Dead Women Tell No Lies Read Free Page B

the clapboard homes reminiscent of houses from the turn of the century. Their carriage houses now used as garages or altered into small apartments stood a short distance from the main buildings. A variety store and a Laundromat occupied the corners of the next two blocks. As she walked, her mind retraced the last couple of weeks until she stopped.
    Where was she, a park? To her left was a fenced-in tennis court without a net and, most likely, abandoned for the season. Ahead a sign stapled to a stake announced the skating hours and rules for the ice.
    The wind whistled for a second before dropping to a whisper and transformed into Dahlia’s voice calling to her, coaxing and pleading somewhere near the water. Rose hesitated then drew closer to the frozen pond. She peered downward where blond hair lighter than her own floated weightless toward the ice. Her sister’s face, a face like her own for twenty-seven years, tilted up, revealing the birthmark under her chin, their one difference. Her bound hands pressed against the invisible barrier. Her hazel eyes screamed for someone to listen. The duct tape over her mouth strangled the last plea for mercy, but the muffled desperate cry reached Rose.
    “Help me!”
    Oh my, God! “Dahl-ia? Dahl-ia!” Rose’s heart jumped into her throat, making her voice shake. She lunged toward her sister, and the crack of the thin ice under her feet warned her away. She retreated to the firm ground and shivered in the frosty air.
    In the water, Dahlia’s form dissolved and disappeared.
    This was how her sister’s life ended. Her mouth taped, her limbs bound, she’d been left to drown, to die without hope. Rose swept shaking hands over her face and tried to wipe away the terrifying vision.
    “Dahlia, who did this to you?” Chills swept over her. She fumbled with the jacket zipper, pulling the tab up to her chin while a myriad of emotions, shock, terror, and grief left her frozen to the ground. “I’m sorry we fought. I’m sorry I yelled at you.”
    She shoved her hands into the pockets of her gray parka, hunched her shoulders and struggled with the tears until someone shouting and whistling for a dog brought her back to the surroundings.
    How late was it? She’d lost sense of time and place. Shuddering, she grabbed control of herself. Now, she craved traffic and noise, not the solitude of the park where she’d attempted to seize a few seconds of peace. She had to escape her twin’s ghost.
    Near the plaque for a historic trolley stop, she emerged onto the empty sidewalk. Across the street, large houses with wraparound porches rested dark and silent. It must be close to eleven o’clock. She cut across the street, putting distance between her sister’s spirit and herself. Why had Dahlia appeared to her? Was she trying to tell her something, or did she think Rose didn’t care about her after their last big fight? How many times during their lives had she given Dahlia one more chance to change? Sharp regret bit into Rose. “I know you were a good person, Dahlia, but you sometimes seemed to lose your way. I’m sorry I wasn’t there for you.”
    “I’ll make it right. If it takes everything I own, I’ll make sure the monster who killed you is found and punished. He’ll never hurt anyone again. I promise.”
    Rose trotted down Main Street with its two and three story clapboard facades and mixed brick fronts. She passed the dark store windows and locked doors of Minicake Bakery and Joe’s Coffee. Above the shops, unlit apartments reminded her of the late hour. At least the city salted and sanded the main sidewalks, but no one else seemed inclined to enjoy a stroll in the late March night air. In their homes, people snuggled in their beds or wound down in front of the television. She was the only one foolish enough to wander out this late. The cold stung her fingers and toes, pushing her forward.
    Suddenly the sound of footsteps prickled her skin. She peered over her shoulder. An