Whisper of Evil Read Free Page A

Hailey said you came close once or twice."
    "No. I never married."
    Shelby grimaced. "Me either. Matter of fact, half our graduating class seems to be single these days, even though most of us have hit thirty. Depressing, isn't it?"
    "Maybe some of us are better off alone," Nell offered, keeping her tone light.
    "I think there's something in the water," Shelby said darkly. "Honest, Nell, this is getting to be a weird place. Have you heard about the murders?"
    Nell lifted an eyebrow. "Murders?"
    "Yeah. Four so far, if you count George Caldwell— remember him, Nell? 'Course, the sheriff hasn't been eager to put this latest death on the list with the others, but—"
    Max cut her off to say, "We've had killings here before, Shelby, just like any other town."
    "Not like these," Shelby insisted. "People around here get themselves killed, the reason why is generally pretty obvious, just like who the killer is. No locked-room mysteries or other baffling whodunits, not in Silence. But these deaths? All fine, upstanding men of the town with reputations the next best thing to lily-white, then they're murdered and all their nasty secrets come spilling out like a dam broke wide open."
    "Secrets?" Nell asked curiously.
    "I'll say. Adultery, embezzlement, gambling, pornog-
    WHISPER OP EVIL
    raphy—you name it, we've had it. It's been a regular Peyton Place around here. We haven't heard anything about poor George's secrets so far, but it's early days yet. The other three, their secrets became public knowledge within a couple of weeks of their deaths. So I'm afraid it's just a matter of time until we find out more about George than we ever wanted to know."
    "Have the killers been caught?"
    "Nope. Which is another weird thing, if you ask me. Four prominent citizens killed in the last eight months, and the sheriff can't solve even one of the murders? He's going to have a hell of a time getting himself reelected."
    Nell glanced at Max, who was frowning slightly but didn't offer a comment, then looked back at Shelby. "It does sound a little strange, but I'm sure the sheriff knows his job, Shelby. You always did fret too much."
    Shelby shook her head but laughed as well. "Yeah, I guess I did at that. Oh, hell—is that the time? I've gotta go, I'm late. Listen, Nell, I really want to catch up—can I give you a call in a day or two, after you've settled in? We can have lunch or something."
    "Sure, I'd love to."
    "Great. And if you get lonesome in that big old house and want somebody to talk to in the meantime, you call me, okay? I'm still a night owl, so anytime's fine."
    "Gotcha. See you later, Shelby."
    With a wave to Max, the redhead rushed off, and Nell murmured, "She hasn't changed much."
    "No."
    Nell knew her best bet would be to get in her car and just leave, but she heard herself saying slowly, "These murders do sound pretty unusual. And to go unsolved for so long… Doesn't the sheriff have at least a few suspects?"
    Max uttered an odd little laugh. "Oh, yeah, he has a few. One, in particular."
    "One?"
    "Yeah, one. Me." With another laugh, he turned on his heel and walked away.
    Nell gazed after him until he disappeared around the next corner. Then she looked at the busy little town that seemed oblivious to the storm clouds moving in and, half under her breath, murmured, "Welcome home, Nell. Welcome home."
    Ethan Cole stood at the window of his office and looked down on Main Street. He had an excellent view of most of the street, especially the area around the newsstand. So he saw the visibly tense encounter between Nell Gallagher and Max Tanner, saw Shelby Theriot join them for a few moments before hurrying on in a characteristic rush. Saw Max stalk away and Nell watch him until she could no longer see him.
    Well, now. How about that?
    Ethan had known Nell was coming back to Silence, of course. Wade Keever wasn't as closemouthed as he should have been about the legal affairs he handled, especially with a couple of drinks in him, and