“We must do something. When one is accused, it seems all around them, all who support them, are accused, as well.”
“You have children. Many children have been accused and now rot in jail.”
“I know.”
“What will we do?”
Devin heard something. A prayer...and then something like a choked-off sob. She turned and saw the body of a woman swinging beneath the heavy branch of the old oak. Head bowed, neck broken...
Or so Devin prayed.
But death was not so merciful and quick. The woman kicked and squirmed. It was horrible to see, until finally...
She was dead, strangled, and the deed was done. And in Devin’s dream the clouds roiled overhead and darkness descended.
She awoke drenched in sweat, almost screaming aloud. A moment later, a worried Auntie Mina was there in her room, trying to comfort her.
“Just a nightmare, love. You had them when you were a child, too.”
“I did?”
“You did, sweetheart. Don’t worry. You’re safe. I’m watching out for you.”
A ghost was watching out for her.
She smiled. “Thank you, Auntie Mina,” she said.
“I love you, dear. Now try to get some sleep,” Aunt Mina said. And then she disappeared.
Devin stared at the ceiling for a moment. Just days ago she’d had a comfortable life, a good career, friends, and she’d been...
Normal.
And now a ghost was reassuring her after a nightmare.
Out in the parlor, Poe let out a sudden caw.
She could almost swear the bird had said, “Nevermore.”
*
Rocky found James Jefferson, the second name on Jenna’s list, living in Lynn and running a mom-and-pop grocery store.
He’d already been to see Mary McCafferty, first on the list. Mary hadn’t driven in ages—she’d broken her leg in several places three weeks ago on a hiking trip to Colorado.
James Jefferson was an affable man, and he recognized Rocky’s name from years past. “I think you were the great white hope when you were here,” he told Rocky. “You don’t remember me—and you wouldn’t. I was only a freshman. Boy, could you throw a football!”
As it turned out, Jefferson had been on vacation in Florida until two nights ago. No, he said in answer to Rocky’s question, his children didn’t use his car. They didn’t even live in the state.
Just as Rocky left the grocery store, he got a call from Jenna and Angela, who had been interviewing the people who lived in Lynn. One, Cindy Marks, had been working a church school carnival the day their Jane Doe had been killed, and half the parish could attest to that. Another, Roger Garcia, was a salesman, and he’d been in Buffalo on the date of Carly Henderson’s murder.
Fourteen. They were down to fourteen names. Then it was thirteen. His next call was from Sam, who had gone down to Boston where Jordan Michaels, a magician by trade, was playing at the convention center. Michaels, it seemed, had been playing to sold-out crowds around the country for the entire summer. Tens of thousands of people could attest to his whereabouts. He’d also been out of state until just a week ago.
“You sure about this list?” Sam asked him.
“No, I’m not sure at all. But we had to start somewhere.” Rocky didn’t like the fact that the parameters he had settled on to narrow down the suspect list involved people he knew. He paused for a moment. “I think I’m going to plan a get-together tonight.”
“Pardon?” Sam said, an edge of disbelief in his voice.
“With three of the people on our list,” Rocky added.
“Ah.” Sam was quiet a minute. “Sorry I doubted you.”
“Yeah. Thanks. Just be ready to party—and pay attention.”
“How are you explaining us?” Sam asked.
“Using guile and a clever ruse—I’m going to tell the truth,” Rocky told him.
When he hung up, he called Jack. He explained that due to simple process of elimination, they were “suspects” and need to answer a few questions.
Jack sighed. “Well, let’s try not to piss off Haley,” he said. “I’d do anything to catch the killer, but don’t forget—I have to live with Haley.”
“Right,” Rocky said. “I’ll be careful. You want to call Vince and Renee, or should I?”
“You don’t really think it could be one of them, do you?”
“No.”
“Then—”
“I have to be sure,” Rocky said.
He hung up and called Devin; he wondered if he had planned the get-together for that night because he didn’t want her to be alone and needed an excuse to spend some more time with her.
Yeah, probably.
But it was also true that his friends were on his suspect list.
When Devin answered, she sounded pleased to hear his voice.
And a little uneasy, as well.
“Are you all right? Has anything happened?” he asked.
“No, nothing, but I’ve been reading all kinds of history books.”
There was something she wasn’t telling him.