Facing Evil Read online

  “Can’t do what?” Abby cried out.

  ♥

  By the time her Honda hit the blacktop, hot tears were streaming freely down Sarah’s face. The guilt she was feeling was digging into her soul as the pain of her betrayal weighed heavily on her. She hadn’t gone fishing to fall in the lake, but it had happened, and there was nothing she could do about it. She hadn’t come to Gold Creek to fall in love, and there was nothing she could do about that, either. She had indeed come to Gold Creek for a reason, and there was something she could do about that. Wiping away her tears, Sarah considered what she was going to do.

  She pulled up in front of the phone booth at Flanagan’s and walked silently past the young redheaded boy on the steps. She closed the door of the booth against the ears of her audience and then lifted the receiver. She tapped her fingernails against the glass as she waited.

  “Daniels,” the voice on the other end of the phone answered gruffly.

  “It’s Murphy.”

  He was not one to waste words. “What?”

  “I’m not doing this. I can’t.” She hoped he didn’t hear the tremor in her voice. “Did you hear me? I’m done; get someone else.”

  “Didn’t we do this yesterday? I thought I had made it perfectly clear — you’re doing it, and you’ll finish it.”

  “Forget it. There’s no story here.”

  “I give the orders around here, Murphy, not you. That mouthy bitch is a walking front page and a guaranteed two percent increase in sales. I want to know who she’s eating breakfast with and who she’s fucking sleeping with. Stanfield is news and that’s all I care about — the story. So get the goddamned story!”

  Sarah closed her eyes and weighed her decision. It had taken her years to get this kind of job and she was about to throw it all away. “Well, I’m not doing it! I quit!”

  “Am I supposed to care? Because I don’t. You’re there to work, not lay around on a company expense account! Quit if you want. It’ll take you a year to pay back what you’ve already spent there, and besides that, you’ll never sell another story or write another byline. Do you hear me?”

  Sarah felt her stomach drop at the threat. “You wouldn’t dare.”

  Quitting was one thing, destroying her entire career, all she had worked so hard for — that she hadn’t counted on. She cringed at the enjoyment in his normally curt voice.

  “Wouldn’t I? You’re not that big, Sarah Murphy. You’ve got a cute smile and a nice ass, and you can string a few sentences together, but if you decide to fuck with me, I’ll bury you. When I’m done, you won’t even be able to write the classified ads for the Iowa Farm Report! You’re a peon in this business and that’s yesterday’s news wrapped around a dead fish. I chose you to get to her, to get the story, Murphy. Get the story!”

  The phone was slammed down and Sarah hung her head in defeat. She had nothing but her job and she had been willing to give that up. Regrettably, this wasn’t just her job…Daniels was threatening her career.

  She went back to her car and dug around in her purse until she had her notebook. Finding what she was looking for, she picked up the phone and dialed. She held a five-minute conversation with her bank before hanging up. She looked down at the figure she had written: $127.65, the grand total of her life savings.

  Chapter 9

  Every time she heard a sound Abby wondered if it was Sarah returning, but there was still no sign of her. The longer she waited, the more imaginative her mind became as to where Sarah had gone and why. Rising from her deck chair, Abby strolled back into her cabin for another cup of coffee. She took a sip as she glanced at her watch, wandered aimlessly back outside, and back to the nagging questions. Fifteen minutes later, her cup was empty and her patience had run out.

  “Stay here, Buck,” she ordered as she made her way down her steps and then through the trees to Sarah’s cabin. The layout of the deck and the cabin were similar to Abby’s, just a little smaller. Walking across the deck, she felt a bit strange as she glanced into the darkened cabin.

  “I’m not snooping, I’m just concerned,” she whispered to herself as she stood in front of the doors. Leaning in, she cupped her hands on the glass to block the bright sun as she peered inside. Sarah’s laptop was sitting open on the table and that relieved some of Abby’s concern. “Okay, so you didn’t leave.”

  Turning away from the cabin, Abby glanced over the lake. “Where the hell have you gone, Sarah?” There were not many places to go, and even fewer things to rush out for. Glancing back over her shoulder, Abby looked at the open laptop.

  “Forget it, Stanfield, you’re out of your jurisdiction and way out of line,” Abby muttered under her breath. Walking away from the temptation, she reached to her breast pocket, but stopped when she remembered she no longer smoked. She put her foot up on the railing and struggled with her desire to peek at the computer on which Sarah always seemed to be writing.

  Just a quick look, she thought as she walked back to the front door, but only if the door is open. Abby reached out for the handle, though stopped before she touched it. “What am I doing?” she said out loud, but the moment of hesitation passed and she grabbed the handle and entered Sarah’s cabin.

  Abby could smell a hint of Sarah’s perfume in the warm, stagnant air as she moved further into the cabin. Her dark eyes went from the laptop on the table to the open bedroom door. “Sarah?” Abby called out. Leaning into the bedroom, she scanned the discarded clothes and the empty suitcase. There was nothing there to tell her where Sarah might have gone. She looked once more at the inviting computer on the table. With hesitant steps she made her way over until she was looking down at the dark screen. Just what is it that you are always writing? Abby crossed her arms as if the gesture would quench her desire to push the power button.

  “Ah, what could it hurt?” she said as she reached to turn the computer on.

  Buck’s howl stopped her and her hand froze in mid-air. A car was approaching, its tires crushing gravel. Like a child whose hand has been caught in the cookie jar, Abby felt her face grow hot as she realized where she was and what she had almost done. Not only had she betrayed Sarah’s trust, but she had invaded her privacy.

  With three long strides, Abby was across the room and out the door before she heard the motor turn off in between Buck’s urgent barks. It was only when she looked around the edge of the cabin at the driveway that she realized with great relief the vehicle she had heard must be in her driveway, not Sarah’s. Rounding the backside of the log structure, she recognized the vehicle immediately. “Buck, cease!” she called out as she came through the trees.

  “He’s scary when you’re not around,” Sarah said with a nervous smile, standing next to her car.

  “I was just over at your place looking for you. You left so quickly this morning, I never had a chance to...” to what? Stanfield — think about what you’re about to say. Chance to what? Kiss you good morning. To tell you that I think I am falling in love with you. Chance to what? Abby’s mind shut down her comment before she had a chance to finish it.

  “I uh, I need to apologize for that. I guess I should’ve waited for you to...umm...to wake up.” Sarah stumbled over her words, not wanting to explain why she’d felt the need to leave at the crack of dawn.

  For her part, Abby was avoiding saying that she had heard Sarah’s departing words that morning. She was uncertain whether she wanted to know their true meaning. “No, that’s okay. I was just surprised that you left, and I uh...I wanted to make sure you were all right. That was a scary day yesterday.” Finding her feet back on solid ground, Abby decided not to push the reason for Sarah’s early departure.

  “I’m okay. A little stiff and sore, but that’s all,” Sarah said with a smile.

  “I’m glad to hear that.” Abby walked around the end of the Honda and got a little closer. Now only a few feet apart, she could see the redness of Sarah’s eyes.

  Standing next to her open car door, Sarah felt Abby’s gaze and she knew s
he couldn’t withstand the close scrutiny, so she bent down to hide her face. “It seems that young boy at Flanagan’s remembered selling you one of these,” she said as she pulled out a new fishing rod.

  Abby laughed. “I guess they’re making their money off of us this season.”

  “Looks like it.”

  “How about trying it out? You know what they say about getting back on the horse that bucked you off.”

  Sarah looked at the still surface of the lake. “Yes, I do, but I think I’d rather have a nap.”

  “Are you sure?” Abby did her best to hide her disappointment as she could tell Sarah was tired.

  “I just wanted to come over to thank you again and to let you know I had replaced the fishing rod.”

  “The rod was yours; it was a gift. Maybe tomorrow?”

  “Maybe,” Sarah tendered, but it didn’t sound sincere.

  The weekend passed with only a few hellos and the odd wave, Sarah and Abby never meeting; that was the way Sarah wanted it. There were always judgment calls for a reporter — what was part of the story and what was not, what was a betrayal of confidence and what was good journalism — and as Sarah stared at the blinking cursor, she knew she no longer had any idea of where the boundaries were.

  ♥

  Abby woke up with an itch under her cast and an unquenchable thirst for information. She looked down at her sleeping dog. “All right, I admit it — I miss her.” Buck opened one eye and looked at his owner. “But what am I supposed to do? I mean, was it the kiss?” A long, drawn out yawn was the only answer Buck had.

  “Buck lifted his head and blinked at her. “Well, what am I supposed to do?” He stared back at her, then lowered his head and went back to sleep with a huff.

  “Okay, then I will do something about it!” She marched with determination across her deck, through the trees, to Sarah’s driveway. Much to her surprise, the redhead was sitting outside on her deck. “All right, what’d I do wrong?” she asked, stopping at the bottom of the stairs with her hand on her hip.

  Sarah looked up in surprise. “Pardon?”

  “Have you been avoiding me?”

  Looking at Abby after not seeing her for a few days almost took Sarah’s breath away. Her long black hair was flipped back over one shoulder, the other side tucked behind her ear. Her fiberglass cast hung out of her denim shirt while her right hand was resting on her jean-covered hip. This was one beautiful, but highly agitated woman.

  “No.”

  “Well, you haven’t been out of your cabin since we talked the other day.”

  “I’m sorry, Abby. I’ve had things on my mind and I’m just trying to get them straightened out.” Because I’m afraid to be near you.

  “Is there anything I can do to help? I’ve got connections, you know.”

  “Thanks, but this is something I have to figure out myself.” Like — do I destroy my career for a beautiful, troubled woman with a dark and mysterious past? A woman I want to get to know, but I’m afraid to.

  Abby motioned to the deck. “May I?”

  “Please, come on up.” And sit next to me, close enough to drive me insane... Abby, do you know what you do to me?

  Abby took a seat across from Sarah. “This doesn’t have anything to do with what happened in the canoe, does it?”

  “No, of course not.” But it does have something do to with how much I would like to kiss you right now. The thought slipped though Sarah’s mind before she had a chance to steel herself against it. She gazed at Abby’s lips and then quickly looked away.

  “Could I persuade you to go for a ride, then?” She did not want to leave without some assurance that she would be seeing Sarah again.

  You would be surprised at what you could persuade me to do. Sarah’s thoughts were out of control.

  “Or would you rather not?” Abby asked with a raised eyebrow.

  “I’d love to go for a ride with you,” Sarah said with a wide bright smile, finally quieting her innermost thoughts.

  Abby’s face shone with an answering smile. “Then I’ll see you at the corral in half an hour.”

  ♥

  They rode in silence along the trails that wound around the large evergreen trees. Sarah watched the grace of Abby’s body as she moved fluidly with each step of her black stallion. The gentle rolling of her hips and the relaxed hold she had on the reins told Sarah that Abby had spent more than a few hours on the back of a horse. Entranced by the rider in front of her, she didn’t realize how high they had climbed until they broke from the trees into a rolling meadow of green. The tall grass was moving with the light breeze off the mountains, swaying like waves on the ocean as it rolled.

  Abby had reined in her stallion and was waiting for Sarah to catch up to her. Pulling alongside, Sarah knew her mouth was hanging open in awe of the scenery. “This has got to be one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever seen.”

  “And it gets better.”

  Abby motioned forward and once more Sarah followed as she led her through the meadow and back into the cover of the dark forest. It took a few moments for Sarah’s eyes to adjust, but even when they had, she still couldn’t make out any trail. “Where are you taking me?” She called out.

  “To the top of the world,” Abby hollered back.

  I’m already on top of the world, Abby, and I’m going through Hell because of it, Sarah thought as she watched the seductive sway of the woman in front of her.

  With nothing else to do but think and watch, Sarah found herself wondering more and more about the mysterious dark-haired woman, and exactly where it was that she was taking her. After all the time they had spent together, Sarah knew little more about Abby than before she had arrived, other than her ownership of the resort. It was supposed to be so easy: get in, get close, and get out. But as she had observed Abby, all she wanted to do was to get close and then get comfortable. To snuggle deep into her strong arms, to look endlessly into her dark eyes as she traced her fingertips over the fresh scars on Abby’s knuckles, to brush back her hair...

  Sarah!”

  The sound of her name pulled her back from the very unprofessional place to which her mind had drifted. She smiled at Abby who had turned around in her saddle.

  “You okay?” Abby looked concerned.

  “Yeah.”

  As they broke free from the cool cover of the trees, Sarah’s eyes opened in amazement at the view before her. The bright blue of the sky was a sharp contrast to snow-capped mountains, and down below, the green of the forest ran right to the edge of the clear blue waters of Lake Alouette.

  “My God, it’s breathtaking!” Sarah stood up in her stirrups for a clear view of the tiny log lodge and cabins below.

  “Pretty nice, isn’t it?” Abby almost sounded proud as she looked down at the view that hadn’t changed since she was a child.

  “Nice? No, this isn’t nice. This is incredible!” Sarah exclaimed as she dismounted.

  Already on her feet, Abby watched Sarah move closer to the edge of the grass.

  “Watch it, there’s a helluva drop there,” Abby warned as she reached for the blanket secured behind her saddle.

  Sarah crept closer to see the dizzying distance to the rocky bottom of the cliff. “Now that’d hurt.”

  Abby smiled at the understatement as she laid out the blanket.

  Sarah tried to ignore the questions exploding in her mind, but she couldn’t. “Abby, why didn’t you tell me you owned the resort?” Though the sun was bright, Sarah saw a dark cloud roll across Abby’s face and observed her eyes narrowing into a squint as she looked down at the back of her hand and at the red ribbon of scars crisscrossing her knuckles.

  The sandwiches were soon finished, and they sat sipping beers and nibbling on potato chips. Sarah hadn’t noticed the deep state of concentration on Abby’s face until her somber companion spoke. Her voice seemed distant, as if she were trying to remember something from her past that she had made a great effort to forget.

  “I came up
here a lot when I was a child. You know…to think about things. This was one of my favorite places in the whole world.”

  Sarah caught the look in Abby’s eyes, and she didn’t like what she saw. “You don’t have to tell me any of this; it’s your business, not mine.”

  “I’d like to, and in some ways, I think I need to.” She paused. “The resort was owned by my parents, but for their own reasons they had Günter and Helga run it. People assumed it was theirs, and when my parents died, I never told anyone any different.”

  “I don’t understand,” Sarah said quietly, not wanting to intrude on the memories Abby was reliving.

  “There were things happening within my family, things I didn’t understand. I wasn’t old enough.” She stopped for a moment to look at the view before she carried on. “My mother was a beautiful woman. Her exotic looks always reminded me of a movie star from the old days. I remember her black hair was always covered with one of those flowery scarves.”

  Sarah felt a stillness in the air prickling the hairs on her arms as she watched Abby slowly let go of some of her past and the pain she had kept hidden. She reached out and gently placed her hand on the arm of the normally stoic woman. She was there as a friend, and nothing more, she kept telling herself as she listened quietly to Abby’s soft words.

  Keeping her eyes on the blue water of the lake far below, Abby relived her painful past. “My father, we had the same eyes, him and me, and he had this big smile, he always did...and just like that...they were gone.”

  Abby stopped talking but Sarah could feel her trembling with emotion. With her good hand, Abby wiped back the tears and then reached for her beer. There were no words to say as Sarah watched Abby drain the bottle.

  Wiping her lips, Abby looked up to the sky and to whatever laid beyond. “My uncle Nathan came and looked after things. He took me away from here, far away, and I never came back. Until now. It’s been Günter and Helga who’ve looked after the place. Most everyone around these parts still think they own it, and that’s fine with me.”