Trail of Secrets

“I’ll go check on her. Maybe I can help.”

Captain Wilson nodded. “Thanks.”

Seth jogged down the street and stopped at the squad car parked there. He opened the front door and leaned in on the driver’s side. Callie sat huddled against the front passenger side door, her head resting against the back of the seat.

“Callie, are you all right?”

She opened her eyes and sat up straighter. “Seth, what are you doing here? You should be home getting some rest.”

He shook his head, climbed in the car and closed the door. “Captain Wilson called me when he got here, and I rushed right over. I wanted to check on you. How did you get out of the house?”

“The way Uncle Dan taught me when I was a child. Out my window, across the garage roof and down the drainpipe to the ground. I used to get tired of him making me practice, but now I’m glad he did. Otherwise I might be burned to a crisp in that house.”

“Do you know how the fire started?”

She gave a wry chuckle. “Well, it wasn’t faulty wiring, that’s for sure.”

He frowned. “What do you mean?”

“I’m sure the firemen have already discovered the smell of accelerant in the flames.”

His eyes grew wide. “Are you saying the fire was set deliberately?”

“Yes.”

For the next few minutes Seth listened as Callie related what had happened after he’d left her at the house. His heart sank when she described the flames racing across the entry and how she’d had to leap over some of them to get to the staircase. When she’d finished, she directed a somber stare at him.

“I keep thinking about how Uncle Dan acted after he picked me up at the airport. It was as if he knew somebody was after him. Why else would he have tried to get me to stay at the Peabody Hotel rather than at home?”

Seth nodded. “The fact that he said he needed to tell me something makes me think he probably had gotten some new information, something that might lead to solving this case. That would mean the shooting attempt was a way to keep him from ever revealing what he’d found out.”

“Yes, but Uncle Dan didn’t die.”

“And you foiled the second attempt on his life.”

Callie let out a long breath. “And now somebody knows I can identify the man who tried to kill Uncle Dan tonight. They want to shut me up for good, too. If I hadn’t escaped the burning house, I’d be dead right now.”

Seth raked his hand through his hair and he gritted his teeth. “This is my fault. I should never have left you alone. How could I ever face Dan again if I let anything happen to you?”

Callie reached over and placed her hand on his arm. “None of this is your fault, Seth. I should have known I’d be in danger after seeing the scar and tattoo on that man in Uncle Dan’s room. But I have to admit, I’m glad I was able to find this before they torched the house.”

He glanced at the notebook that sat in her lap. “You found Dan’s notebook.”

“Yes. Have you ever looked at it?”

“Yes. He showed it to me several times. He would be down in the dumps for days after finding out that his latest lead had gone nowhere. Sometimes I’d go over to his house, and he’d have it open to the woman’s picture. I think he spent a lot of time looking at it and wishing she could tell him her secrets. But of course she couldn’t.”

“I’m glad I was able to save this. Maybe we can look through it tomorrow. There are several things I want to ask you about, but I’m too tired tonight.” She stifled a yawn. “I couldn’t go to sleep earlier, but I feel like I could now. The only problem is I have nowhere to sleep—not to mention no clothes and no money. My wallet burned in the fire. I have no idea where I’m going to stay.”

“I do. You’re going home with me. My sister’s room is empty since she got married, and my mother and I would be happy to have you stay with us while you’re in Memphis.”

Her eyes grew wide. “I don’t know if that’s a good idea. Your mother probably hates me because of what happened between us, and I’m sure it would make you feel uncomfortable to have me in the house, too.”

His face grew warm, but he tried to laugh. “I thought we had this settled. Our relationship was over a long time ago. I accepted that and so did my mother. Besides, with all Mom’s activities, she’s gone quite a bit.”

Callie smiled. “So she’s still trying to enjoy life to the fullest.”

“Yeah. I never know what to expect next from her. I don’t know if she’ll be volunteering at one of the hospitals, going on a mission trip to Ecuador or off on a camping trip with her friends to the Smokies.”

“I always liked her. Are you sure she won’t mind my staying there for a few days?”

“She’ll be happy to have you. So, which will it be? I can pay for a hotel room or offer you the hospitality of the Dawtry household.”

She studied him a moment before she smiled. “Thank you, Seth. It’s easy to say we can let the past go, but it’s really hard to do. I know you’re only doing this because you promised Uncle Dan you’d take care of me, but I appreciate it.”

He bit down on his lip and pulled his cell phone from his pocket. “I’ll call Captain Wilson and tell him I’m taking you to my mother’s house. I don’t think there’s any reason for you to stay around here any longer.”

A few minutes later with the message delivered to the captain, the two of them walked back to Seth’s car. He opened the passenger door for Callie and held it for her to climb inside. Before she did, she turned her head and stared over her shoulder at the still-burning fire. He heard a little sob in her throat before she ducked her head and got in.

When he slid behind the steering wheel, he glanced at her. She stared straight ahead through the windshield for a moment before she swiveled in her seat and faced him.

“I’ve always loved my uncle, but tonight when he was almost taken from me twice, I realized how thankful I should have been all these years for a man who devoted his life to me. I feel so ashamed, Seth, for accepting everything he did for me without letting him know how thankful I was for him.”

“You shouldn’t. Dan wouldn’t want that.”

“He wouldn’t, because that’s the kind of person he is. How many people are there who would spend all those years raising their niece or looking for the elusive answers to the identity of a murder victim?”

Seth rubbed the back of his neck and chuckled. “Not many, but then Dan’s not like other people.”

“He’s not. And one thing about him that I tried to ignore but shouldn’t have is that he was always a cop at heart, just like my dad.” She sighed. “I’ve been thinking about what Anthony said about me being able to stand up to the bad guys like my father and uncle did.”

“Why have you thought about that?”

“Because I never thought my temperament was anything like my father’s or Uncle Dan’s. I’m a lot like my mother. She was a very quiet woman. She never forced herself on anyone, and she was quick to ignore things people did to hurt her. Up to a certain point, that is. She would let harsh words or insults go for a while, but then she reached her breaking point. When that happened, I pitied the person she focused her anger on. It was like a dam broke, and all her pent-up emotions poured out.”

“And you say you’re like that, too?” Seth asked.

She nodded. “Maybe not as much as she was, but to some extent. Not many hours ago I flew into Memphis ready to go on a Hawaiian vacation with my uncle, who was about to retire. Within minutes, we were shot at, trapped in a wrecked vehicle and transported in an ambulance. My uncle then endured extensive surgery, was hooked up to life-saving machines and then nearly smothered by an assailant. That was quite enough, but someone wasn’t through. He then attempted to murder me and burned down our house in the process, leaving Uncle Dan with no worldly possessions left. I think that’s quite enough to exceed my breaking point, too.”

Seth frowned. “I don’t understand what you’re saying, Callie.”

She took a deep breath. “I’m saying that because I was there, I’m now on their list, too. Somebody tried to kill me in the wreck and then in the house—not to mention Scarface nearly shooting me before the marshal interrupted.” She gritted her teeth and glared at him. “No way am I going to let these people get away with all they’ve done to my family. Whoever is behind all this has to be stopped. We need to find out who these people are and why they want to kill Uncle Dan and now me. And in finding them, we just might be able to discover Hope’s identity and why someone doesn’t want it revealed.”

Seth stared at her in disbelief. “Are you saying you want to track down whoever’s done these things to you and Dan?” He chuckled and shook his head. “Callie, you’re a college professor. You know nothing about police work.”

She nodded. “I know that, but I’m smart, Seth. And I’m determined. I can figure things out, and you understand how to investigate. I think we’d make a good team.”

“I don’t know, Callie. This is too dangerous for you to get involved in.”

“I’m already involved, Seth. Somebody welcomed me into this case when he pointed a gun at the car I was riding in. I want to know who it was and why he did it. I think the only way to find out who that was is to first find out who Hope was and how she ended up in the Mississippi River.”

He stared at her for a moment before he smiled. “Maybe you’re right. I’d sure like to solve Dan’s case. It can’t hurt to give it a try. But first, let’s try to get a few hours’ sleep before we make any decision on this.”

She buckled her seat belt and smiled. “That sounds good. I just hope I’m able to sleep after facing your mother for the first time since we broke up. I don’t imagine she’s going to be happy to see me on her doorstep.”

Seth started to protest his mother would welcome Callie into their home, but instead he shook his head. His mother loved her children, and she could be as ferocious as a mother bear in protecting her offspring.

Uncertain of what awaited them, Seth started the car and headed toward home.

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