Page 78 of Unpacking Secrets

Heller laughed. That bizarrely normal façade evaporated into mist as a strange, high-pitched giggle burst from him.

“Oh no, that bitch ruined my plans for her when she got knocked up. I would never have pegged her for the maternal type, but I guess nature won out in the end.”

I almost went limp with relief. I hadn’t thought too deeply about sharing DNA with a murderer until that very minute. It didn’t even matter now who my father was, as long as it wasn’t this killer.

My toe caught on an uneven patch of grass and I stumbled, causing him to grab my arm in a wrenching, iron grip. This time, the cruelty of Nan’s charcoal sketch was as evident in the harsh words as it was in the painful grasp of his fingers.

“One more day and I would've had her right where I wanted her, but she went and got pregnant. The bitch refused to do what she was told. So selfless, trying to protect everyone else, but I made sure every one of the girls I took afterward paid for her sins. You won’t make that mistake, now, will you? I’d hate to have to take it out on your new little friends.”

Henry.

I’d never forgive myself if this bastard hurt Henry.Though I wanted to scream his name, all I could manage was a gasping sob. He was probably still stuck behind that big old desk in his office, unable to hear me even if I managed to shout.

Tears blurred my vision when we reached the treeline and I struggled to drag enough oxygen into my lungs.

Just hold on,I told myself.Your mother bested this son of a bitch, and so can you. Just hold on.

Thirty-One

Henry

Imanagedtogetthecomputer up and running again half an hour after Juliet left to visit my grandfather. No computer problem was distracting enough to quell the quick jab of fear in my gut when she mentioned going outside, but I'd seen Gramps out there as well. As much as I’d wanted to keep her beside me, I couldn’t fault her for feeling restless.

Sally would be able to keep an eye on Juliet in the garden from where she was working in the kitchen. Hadn’t the view from the kitchen windows gotten me in trouble that first day when Juliet stormed out of my office?

Now that things had worked out, I could smile at the memory.

The gardens would soothe her, I hoped. Being outside usually calmed her nerves—when she wasn’t tumbling down hillsides, at least. With perfect clarity, I recalled the look in her eyes when she caught sight of the lake that day at the beach, those deep inhalations with her arms flung wide, the way she tipped her face up to the sun like a supplicant receiving a benediction.

My chest tightened with emotion as those images filled my head.

That was the way she should always look. She deserved to be carefree and utterly at peace, instead of pale and grieving and hanging on by a thread. Being cooped up didn’t suit my beautiful artist.

It was funny, I could admit now, that I’d originally expected her to be too flighty for the good of the inn’s future, too disinterested. Instead, here I was, wishing I could lighten the load she carried on those strong shoulders. Juliet had proven my stupid assumptions wrong time and again.

All I cared about now was keeping her happy and safe.

As I loaded the reservation software, a text from Libby came through on my phone. A name for the boogeyman.

Ted Holliston. Sent name and address from clinic records to Chief.

I blew out a breath, thanked her, and headed to the sitting room to tell Mrs. Gregson things were good to go on the computer front.

“I’m so sorry to drag you here on your day off, but thank you, Henry. I do appreciate you and Juliet stopping in.”

“Not a problem, Mrs. G. Getting out of the house probably did Juliet some good. She loves the gardens almost as much as Nan did, I think.”

Mrs. Gregson smiled fondly. “I think you’re right. Enjoy the rest of your day.”

I waved before making my way outside, but my limbs turned to stone when I got there and didn’t see Juliet or my grandfather. Moving between the flower beds, my lungs tightened.

The absolute quiet caused an icy ball to form in my stomach.

“Red?” I called. “Gramps?”

A soft moan floated from the far edge of the garden.

Without a second thought, I ran toward the sound, dropping to my knees when I found my grandfather on the ground. That ball of ice in my gut exploded, sending shards of frozen terror through my limbs. Juliet was nowhere in sight, but as I gently rolled Gramps onto his back, it was clear he had been struck by something.

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