Free Marta Perry by Search the Dark

there must be microphones in the walls.”
    “I could almost believe it.” His lips curved just a little. “But even if word got out about the note...”
    “It seems to give Aaron a reason for suicide, you see. Sarah, one of my Amish cousins, says that now his parents fear he killed himself, and it’s causing them so much pain. She wanted me to try and find something that would reassure them.”
    “You talked to Laura?” His cop’s mind leaped ahead of hers, following the trail to its obvious conclusion.
    “I’m afraid my meddling stirred it all up again for Laura. When I found her at the dam last night...” A shiver went through her despite the warmth of the afternoon sun. “Honestly, she was talking so wildly it frightened me. I can’t do it. I’m going to tell Sarah there’s nothing else to try.”
    “There’s always something to try, even in a cold case,” he said, and she could practically see his mind ticking away. “I’d love to get my hands on whatever records exist from the time.”
    “I’m afraid that will never happen.” She could just imagine Chief Burkhalter’s response if she asked for such a thing. But still, Zach’s expression of interest moved her. “And I can’t be responsible for hurting anyone else. But thanks.” She smiled at him, all the enmity vanished and she actually thought they might be friends again.
    A flicker of movement caught her eye, resolving itself into Jeannette Walker, who was bearing down on them intently. Zach seemed to sense her approach at the same time and drew back from the counter.
    “I see you two are getting reacquainted.” Jeannette’s comments always sounded acidic, and this was no exception.
    Meredith gave her a cool smile. “It’s always nice to renew old friendships.”
    “Victor stopped to see you today.” Jeannette was abrupt. If she intended to repeat Victor’s thanks, she was going about it oddly. “If he didn’t tell you this, I will. Leave Laura alone.”
    Meredith could only gape at her for a moment, unprepared for a frontal attack. “I don’t know what you mean. If I hadn’t gone after her when I saw her headed for the dam last night—”
    “She wouldn’t have been there at all if you and that friend of yours hadn’t stirred up memories that are better forgotten.” Jeannette clutched her oversized bag in one hand as if she’d like to take a swing with it. “I’m warning you. Stop poking your nose into what happened to Laura and Aaron, or you’re likely to find out something you won’t want to know.”
    Meredith stiffened. “I’m sorry if I reminded Laura of a painful episode in her life.” She ought to tell Jeannette she had no intention of pursuing the subject, but Jeannette might think she’d succeeded in intimidating her. “But there’s nothing I fear about the past.”
    Fear, no. Regret, maybe. She carefully didn’t look at Zach.
    “Don’t you?” Jeannette’s penciled eyebrows lifted. “But then, you don’t know everything there is to know about your sainted father, now, do you?” She turned and stalked away, leaving Meredith staring after her, mind reeling.
    “Merry?” Zach’s use of his pet name for her nearly shattered her precarious control. “You’re not taking that poisonous female seriously, are you?”
    She could only stare at him. “What did she mean? My father didn’t have anything to do with Laura and Aaron. And he never did anything that I’d be ashamed of.”
    “Forget her.” Zach’s hand closed over hers in a firm, comforting grip. “She’s just trying to scare you into dropping it. And since you’ve already decided to do just that, it doesn’t matter what she says.”
    Meredith shook her head, the truth crystallizing in her mind. “No. Don’t you see? I can’t give up on it now, not after what Jeannette implied. I have to prove my father didn’t do anything to be ashamed of.”
    Jeannette probably had no idea what she’d done, but she’d just made it impossible for