Killing the Secret (14 page)

“Secret?” Tye repeated.

Her neck changed from pale to blotchy red. “Anyone’s secret about anything.” Beth rose from her chair trying to avoid the firing squad of words. “I need to go now. Darren’s waiting in the car and he needs to get back to work. He’s missed a lot lately because of me.”

“Maybe if someone, LIKE YOU, would give us a clue as to why someone wants to murder the team, then your lives could get back to normal,” Lexie challenged as she peered into Beth’s eyes.

Beth’s gaze dropped to the floor and she grasped her hands to her head.

“We need a DNA sample and your fingerprints. As evidence accumulates on the murderer, we can rule you out,” Lexie said.

“You think I’d kill my friends?”

“No, we don’t,” Tye answered, “but we can’t show any favoritism.”

“Do what you need to do,” she said the words in an unaccustomed straightforward manner. No effort was made to dry the tears that were accumulating on her cheeks.

Lexie put on her gloves and took the DNA swab. After Tye finished with the fingerprinting, Beth went out the door.

“I guess she forgot to say goodbye?” Lexie scoffed.

“You were tough on her,” Tye confronted. “Why so sarcastic?”

“Because she knows something. She probably thinks it has nothing to do with her friends dying, but if it does, she’s helping the murderer.”

“She seemed so frightened,” Delia spoke softly.

“Should be even more scared than she is.” Lexie popped an aspirin then took a long drink of water.

Jamie was the next to enter. Her strides were long and her face set in a scowl. She wore a gray running suit with a black t-shirt underneath, appropriate attire since she seemed to be trying to get away from something. Better to ask Jamie for the samples first, rather than last, since Lexie expected her to become even angrier.

“Jamie, as part of our investigation, we’re asking everyone involved to give us a DNA sample and their fingerprints.”

“Since I’m a suspect, I bet you’d really like mine without a fuss,” Jamie challenged.

“It’s easier if you volunteer, but the judge can get an order over here within thirty minutes if you don’t want to cooperate,” Lexie countered.

“I certainly wouldn’t want to be uncooperative. Just take anything you need then start your interrogation. Isn’t that how it works, Tye?”

Tye tried good cop. “Jamie, I don’t think you’re a murderer, but I may need to prove it to other people.”

“There you go—a gentleman after all.” Jamie’s nostrils puffing slightly. “Can’t we get on with this? I’ve got things to do.”

“Beth mentioned a secret earlier today and I want to hear more about it.” Lexie returned Jamie’s stare.

“Then ask Beth. She brought it up.”

Lexie made her best attempt to sound gentle. “Just the thought of it made Beth cry. I didn’t want to upset her anymore than she already was. I figured a tough woman like you could share without the emotion.”

“I got nothing to confide. I’m not aware of Beth’s secrets. Obviously, she has at least one she doesn’t want to share with you.”

Lexie pursued, “And you, Jamie, what secrets do you know that may have resulted in Abbey, Terri, Heather, and Tina dying?”

Jamie’s body stiffened. “As I’ve said before, we did nothing that’d deserve death.”

“This guy is psycho,” Delia interjected, then glanced at Lexie. “Sorry.”

“Delia’s right. This person isn’t normal. Something that might be irrelevant to us may be a personal affront to him.”

Jamie wearily shook her head. “Again, I’ve got nothing to tell.”

It was time for Lexie’s shock tactic. “Do you think this could be related to the abortion that Loretta had during that time period?”

The sternness in Jamie’s face turned to mush.

Lexie continued. “The abortion, Jamie. The one you all helped cover for her. Was the father angry?”

“He never knew.”

“I don’t think you can be sure if he knew or not. Maybe he just kept quiet. Now, twenty years later, he’s mad because you all helped kill his baby,” Lexie probed.

“It’s not him.”

“How can you be sure?”

“I heard he died in a motorcycle wreck during his sophomore year at college.”

“So his family would’ve had a grandchild if it wasn’t for you,” Lexie accused.

“They didn’t know about the baby,” Jamie said after she moistened her lips. “His dad was a preacher and would’ve condemned them both to hell fire for having premarital sex.”

“Did anyone want Loretta to keep the baby? Did her parents know?”

“No, they didn’t know. At the time, none of us thought of it as a real person. Just something that would interfere with our basketball season.”

“Anyone try to talk Loretta out of the abortion?” Tye asked.

“Abbey and Beth tried, but Loretta made up her mind. No way was she going to miss her senior year.”

“That’s all for now.” Lexie stood abruptly.

The room was silent as Jamie walked across the room with short strides and slouched shoulders.

“This is getting interesting,” Lexie said when the door closed behind Jamie.

“Hard to believe something like that could go on in our small town and never get out,” Delia shook her head as she spoke.

Tye stood and stretched. “Apparently, people can keep their mouths shut if they choose to.”

“Unfortunately, now is a lousy time to keep secrets,” Lexie added.

Chapter Thirty-Five

Loretta, as expected, arrived late. Even though Lexie wasn’t surprised, she was irritated at the disrespect it indicated.

“Don’t blow up,” Tye cautioned her. “If she clams up you’ll get nothing.”

“I have a feeling Loretta’s going to have plenty to say.” Lexie couldn’t suppress her smile.

“I’m here. I’m here.” She swung the door back to give herself and two large shopping bags room to get in the office. Her hair was disheveled and her dark roots in need of color. Even her nails weren’t the usual chip free perfection.

“Don’t look at me like I’m a criminal. I’m just five minutes late.”

“Actually, you’re twenty minutes late,” Tye rebutted. “But for you, that’s on time.”

“Have a seat here at the table.” Lexie motioned toward the old flowered chair.

“Is this the hot seat?” Loretta’s laugh was tense.

“I guess you can call it that since you’re the one answering the questions,” Lexie replied. “Will you volunteer to give us a DNA sample and your fingerprints?”

“I’m sure you’ll get them one way or another. So go for it.”

After the procedures were finished, Lexie started the questioning. “We need to catch this murderer, Loretta, and we need your help.”

“I want this guy caught more than you do. I can’t even get my hair and nails done. My husband doesn’t want to babysit me at the beauty salon. Ever since Lexie told him to keep an eye on me he’s been my prison guard.”

Lexie nodded. “Good. I’m glad he realizes how much danger you’re in.”

“So who murdered your friends?” Tye demanded.

“If I knew I would’ve already told you.”

Lexie pushed, “I think you know, but you’ve chosen not to tell.”

“That’s ridiculous. Don’t pull your cop psychology on me—telling me I know, when I don’t.”

Lexie confronted her, “You do know about the secrets.”

Loretta straightened her back and leaned forward in her chair. “You’re just acting like you know something in the hopes I’ll start spilling my guts.”

“I for sure know about your secret—the abortion.” Lexie thought that Loretta’s look was best described as horror. Her eyes widened then almost closed. Her hands clenched the chair arms.

“Who told you that?”

“Jamie said that all your teammates knew and covered for you.”

Loretta screeched, “That evil witch!”

Tye clamped his gaze on her. “Do you know anyone who’d want to punish you and the others for causing the babies’ death?”

“You and your girlfriend are accusing me of killing a baby? I’m sure she forgot to mention
her
secret.” Loretta’s face puffed up with emotional venom and her finger pointed at Tye.

“What secret is that?” Lexie asked calmly.

“I wasn’t the only one who got pregnant. Jamie just had better timing. She got to have her babies the summer
before
our senior year. I would’ve been pregnant through basketball season and missed the best year of my life. Everyone thought Jamie went to a basketball camp but she was in Missouri with her aunt birthing—guess whose babies?”

Loretta turned her finger toward Tye again. “You should be a prime suspect since your girlfriend gave away your twin sons so it wouldn’t interfere with her basketball schedule. That could make a man who never had children want to murder her and all her co-conspirators. Just think, Tye. Jamie gave away your sons—gone forever. Doesn’t that make you want to murder?”

“Shut up, Loretta.” Tye’s fist clutched inches from her face. “I don’t want to hear anymore.”

“I just bet you don’t since now it’s about
your
woman.”

“Who knew about Jamie’s pregnancy?” Lexie questioned.

“Team knew, and her dad who sent her away to have the babies. Told her she was too young, and Tye was too wild, to take care of a family. All Daddy Jim cared about was winning the basketball championship so he could be Coach of the Year.” Acid dripped from Loretta’s words.

“Anyone angry about Jamie giving away the babies?” Lexie continued to probe, determined to find an answer.

“Why don’t we call them your nephews,” Loretta’s words stung. “No one seemed upset about the adoptions. The only one who might be angry at this late date is your childless brother.”

“That might have been a possibility—if he’d known,” Lexie defended.

“Maybe he found out,” Loretta accused, “and he’s putting on an act. Wouldn’t you really like to go kill Jamie right now, Tye?”

Tye’s contempt was uncontained, “You’re my first choice!”

“There you go, Lexie, Your deputy has threatened me. Are you going to lock him up?”

“No. By the way, Loretta, Jamie didn’t tell me about your abortion. Mariah did. Jamie just answered my questions after I told her I knew. So you betrayed Jamie—not the other way around.”

“Mariah!” Loretta yelled. “She should be strangled. Of all the people to divulge other people’s secrets!”

“What was Mariah’s secret?”

“Ask her what we found out that night by the lake. Ask her why we had to swear to keep our mouths shut. Let her tell you her own secret—that two-faced bitch!” Loretta’s voice went from a strained monotone to a screech.

“Why do I need to ask her? Just tell me,” Lexie ordered.

“No. I’m better than she is. I promised, and I’m going to keep my word.”

“Don’t you get it, Loretta? She’s set you up to be the killer. Your motive is to shut up everyone before your husband, and everyone else in this town, judges you for what you did.”

“Her father is the one who found me the midwife who did the abortion, so Mariah’s apparently setting him up too. You can check my alibis. I don’t need to tell you anything. Oh, there is one more thing you might ask Daddy Sean. What happened to his son?”

Lexie took the bait. “What does his dead son have to do with this?”

“Dead? Maybe—maybe not,” her tone was teasing. “Perhaps you should stop interrogating an innocent woman and start asking Mariah and Sean all your questions. After all, she wants to be First Lady so her secrets are potentially life-ruining. I’m going now, unless, of course, you’re going to lock me up.” Loretta stood with each arm encircling a bag as she walked toward the door. One side of her hair stuck out from her head adding to her freaked-out appearance. Delia followed her to the door and opened the door wide. Loretta walked quickly into the damp April day. Delia closed the door behind her.

“Dear, God.” Delia shook her head as if trying to dislodge all she’d heard. “All this stuff going on and I thought they were a bunch of sweet basketball girls.”

Lexie’s excitement was evident as she verbally conveyed their “to do” list. “We have at least three secrets to investigate. Starting tomorrow, we’ll bring in anyone, and everyone, who had anything to do with the team. That includes coaches, junior varsity players, teachers, boyfriends, and family members. Delia, take a lunch break. When you get back, we’ll start phoning to schedule meetings over the next two to three days.”

Delia retrieved her purse from the closet. “I’ll be back in half an hour.”

Tye headed toward the door. “I’m going to find Jamie.”

“Do you want to talk about this?”

“No,” Tye answered flatly.

“Okay. But I need you to stop at Beth’s first and see if you can get more out of her, based on the information Loretta gave us.”

“Will do.” Tye avoided eye contact. “I’ll phone if Beth says anything interesting.”

Lexie watched her brother leave. There was a look of lost desperation in his eyes. She didn’t know what to say or how to help him. The thought of having two nephews lifted her spirits. A thought she wasn’t going to share with her brother anytime soon.

Chapter Thirty-Six

Tye heard, and felt, the bump-bumpily-bump of the flat tire when he was a mile out of town. He lifted the jack from the trunk and proceeded to pump up the back of his truck. The sweat beaded on his face. His shirt stuck to his damp skin so he took it off and threw it in the trunk.

Loretta’s words didn’t leave his head. Somewhere he had two sons. He felt strange, as if he was suddenly a different person—a man realizing he’d been cut off from an important part of his life.
Do they ever wonder about their father?
The adoptive parents may never have told them that their father is still alive.
He switched the jack for his shirt in the trunk and resumed his trip to Beth’s house.

Flower boxes on the windows, rows of daffodils by the front sidewalk, and a yellow porch swing all added to the appeal of the small house. Beth opened the door before he knocked.

“Darren is napping, so if you don’t mind I’d like to talk out here,” Beth requested.

“Fine with me,” Tye answered.

“What else do you want from me? I’ve already answered Lexie’s questions.”