Prelude of Lies (12 page)

Daisy looked over at Gramps’ house. They’d agreed the house would be last on their list. The oversized cabin they were in would suffice until they had the money to do a little repair and renovation. She was pleased that the house would need a little less than they thought. Melancholy washed over her. Summers spent running the path between the house and the office, fishing in the pond and begging Gramps to put a pool in.

Now that pool was going to give her a whole head full of gray hair. The cost to fix it was twice as much as they’d budgeted. She hadn’t told Sydney that yet. Daisy sighed and yanked at the weeds with determination. Her head might be cluttered and confused, but she’d put the unease to good use.

Hours later, her back had taken all the abuse it could handle. Daisy needed a shower. And Tucker waited for her on the cabin porch. Great. Daisy shoved her gloves back into her pocket, wondering how bad she looked after the hours spent weeding.

“You don’t want us to clean up around the office?”

Oh. So that was it. He was hurt that she’d removed all the weeds herself.

“What? I can’t help?” She was too defensive.

“I didn’t mean that. It’s just when we talked the office wasn’t mentioned. I guess my real question is why?” He didn’t respond to her obnoxious tone.

Daisy sighed. The hours spent doing physical labor had taken the edge off her mood. “We didn’t know if we’d be able to use the building, but it’s good to go. We were going to rent a trailer to use as the office, but now we don’t have to.” She sounded stupid.

“Excellent. I have four guys that need experience with creating pond gardens. What do you think of a set up in the flowerbeds? I have supplies left from another job. It wouldn’t be very big, so the cost would be minimal. And we might be able to use some of the old stuff around here.”

She blinked. “Okay.”

Maybe the sun had fried her brain.

“The storm damage is cleaned up. Well, except for the tree in the cabin. Sydney said to leave it for now. We still have a lot to do here before we start our summer schedule.”

That’s right.
Tucker would be gone soon.

Would anything change between them? Did she want it to? How could she take a chance with him again when he was certain he wanted children and she was certain she did not?

She nodded and waited for him to move. He gently grabbed her arm, stopping beside her.

“I never meant to hurt you.” He touched her face and she couldn’t stop the tear that escaped her careful composure.

The next thing she knew she was in his arms. His familiar kiss drew her in and the comfort bolstered her spirit. When he moved away, she glanced up, confused and impressed.

“I don’t want to hurt you again. I just don’t know what I want.” He released her and left.

Daisy watched him until he disappeared. As she turned, Graham stood against the cabin he shared with Marshal. He stared at her for a few minutes before turning around and leaving, too.

She started toward her and Sydney’s cabin, letting out one of Sydney’s primal screams.

God. She was a screw-up.

CHAPTER 11

Daisy tossed and turned, trying to get comfortable on the lumpy mattress. She stopped wrestling with the blankets when she heard voices through the interior wall. For a minute, she thought Marshal or Jace had snuck into Sydney’s room. Except the voices were female.

She rose, trying to be quiet and stuck her ear against the wall. Sydney spoke to someone in a pleasant, patient voice.

Definitely not Jace or Marshal.

“There’s nothing to be afraid of. Your family is waiting for you.” Sydney. Quiet and soothing.

Daisy could use those kinds of words herself.

“Yes. I’m sure. You’ve been trapped here too long. It’s time.” Why hadn’t Daisy heard the answer that should have come between Sydney’s words?

Confused, she debated for a minute before deciding the time for secrets had passed. She’d tell Sydney hers, and hope Sydney would do the same.

Softly, she knocked once on Sydney’s door before opening it without waiting for an answer. Sydney sat up in bed, the sheets around her waist. An odd glow filled the room and Daisy looked around for the light source.

“What’s wrong?” Sydney glanced over Daisy’s shoulder to the empty corner.

“Lots of stuff. What’s going on in here? I heard you talking to someone.” That wasn’t how she’d planned to ask. She’d wanted her sister to tell her because she wanted to.

“You first. What happened this morning?” Sydney patted the bed beside her and Daisy scooted in next to her.

“I asked Uncle Al to find out information on my birth parents.” She waited, knowing how Sydney would react but curious just the same.

Instead of the anger she expected, Sydney nodded and smiled. “I wondered when you would.”

“I didn’t think you’d understand.”

“I do. It’s hard though. I don’t want to think about it and I don’t want to see you get hurt.” Sydney leaned against her.

“Knowing isn’t going to change anything.” Why was she comforting Sydney?

“I know. I know you need answers.”

“I know where the guy they say is my father works.” Daisy told her everything.

“What do you want to do? Do you want to meet him?” Sydney’s patience almost freaked her out.

“I don’t know yet.” She didn’t, but wished she did.

“How about we check him out first? You don’t have to tell him who you are. We’ll see what we think. That is, if you want me along.” This was very unlike Sydney. She took charge and that was that. She didn’t ask first, but apologized often afterward.

“Let me think about it. Your turn. What’s going on in here? Are you cracking up and talking to yourself now?” She tried to sound light, but failed.

Truthfully, she was a bit worried about her sister’s recent judgment. Daisy wondered what the number for the psychiatric hospital was and how quickly they could get the men in white coats out here to pick up her clearly deranged sister.

“You won’t believe me.” Sydney again looked to the corner of the room and Daisy realized the weird light seemed to originate there.
Oh.

“Try me.” She adjusted the pillows and leaned back.

“Well, I’m a fraud. Remember when we used to pretend we saw ghosts? Well, I really could. I thought you did, too, but when I realized you couldn’t, I stopped saying anything. Then, it all went away. And then we came back here . . .” Sydney went on to tell a terrific tale of how she could see and talk to spirits when they were kids and then again now.

“You’re not serious.” If Sydney wasn’t teasing, and Daisy didn’t think she was, the story made sense on so many levels and caused a touch of regret for the way Daisy teased her.

“I rejected the whole thing after our last summer here. Actually, I think I denied the ability for so long I believed my rants. Believed everything I ever said to you about there being no such thing as spirits. I would dream odd dreams of people talking to me, begging me to help because no one else could hear them. In the cabin, when I was touched, it all came back. I knew what he wanted, why he had to get my attention. It scared me spitless and I didn’t want it. I am visited every night by people looking for the way to peace. I try, but I don’t think I’m doing the right things.”

“I wondered why you accepted Marshal and his crew so readily. And here I figured you just thought Marshal was sexy and wanted in his pants.”

Sydney smiled and shrugged. “After talking to Kay, I think Gramps had similar experiences. I need to find his journal.”

“That journal is nowhere, we’ve searched. Gramps probably hid it in some abyss or something. That would be so like him. And even if we do find it, would we be able to decipher what it says? His way with words was something else.” Daisy shook her head. “Have you told Marshal?”

“He knows, but . . . this is hard for even me to believe. Sometimes I want to give it back and forget everything. Even this campground. What happened to my normal life?”

“You mean the life where you stayed home every weekend wondering what was wrong with you? Where you busted your ass for a boss who ignored you and tried to take credit for your ideas? You hated your job.”

“I know. I did. I think I planned my career wrong.” Sydney shook her head.

“You worked at the wrong place. That’s all. You’re a great accountant.”

“You only say that because I do your taxes for free.” Sydney laughed and sobbed at the same time.

Daisy laughed. “Well, yeah. No. You’re dedicated and you enjoy the work. It’s not about what you do. Your skills will come in handy around here.”

“Yeah, I can open a tax season business to pay the electric bill in the off season.” Sydney’s sarcastic tone didn’t sit well. Though she did have a point.

“You might have to, but that wasn’t what I meant. Neither one of us would have been able to quit our jobs and take over this nightmare if it wasn’t for you. So now you have another skill.”

Sydney leaned against the pillows and yawned. “I haven’t had a full night’s sleep since the cabin. It’s like some kind of portal opened and spirits from everywhere are coming for help. Do you think Gramps dealt with this?”

“I don’t know. Okay. We need to set some ground rules then. No more waking you and entering your private space at any hour. I assume you did something about Suicide Sally in the bathhouse?”

“How did you know about her?” Sydney studied her and Daisy realized what she’d given away.

“I saw her. She’s kind of hard to miss.”

“She finally realized I could see her. I don’t think she understood the finality of suicide. She was waiting for her lover to rescue her, thinking that seeing her bleeding would make him realize what he would lose, but I don’t think she understands.”

Daisy shook her head. “That’s too sad.”

“At least she’s listening to me now. Who knows how long it’ll be until what I say makes sense to her. If it ever does. It’s almost like she enjoys being a tortured soul. Like a dead drama queen.” Sydney yawned again and rearranged the blankets. “What are we going to do?”

“Sleep and figure the rest out later.” Daisy leaned over and kissed her forehead before getting up. As she opened the door, a spectral form appeared in her path. Daisy took a step back until Sydney’s dilemma reminded her of what her sister was dealing with. This could not continue.

“She’s sleeping. You are not to wake her this night, or any other. Tell them she is not to be bothered until she tells you. She will help you all, but not now.”

She didn’t know if the message got through. The figure stood at the door as if debating. If her speech didn’t work, Sydney would have to tell them.

Finally, the vague shape moved away.

How weird were they? Stuck in some kind of alternate reality with ghosts and a falling down campground. And too many men to choose from. And an evil step-grandmother.

Were they living in some kind of fairy tale land? And if so, which prince was her true Prince Charming?

“Stupid.” Crawling under the covers, Daisy tried to forget the images of Graham and Tucker on white horses, dueling for her honor and love.

Daisy woke before the sun. Her dreams had mimicked her final thoughts before drifting off. If anything, she was even more confused than before she talked to Sydney. After a shower, she fought with the ancient coffee pot, finally giving up and adding a new one to her list of things to buy when they went on a supply run.

Tucker’s crew arrived as she searched for the jar of instant caffeine she thought Sydney brought with her. She watched from the window as they unloaded out of the trucks and stretched, most seemed like they’d prefer to be still under the covers like her. A soft knock sounded at the door while she organized her tasks for the day. It would be Tucker and she didn’t know if she really wanted to talk to him this early.

She opened the door anyway. He held out a tray with two large cups of coffee and that smile that made her forget her name. “Peace offering.”

“Thanks.” She opened the door so he could come inside but he shook his head. “Another delivery from Al.”

He held out another yellow envelope, holding on tightly when she tried to take it. “Is there anything I can help with?”

Damn. Why did he have to seem so concerned?

“Nah. Just some copies of stuff for our records.” She lied. And judging by Tucker’s face, he knew.

“If you say so. You know where I am if you need me.” He released the envelope and closed the door behind him.

Daisy sat at the table, no longer needing or wanting to hide her turmoil from Sydney. Uncle Al had written a short note at the top of a fax.

Your mother is actively searching for you. She found out about your inheritance. Be cautious. Her intentions can’t be good. I’ll be out tomorrow with the inspector. Love, U.A.

Great. It wasn’t bad enough that her mother dumped her and went off to do her own thing without care one for her daughter’s well-being. Now Daisy might have to deal with her whether she wanted to or not.

Damn.

How would her mother appearing affect what she and Sydney tried to do? Pushing aside the paranoid questions, she decided to stop this head on.

An hour later, she’d forced the still sleeping awake and demanded a group meeting. Everyone showed, including Jace and Tucker’s entire crew. She’d had no worries about Marshal and his bunch. They were used to her occasionally bossy outbursts.

“I won’t keep you. I know everyone is busy. I have a personal situation that I need some help with.” She explained the details, watching Sydney’s anger grow. “If a woman shows up here don’t tell her a thing. Just call me and keep her in the parking lot. I’ll handle her.”

Feeling in control, she accepted the support as each person went back to work. Marshal stopped her, his eyes sleepy and unreadable. “I need to talk to you then. We went over all of the footage last night. You wouldn’t believe some of it. I want to go out again tonight. Are you in?”

“I’ll be there.” Daisy figured he probably wanted to grill her on Sydney’s odd behavior as well.

“After lunch. Bring Sydney, she’ll want to see too.” He one-armed hugged her and she assumed he headed back to bed.

There went her assumption that he worried about Sydney’s choice to bring Jace here. Maybe she’d read too much into their relationship. Maybe they only flirted and nothing else grew under the surface like she thought, or hoped.

“What are you going to say to her?” Sydney fell in step with her on her way to clean the office.

“I’ll figure that out when she gets here. Right now I’m thinking, ‘Go to hell.’” And she was. But she wanted some answers first.

“Good for you.” As always, Sydney knew when to leave things alone.

They walked the rest of the way in silence. Daisy dreaded the job ahead, but if the office was in top shape by the time Al came with the inspectors, maybe they’d pass even though their progress had been minimal this week, thanks to the storms.

Of course, the electric work wouldn’t start for a few more days. They’d finally chosen a contractor for the bathhouse remodel and construction was due to start tomorrow morning. Probably enough to pass inspection, but neither she nor Sydney wanted to take any chances.

Sydney opened the door and stepped back with a scream. Daisy added her scream to her sister’s, unsure if they should run. Graham showed up while the screams still split the air. He put an arm around each of them and looked inside, a shudder going through him as he gently urged them away.

A deer hung on the wall, each hoof spread out and tied with barbed wire. The head hung by only sinew and blood still dripped onto the floor. The same blood that seemed to be on every surface in the room. Including the ‘Get Out’ that was written on the wall next to the deer’s nearly severed head.

“Who would do this?” Daisy had a few ideas. One of them had put up his camper the previous afternoon.

“I was in here with the electrician yesterday.” Sydney choked out, not quite in tears, but not calm either.

“I’d say someone came in after you. Did you lock the door?” Graham forced them to take a step.

“There isn’t a working lock.”

Graham urged them to a rickety bench. “We need to call the sheriff. That’s a threat if I ever saw one.”

He grabbed his walkie-talkie, but didn’t use it because every guy in camp now ran up the path toward them. Daisy let Graham explain and watched each take a turn at viewing the grisly visage. Sydney stayed mostly silent, wrapping her arms around her upper body in a clear signal of “hands off.”

Even her prime suspect seemed dazed and concerned. Either he was a good actor or he truly had nothing to do with the scene. She counted on the first choice.

The deputy sheriff finally arrived. He documented the evidence, and shook his head. “Maybe something will turn up on the carcass. Get a lock for this door. Anyone could have done this.”