Page 26

26

GAP Mile 92.3, Between Clarksville and Union Hill

“ N obody enter the cave,” Diana commanded, taking charge of the scene like it was second nature, which it was. Despite her low vision, which was even more problematic at night, she was the experienced law enforcement officer. She had to lead.

The others assembled in a cluster at the cave’s entrance, headlamps creating a chaotic dance of light and shadow on the stone walls. Diana felt the familiar adrenaline surge that came with taking command of a crime scene—because that’s what this was until proven otherwise.

Bodhi stepped up beside her and aimed his headlamp at the ground. “This is where I found the blood,” he said, indicating the dark stain about ten feet inside the cave entrance.

As he adjusted his light, she heard his sharp intake of breath.

“What?” she asked, trying to make out what had caught his attention.

“Look,” he murmured, his voice barely audible.

She followed his finger to the ground but saw only wavy, indistinct shapes—blurred patches of light and darkness that refused to resolve into anything meaningful. She turned her head slightly, using her peripheral vision, but it didn’t help. The macular degeneration robbed her of the fine detail she needed, especially in low light.

“What?” she repeated forcefully, frustration edging her tone.

Bodhi leaned closer. “My headlamp has four light settings,” he explained as he clicked through them, “white light, red light, blue light, and ultraviolet light.”

“Okay, most headlamps have multiple light modes.”

“I accidentally clicked one too many times before. I selected the UV mode and the blood is fluorescing under the UV light.”

“But, how? You didn’t spray luminol or anything.” She knew that crime scene investigators used luminol because it interacted with blood to create a blue glow.

“Right, I didn’t. And this blood isn’t blue. It’s glowing a bright orangish-red.” He pitched his voice low.

“What does that mean?” Diana dropped her voice to match his near-whisper.

“It could indicate a medical condition called acute intermittent porphyria—AIP. It’s quite rare, but one characteristic is that the blood contains porphyrins that fluoresce under UV light.”

He waited while she processed this information.

After a moment, she asked, “You think Rory has this condition?”

“It’s a possibility. AIP can cause severe abdominal pain, confusion, and even seizures and convulsions in acute attacks. If she’s having an episode, combined with what may well be a head injury she could be confused, disoriented, or even delusional.”

“A head injury? What are you basing that on?”

“A possible head injury,” he clarified. “Based on the amount of blood. Scalp wounds, even minor ones, are notorious for bleeding copiously.”

“Before we run off half-cocked let’s find out if anyone knows about any health conditions. You asked about her mental health back at the tapas bar, not her physical health. We’ll split up and ask the others casually. No need to alarm everyone yet. I’ll talk to Julie first.”

“I might as well ask Lucas. I’ve already stirred the hornet’s nest,” he responded.

Bodhi escorted Diana back to the trail, keeping and light hand on her elbow, then he guided her toward Julie, who stood apart from the group, staring into the darkness beyond the cave.

“I’ve got it from here, thanks.”

He strode off in the other direction.

She carefully walked over to the real estate developer she’d known since childhood. “Julie, do you know if Rory has any medical conditions?”

Julie turned, surprise registering on her face. “Why?”

“It might be relevant to finding her.”

Julie hesitated. “I don’t know, actually. I’ve signed for some packages delivered to the apartment when she’s been away on shoots. They could be prescriptions or medical supplies. Or they could be photography equipment. Or sex toys, for all I know.”

Diana wasn’t touching the sex toys comment with a six-foot, er, pole. “She never mentioned any health problems, though?”

“No,” Julie crossed her arms. “And I would never dream of asking. Rory’s very private about certain things.”

Diana waited, sensing Julie had more to say.

“We argued last night,” Julie volunteered suddenly. “About the Hudson property—the demolition she photographed.”

Diana tilted her head. “Why are you telling me this now?”

Julie looked away. “I don’t know. Maybe I feel guilty? She was pretty upset. And, honestly, so was I.”

“Were you upset enough to follow her to the cave and confront her?” Diana asked bluntly.

Julie’s head snapped back. “Confront her? As in assault her and drag her away? No! Come on, Diana, what kind of person do you think I am?”

“The kind who sometimes puts profit over people,” Diana replied evenly. “I’ve watched Union Hill change under your guidance. Not all of it for the better.”

“Now you sound like her.”

Diana let the retort hang on the air.

After a moment, Julie protested further, “I create opportunities. I can’t help who gets left behind.”

“Can’t you?”

Julie’s voice hardened. “I didn’t hurt Rory. I wouldn’t. For all our disagreements, I actually like her.”

Diana nodded, letting the subject drop. “If you think of anything about her health, let me know.”

She moved away, cautiously, keeping her gaze on the pool of light created by her headlamp. As she did so, she wondered what had prompted Julie’s voluntary admission about the argument. Guilty conscience? Or was she trying to get ahead of something?

Before Diana had gone ten feet, Julie was making a phone call. The harsh glow of her phone lit up the dark.

As Diana turned toward Sadie and Aaron, who were across the clearing, Julie said in a throaty voice, “Ron? Do you have a minute?”

Diana froze, then melted into the copse of trees to listen to Julie’s end of the conversation.

“Nothing so far. Except being grilled by your ex.” She laughed lightly at something Ron said. Then, “Don’t worry. She doesn’t suspect anything.”

There was a pause while Julie inspected her manicure. “Of course I’m sure. She wouldn’t recognize the truth if it rang her doorbell.”

Diana clenched her hands into fists and pressed her lips together. She couldn’t explode on Julie even though her entire body was tense, waiting for her to unload. She had to keep her temper in check and gather more information.

“I will. Yes, as soon as I’m out of these blasted woods.” Julie paused, listening. “Well, I had to volunteer to come along. It would have looked suspicious if I hadn’t.” She ended the call.

Julie stepped out from between the trees. “You and Ron are in on this together? The two of you are responsible for Rory’s disappearance?”

At the sound of her voice, Julie started. She turned and gaped at Diana, lit up by the beam of the headlamp Diana wore.

“It’s not what it sounds like.”

Diana laughed without humor. “Really? Because it sounds like you and the chief of police conspired to get rid of the activist artist who was bringing negative attention to your economic development projects.”

“No, you misinterpreted?—”

“My opinion of my ex-husband is exceedingly low. But apparently, I’ve been giving him too much credit. I knew he was lazy and complacent. But corrupt? That’s a new?—”

“Diana, stop.” Julie voice was raw. “Just stop. We’re not co-conspirators. We’re lovers.”

A wave of shock rolled over Diana like ice water. “What?” She forced the syllable out from her tightening throat.

“Ron and I are together. We’re a couple. I’m sorry you had to find out this way. Ron didn’t want you to find out at all. We didn’t want to hurt you by adding insult to injury.”

“How long?” Diana croaked.

Julie drew a deep breath. “Not while you were still married. It was after. He was struggling after your diagnosis. He needed a friend, some support.”

“He needed support after my diagnosis?” She knew she was screeching, but she didn’t care. “No, Julie. I needed support. I could have used a friend.”

Julie’s face sagged. “Diana?—”

“No. Forget it.” Diana tamped down her anger and hurt and studied the woman she’d known for four decades. Then she shook her head. “You could do better than Ron. You deserve better than him.”

Julie gave her a small, sad smile. “I don’t see him the same way you do.”

After a moment, Diana turned without another word and crossed the clearing to where Sadie stood studying the map. Aaron hovered nearby, looking lost until his girlfriend/boss gave him a task. She would deal with the betrayal and sheer rage roiling through her later. She had a job to do now.

“Either of you know if Rory has any health problems?” she asked casually as she joined them.

Sadie shook her head without looking up from the map. “No idea. We’re not exactly friends.”

An understatement if there ever was one, Diana thought.

Aaron remained conspicuously silent.

“Aaron?” Diana prompted.

He glanced at her, then quickly away. “Not really.”

Diana waited. Years of interrogation had taught her the power of silence.

Sure enough, after a moment, Aaron jerked his head toward the trees and walked off in that direction. Diana gave him a thirty-second head start.

Before she could follow him, Sadie stowed her map and said, “I need to tell you something.”

Her somber tone made Diana forget about Aaron for the moment. “What is it?

“Aaron lied to you about where he was this afternoon.”