Exousia (Karass Chronicles Book 4) Read online

  As the room settled down again, Sam thought about illusions. Perhaps that was what he was dealing with—illusions. Well, this was a great group to talk about that idea. After all, they were used to them.

  “Okay, Sam,” Sarah said. “We settled in, and are ready to talk.”

  Hannah, once again, had been asked to make sure that Lex and Johnny were not within listening distance. On her way out the door, Hannah gave them all what Ava called ‘the look,’ but obeyed and went looking for Johnny and Lex in the family room. However, as she was leaving, she said, “Someone better tell me what you guys talk about.” Seeing her dad’s face she added, “I mean could someone please tell me what this is about later?”

  Ava smiled at her and said, “Since you asked so politely, and you are so helpful, I promise.”

  After Hannah was gone, Sam asked, “Is Valerie still asleep? I don’t want to upset her further right now.”

  Leif drifted off the couch and came back a few seconds later. “Yes, she is still asleep. I agree, best to let her sleep and rest as much as possible. I have a feeling, Sam, that you have a theory that, if true, would be extremely upsetting to her.”

  “I do. And it is just a theory at this point. Before you start thinking I know who, or how, those women on the hill were killed, I don’t. I just have little pieces of information. I think if I share them with you, some of them will fit together.”

  Sam took a deep breath, and said, “Okay, here goes. Not in any particular order. First, although there obviously hasn’t been an autopsy of Harold yet, the theory is that there will be no physical evidence as to how he died.”

  “Like the women on the hill,” Mandy said.

  Sam nodded, “Like the women on the hill.”

  “So a working theory,” Mandy added, “is that they were killed by the same person?”

  Sam answered, “That’s the working theory. Which means that not only is the person still alive, he or she is probably local.”

  Holding up his hand before anyone spoke again, he added, “Let me throw it all out to you at once before you start talking again.”

  “First, if Harold died by the killer’s hand it would rule Harold out as the killer. Even though I understand that there was a theory that Harold was the killer, it is doubtful he killed himself. That rumor began once everyone noticed how upset he had become when he discovered that Emily was building on the hill.”

  Mandy interrupted again. “Sorry, Sam. Gotta talk. However, that doesn’t mean he wasn’t part of it. And perhaps the killer wanted to get rid of him before he gave something away. Especially considering how visibly upset he was and how erratic he was behaving.”

  Before Sam could answer, Grace added, “Which would mean that they knew each other, which would mean your theory of being local fits right into this scenario.”

  Sam gave up and sat down beside Mira. “I am obviously not going to run this the way I used to run FBI meetings.”

  Everyone laughed, and Sarah answered, “Sam, I think you will find collaboration works better, and that is what you have here. A group think-tank. So let us think along with you. Keep adding what you need to say, and let us all mull it around. And thank you for bringing this to us, Sam.”

  A round of agreement broke out, and Sam smiled as he said, “You’re right, of course. Your way will work much better. I don’t have a choice anyway, do I?”

  A smattering of “no you don’t” statements went around the room along with a symphony of head nodding.

  “So,” Sam continued, “We know that Harold grew up here, and then came back. We did some research. Harold left town about the time we believe the women died. Which suggests that he knew about it, or maybe, since we don’t think he killed them, helped the killer?”

  “Then he came back?” Mira said. “Why would he do that? Did he think it was all over and done with, or just that he would be safe, or was he still helping the killer?”

  Grace spoke up and said, “Maybe he just wanted to come home. Valerie told me he loved it here, and once they got married, he wanted to bring his wife and children back to where he grew up. Maybe the love of place overrode what happened. Or perhaps his involvement was so small, and so much time had passed, he thought it was safe.”

  “Until Emily started building on the hill,” Hank said.

  “Which means he must have known that there were bodies,” Pete added.

  “And that he knew the bodies were buried on the hill,” Grace agreed. “So what else, Sam?”

  Sam looked around. “So everyone thinks Harold knew about the bodies on the hill?”

  When everyone nodded, yes, he continued. “Now that could mean he heard about it, either on purpose, or by accident. Or he participated in it.”

  “Does it matter which?” Hank asked. “Whichever scenario it is, rumor or participation, he probably knew the person who is responsible for the deaths.”

  “You might as well come out with the whole thing, now Sam,” Hank said. Seeing Sam pause, he continued, “Oh never mind, I’ll tell it. What Sam has discovered is that Grant—yes that Grant,” he said as everyone looked at him with disbelief, “could be part of this.”

  “What do you mean, Hank?” Ava gasped. “How could Grant have anything to do with this?”

  Hank looked over at Sam, gesturing for him to continue the story.

  “Well, while we have been looking at all things Doveland, the FBI has been going through all of Grant’s old files and trying to piece together his life. I got a phone call yesterday telling me that they discovered that Grant used to come here every summer to visit an aunt who lived in Doveland.”

  “I knew it!” Evan said. “I always wondered why Doveland was where Grant had Hank burn down a house. He must have known the area already. So either he could have killed those women, or had them killed, or knew who did.”

  “But that doesn’t make any sense,” Mandy said. “Assuming he was part of it, he’s dead now. What difference would it make if someone found out he killed those women? Let me repeat. He’s dead!”

  In the doorway, Valerie, shoes off, looking dazed asked, “Who’s dead?”

  Forty

  “Valerie,” Ava gasped as she rushed to Valerie’s side.”Why are you up?”

  “I don’t know. I heard voices, so I came out to see what was going on. Who’s dead? Were you talking about Harold?” Valerie said, shaking her head in a daze as Ava led her to a seat on the couch. The one where Leif had been pretending to sit.

  If this wasn’t such a horrible moment, there is levity in watching Valerie almost sit on Leif’s lap, thought Grace.

  As Mira headed into the kitchen to get Valerie a glass of water, Sarah put her arm around Valerie and said, “Yes. We’re talking about Harold. Are you sure you want to be here?”

  Valerie looked around the room. Concerned and compassionate friends surrounded her. She nodded, “Yes. I need to know. The more I try to make up what I think happened, the more confused I get. Didn’t I know Harold at all? And if I didn’t, how can I trust anything that I know?”

  Mandy and Ava looked at each other. They were both thinking about the people they thought they knew before they discovered the truth about them. They both knew that it hurt more not to know.

  After getting the affirmative nod from everyone in the room, Sarah briefly told Valerie what they had found out so far. As Grace watched Valerie take it in she realized that her friend was much stronger than they had been giving her credit for. Valerie didn’t fall apart. She sipped her water and listened.

  When Sarah finished, Valerie remained silent for a minute, emotions playing across her face, but her hand had stopped shaking.

  Finally, she spoke in a soft but calm voice. “I know Harold wasn’t perfect. He had a big ego, and he used his charm to get what he wanted. But he wasn’t a kil
ler. That I know for sure. He once was a kind and generous husband, and he wanted to be a good father to the boys.

  “However, I agree that he knew something terrible happened here when he was young. That explains why he got progressively more and more worried and frustrated once we moved back to Doveland. He turned into his worst self.

  “I think he thought he could forget what happened and move on. But I believe the past eventually comes back up again to be dealt with in some way before it can be released. Perhaps he was getting there. I wish he had told me. I think I could have helped.

  “I hope he has found peace wherever he is now, but when Emily started building on the hill, he remembered something, something that terrified him.”

  Valerie paused to take a sip of water. Taking a deep breath, and holding Sarah’s hand for support, she continued, “I agree that he knew about the bodies buried there. But instead of talking about it he ran away from it, and look what happened.

  “That is what I don’t want to do. I don’t want to run away from it. I don’t want my children to run away from it. I want to be part of what you are doing. No, not want, need. Please help me help Harold now by bringing the truth to light.

  “I think Harold knew who killed the women. And if he knew, so does someone else.”

  Pausing again for another drink of water, Valerie added, “He said something before he died. He said, ‘tell them I’m sorry.’

  “I’m not going to be able to tell anyone he’s sorry until I know who he meant. Would you let me do this for him? And for my boys and me?”

  There was really no need for Valerie to hear the word yes, their faces told her everything she needed to know. Instead, Sarah gave Valerie’s hand an extra squeeze, and Sam asked the next question. “Since we all think that Harold knew the killer, and perhaps assisted him, assuming it was a him, perhaps what we need to do next is see who else Harold knew.”

  “Yearbooks!” Valerie said. “Perhaps yearbooks?”

  “Great idea,” Sam said. ”Did Harold have any?”

  “No. But I am the principal of the school, even though it seems like a million years since I was last there. If there are yearbooks, or records to be found, I can find them.”

  “And if Grant used to come visit an aunt here, isn’t there a list of people who lived here in the Seventies in the files we pulled from the library in Pittsburgh?” Evan asked.

  “Plus we know that in the files we brought back from Pittsburgh, Evan found the name of a trust that owned Emily’s hill before Dr. Joe bought it. So far we haven’t been able to trace anything to that trust, so it is probably going to take interviewing people and then piecing the bits of information together.”

  “Doesn’t Dr. Joe know who he bought the land from?” Grace asked.

  “No, he said he worked through an attorney, and he never found out who the actual owner was. That attorney died years ago, and we haven’t been able to track down any of his records,” Sam answered. “Speaking of Dr. Joe. Since he has been the doctor in this town for so long, and claims to know everyone, wouldn’t he know who Harold’s friends used to be? It seems he would also know who Grant was, too, since he probably knew the aunt,” Sarah said, looking at Craig.

  “You’re right, of course. But when I bought the practice, Joe explained that he was a terrible record keeper. It is only recently that he started keeping good records.

  “I think it was when Joe realized that if he wanted to sell his business, he needed proper documentation to pass on to the next doctor. Joe mentioned that in the past he and his secretaries would destroy patient records after they died, or moved away.

  “Joe said that they did that because of client confidentiality, but also because the old country practices didn’t need so much paper. He knew his clients so well he didn’t need to look at a file.”

  “Then that proves my point. With or without records, Joe knew his clients well. So unless he is losing his memory, he might be the best source of information about town residents that we have,” Sarah said.

  “And then there’s Melvin,” Hank piped in. “He keeps telling me that there is something he is trying to remember. Perhaps if I fill him in on what we have discussed, it may help his memories return.”

  “We also have resources in Tina and Emily. Emily because she has been doing some research, and Tina because didn’t she and her husband, Frank, grow up in Doveland?” Sam said.

  “Wait,” Sarah said as the whole group recognized the implication of what Sam just said. “I know that we are talking different generations since Frank and Tina are much younger than Harold. But did they know each other?

  “Did Harold know Grant? Were they all working together all this time? How long has this been going on?”

  Hank sighed. “Always, Grant. But even if all this is true, that they all knew each other, who would have killed Harold? We are missing something.”

  Ava glanced at her phone and said, “It’s getting late. I need to get the kids to bed. They all have school tomorrow. Perhaps everyone can work on their part, and we could meet again?”

  Hugs were exchanged, and goodbyes said as everyone but Valerie grabbed their jackets and shoes and headed out the door, agreeing to check in with each other the next day. Leif and Eric walked with their wives to the car, waved, and faded away.

  Evan checked on the sleeping Ben while Ava and Valerie corralled the other children into bed. Lex and Johnny were somber and withdrawn. Both of them had questions Valerie said she couldn’t answer yet. Valerie told them they would be going home after school the next day, and she would share with them everything she knew.

  As she kissed them both goodnight, she whispered that she loved them. Lex hugged her back. Johnny didn’t. Valerie understood. He had to work this out in his own way, but she would ask Hank and Pete for extra help. Dealing with Harold’s death and the ensuing investigation was not something she could do by herself. But she would and could do it with the help of her friends.

  In the bedroom Ava had given her, Valerie sat on the bed and prayed for help. She prayed to understand. She prayed to have the strength to confront what had to be done and to be both strong and loving while doing it.

  Having done all she could do, she breathed out a prayer of thanks for her children and pulled the covers up over her shoulders.

  Once again, she thought she saw a light in the corner of the room. I’m not afraid, she said to the light. She thought she saw it spin before Valerie drifted off to sleep, smiling in spite of everything, and grateful that she had hope in her heart.

  Forty-One

  Hank never got the chicken dinner for Melvin; the meeting at Ava’s ran too late. Melvin had assured him it was fine, he could have the chicken another time. By the time Hank got home that night, Melvin was sound asleep. Melvin was still in bed the next morning when Hank got up at four, having hardly slept at all. The thought that Grant was back, even though he was dead, kept rolling around in his mind. It was a waking nightmare.

  Hank left Melvin a note saying he had a lot to share with him and to get the barbecue ready around five. To make up for not being home for dinner the night before, he would bring back some steaks, and they could talk over a good dinner out on the picnic table.

  Hank texted Sam and asked if anyone was going to the prison to speak to Lenny. He thought that as Grant’s second-hand man after Hank, Lenny might have some answers. Perhaps they could trade a favor or two to get him to talk.

  Sam answered right away, proving he wasn’t sleeping either, and said that he would go himself. Lenny knew him. Perhaps that would buy him some points.

  Instead of making breakfast, Hank headed to the Diner. They opened early and stayed open late. Basic good food and friendly service had made the Diner a favorite spot for most everyone in town. Hank knew the members of his construction crew were often at the Diner this early
, so he thought he would buy them breakfast. Plus, pick up some gossip.

  Grace and Mandy’s coffee shop across the street from the Diner offered a different atmosphere and a different kind of gossip. Both were useful. Hank wanted Diner type food and information.

  Pete smiled in delight when Hank came through the door, just as he was unlocking it. Behind him, the Diner still didn’t have all its lights on, but Hank could smell the bacon and eggs cooking on the grill.

  “Couldn’t sleep either?” Pete asked.

  Hank shook his head and slid onto a stool at the counter.

  “Barbara and I talked long into the night. We are the newcomers to this town, which means we don’t know much of its history, but we do get to hear things going on that might be helpful,” Pete said.

  “That’s what I was thinking, Pete,” Hank said. “Anything that seems at all out of place, take note of it.”

  “I have also been thinking about Johnny. I know what it feels like to get your life completely turned upside down. First, his dad dies, and then the whole town is eventually going to be talking about the fact his dad had something to do with the women on the hill,” Pete said.

  “Yes,”agreed Hank. “We need to give him every kind of support possible. The kind that will help him turn this into something that strengthens his resolve to be a good man, and not tip him over into following the easy path.”

  “That’s right. Johnny worked with Grant last year. That will make it even worse, won’t it?” Pete said.

  Hank nodded. “My guess is that Grant targeted Johnny knowing he was Harold’s kid. That was Grant through and through. Evil. Doing evil because it was fun for him. He could have left Johnny alone, but he didn’t.