Somewhere Only We Know (27 page)

"Are you still working at the Museum of Modern Art?"

"I cut back to part-time after I got married. When I go on maternity leave, that will probably be it. Vince travels a great deal for his job, and I want to be free to join him and also to spend time with the baby. We're interviewing nannies right now, but it's not that easy to find a good one."

"A lot of changes for you," he muttered.

"All good." Her expression turned uncomfortable as she twisted her large diamond ring on her finger. "I'm sorry I missed Leanne's memorial dinner last week. I wasn't feeling well that day. I was going to try to make it."

"You don't have to apologize to me. It's the Parkers' thing."

"I think about Leanne all the time. I wish she could have been at my wedding. I wish she could have seen me pregnant. She would have found it so funny, because I used to tell her that I wasn't sure I wanted kids. They're a lot of work, and I've always wanted to have the big job and travel."

"What changed your mind?"

"Falling in love with Vince. He made me see that I could have it all. I'm so lucky I found him. I must have done something right."

"It definitely looks like you've got it all."

"So what did you want to talk to me about?"

He drew in a breath, not sure where to start. "Mitch Warren."

"Oh, I had a feeling. He's been calling me the past few days, but we haven't connected yet. He was making bizarre comments about Leanne being murdered, which sounded insane. I played one of his messages for my husband, and he told me not to talk to Mitch. I had a feeling when you called this morning that it was going to be about him. What's going on?"

"Mitch told me that he and Leanne had an affair while she and I were engaged. I want to know if it's true."

Kelly's face paled at his words. Her inability to give him a quick
no
made his gut clench.

"Kelly?" he prodded.

"I don't know what to say, Burke."

"Leanne is gone. You can't hurt her with the truth. But you can help me."

"The truth is—I'm not sure. Leanne got really secretive right before she died. She seemed to be talking to Mitch a lot. He'd text her when we were out shopping for bridesmaids dresses. I did think at the time that it was annoying, and I wasn't sure how you'd feel about your fiancée texting another man all the time."

That matched what Shelby had told him.

"Did she tell you she was involved with him romantically?"

"No, she didn't say anything like that. I teased her about it once, and she jumped down my throat. She said it wasn't funny, and she actually accused me of being jealous and trying to ruin things for her. It was a really big over-reaction, and I was angry at first, but Leanne was stressed out, so I let it go."

"She was jumping on me for odd things, too. Did she ever tell you she wasn't sure she wanted to get married at all?"

"She did say that she worried you were too alike, that maybe you didn't push each other enough. But all brides get nervous. I thought she was just jittery until she canceled her dress fitting. That was weird. She wouldn't say why. I asked her about it, and she was really vague. That's when I started to wonder if she was really having doubts. But I didn't know what to do. She wasn't willing to confide in me."

He met Kelly's gaze. "Is it possible she didn't want to try on her dress because she was pregnant?"

Her eyes widened with surprise. "What? Leanne was pregnant?"

Kelly seemed genuinely taken aback by his statement.

"I was recently given that information."

"Who told you?"

"Mitch."

"Oh." She gave a sudden nod as if it had all become clear. "That's why you asked me if they were having an affair." She paused for a moment. "Now that you're telling me she was pregnant, other things make sense. She threw up a few times when we were out. She kept saying she had a virus, and that's why she was so tired all the time. But she was pregnant. Wow! Why wouldn't she tell you?"

"You know why. She wasn't sure I was the father," he said, feeling little to no emotion anymore. The shock had worn off, and the anger had burned itself out.

"I guess that would be a reason not to tell you," Kelly said slowly. "I can't believe Leanne really slept with Mitch. She had you. She was getting married. Why wasn't that enough?"

Her question echoed one that had been running around in his head ever since Mitch's big revelation. "I don't know. Is there anyone else you think Leanne might have confided in?"

"I was the closest to her of all the bridesmaids. Her mom might have known something. Have you talked to Marjorie?"

"I was saving her for last. I don't want to talk to her about it, but Mitch is on the warpath. He thinks I found out Leanne cheated and was having his baby, and that I had her run off the road."

"That's ludicrous. You loved Leanne." Kelly gave him a compassionate look. "I think she loved you, too, Burke. I don't know why she would have cheated on you, although Leanne could be a little selfish. She wasn't perfect. She wasn't a saint. I know we're not supposed to say bad things about people who die tragically, but we both know that she had her faults."

He didn't really know where Kelly was going with her statements. "Leanne definitely wasn't perfect."

"Sometimes I got a little frustrated with her when she acted if planning a wedding was the worst thing in the world, when it was all so great." She blew out a breath. "I'm sorry. I don't know where all that came from."

He didn't know, either. Maybe Kelly and Leanne had not been as close as he'd thought.

"Anyway," she continued. "If Leanne cheated on you, then it had to have been an impulsive thing. I guess the only person who would really know how that came to be is Mitch."

"He won't tell me the truth. Anyway, thanks for your help, Kelly."

"I wish you'd come for another reason, but it was good to see you. I hope Mitch leaves you alone—leaves us all alone. I really don't need this problem in my life. I finally have things exactly the way I want them."

"I hear you."

He got to his feet and Kelly walked him to the front door. "Have you picked out a name yet?" he asked.

"We're thinking about Eli—it was Vince's grandfather's name. He was very close to him."

"I wish you all the best, Kelly."

"You, too, Burke. You deserve to be happy. Leanne would want that."

He used to think he'd known exactly what Leanne wanted; now he wasn't so sure.

As he got into the car, he took out his phone and called Leanne's mother. He might as well make one more stop before he went home.

Chapter Nineteen

"What do you think?" Maddie asked as Joel popped one of the vegan meatballs into his mouth.

Joel and Kate had arrived fifteen minutes earlier and were working their way through her samples. Kate said she didn't know anything about cooking, but she knew a lot about eating. They'd given a thumbs-up to all the meatballs so far, but the vegan ball, which was a mix of nuts, rice and chickpea flour, was going to be the real test.

"Perfect," Joel said.

"I agree," Kate said. "Can I have another one?"

Maddie passed her the plate. "Of course. I was a little worried about that one. I'm so glad you like it."

"What did you add?" Joel asked.

"A little curry powder to give it a kick. But I can take that out next time around."

"No, it was an excellent idea. I think you and I are a match made in heaven, Maddie."

She laughed. "I do like your meatballs."

"All the girls do."

Kate groaned. "Please, Joel, I have heard way too many meatball jokes."

He laughed. "Well, you won't be hearing any for a few months, so you don't have to worry."

"Are you going somewhere?" Maddie asked.

"I'm going to Quantico," Kate said, a happy sparkle in her eyes. "I start training to be an FBI special agent next Monday. I'm so excited. It's a twenty-one-week program. Hopefully, I'll make it through. It will be really humiliating if I get kicked out. Callaways never fail."

Maddie smiled, realizing that the Callaway traditions obviously extended beyond Burke's family to his cousins.

"You'll do great," Joel said. "You're smart, tough, and you don't quit. The FBI will love you."

"I hope so. I am going to miss the meatballs. But I'm happy I'm leaving you in such good hands."

"I am, too," Joe said with a grin. "Maddie is going to be my savior."

"I don't know about savior, but I will be your cook."

Kate gave her a sly look. "And what will you be for Burke?" she asked. "I know it's none of my business, and he'd kill me for asking, but everyone in the family is really curious. Burke has been single a long time, and he never brings a woman around. And I am talking way too much."

Maddie laughed. She liked Kate a lot. In some ways, Kate reminded her of her younger self. "Burke and I are friends."

"Oh, please, not the friends thing," Kate said dismissively. "I'm not buying it."

"It's not your business," Joel put in.

"Burke is my cousin. He's family."

"And he's great," Maddie finished. "I like him. He likes me. Neither of us has any idea what's coming next."

"Now that's really interesting, because Burke is the one guy in the family who has always known what's coming next. I think you're good for him."

"He's good for me, too," she admitted. "Anyway, back to the meatballs…"

"I've got us set up for Friday at eleven at the Civic Center," Joel said. "I'll meet you there."

"What about shopping? Do you need help with the food?"

"A buddy is going to help me with that. He's going to get the truck stocked up and parked at the Civic Center. Then you'll take over the cooking, and I'll be there to help with the customers."

"Okay, I'm excited. I can't wait to see how it all works."

"I think you're going to have fun," Joel said as he stood up.

"I wish I could be there to see it, but I'll be on a plane to Virginia," Kate said.

"What made you want to go into the FBI? Was it a lifelong dream?" she asked.

"It was something I had in mind for a long time," Kate replied, a shadow now in her eyes. "I just didn't know if I could really do it. I still don't, but I can't wait to find out. I'm just really glad you're able to help Joel. I hated to leave knowing he was in such a bind."

"Are you two a couple?" Maddie ventured, a little curious about their relationship.

"God, no," Kate said.

"Absolutely not," Joel agreed.

"We've been friends since we were five," Kate added, "but never romantically inclined."

Maddie couldn't help wondering if someday that would change.

She opened the door to let them out and was surprised to find a bouquet of flowers on the floor in the hallway. Her name was written in red ink across a white piece of paper.

"What's this?" she muttered. She leaned over to pick up the flowers, then realized they were composed of dead roses. She quickly straightened. "Oh, my God."

Kate and Joel crowded into the doorway to see what she was looking at.

"Someone sent me dead flowers," she said in bewilderment. "Who would do that?"

Kate grabbed the piece of paper, turned it over, then handed it to Maddie. "It's blank," she said. "Just your name. Someone doesn't like you. Do you have an ex-boyfriend?"

Had it been a message from one of the guys who were after Paul?

"We can throw those away for you," Joel said, concern in his gaze.

"No, I need to show them to Burke."

"I agree. Don't throw them away," Kate said. "You should call the police. Do you want us to wait with you?"

"No, thanks, I'll talk to Max. He's been helping me with something. I'm sure they're related to that. It's nothing to worry about. It's just a sick joke."

"Sick jokes should always be worried about," Kate said. "Promise me you will talk to Max, or I'm not leaving you alone. In fact, maybe I should call Burke."

"I'm going to call him. You guys have things to do. It will be okay. I promise," she added, seeing the doubt in their eyes. The last thing she wanted was for Joel to think he'd be risking something by hiring her.

"Okay," Joel said with a frown. "But let me know if there's a problem."

"I will, but I think with Burke, Max and the Callaways behind me, I'll be fine." She forced herself to scoop up the dead flowers and take them into the apartment. She locked the door behind Kate and Joel, then called Burke.

His phone rang a couple of times, then went to voicemail. She tried to keep the fear out of her voice when she said, "Give me a call when you get a chance." She didn't want to worry him.

She'd be fine, wouldn't she?

* * *

"What's wrong? Is this about Mitch?" Marjorie Parker asked Burke as they sat down together in her living room.

"In a way. It's mostly about Leanne," he said, noticing the numerous photographs of Leanne that were displayed all around the room, including a large portrait that had been taken on her eighteenth birthday. The young girl that Leanne had once been stared back at him in a somewhat accusatory way, as if she couldn't believe it was taking him so long to figure things out.

"What is it, Burke?" Marjorie asked, drawing his attention back to her.

He hesitated, not sure how to begin. Marjorie had been so distraught after Leanne's death; he felt terrible bringing it all up again. But if he didn't, Mitch would—if he hadn't already. "Has Mitch spoken to you since the dinner Friday night?"

She nodded, her gaze troubled. "He's called a few times, but to be honest I didn't really understand what he was trying to say. I'm quite worried about him. Can you tell me what's going on?"

"That's what I'm trying to figure out. Did you talk to Leanne much in the weeks before her accident?"

"We spoke almost every day. You know we were close." She paused as the phone rang. "I have to get that. I'm expecting a call from my sister."

"No problem." After she left the room, he got up and walked over to the mantel, taking another look at the family photographs. The most recent one of Leanne and her mother had been taken during a mother-daughter trip to the Sonoma wine country. They stood with their arms around each other in front of the bed and breakfast where they'd stayed, a beautiful inn with colorful flowers dotting the path next to them.