura’s best friend couldn’t be an easy task.

Jeannette steered them to her car, which was parked at the curb, and opened the rear door. Wordlessly they helped Laura inside. She promptly slid over to lie down on the seat. Jeannette closed the door.

“I’ll take it from here.” She yanked the driver’s door open. “Thank you.” The words were an after-thought, apparently. She started the car and drove off.

Meredith shivered, rubbing her arms as she watched the red taillights recede down the nearly empty street. It didn’t look as if anyone had noticed them. She’d better get inside before she was missed.

When she reached her own driveway again, she couldn’t help glancing at Jeannette’s place, and she sucked in a breath. She’d been wrong. Someone had noticed them. Zach stood in the upstairs window, and he was looking right at her.

Meredith turned and fled for the back door.

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