Silent Warning. Kathleen Long

Finally, she retreated to the porch empty-handed, dropping into a rocker.

      A gull flew past and landed on the roof of her car. Of course. Kelly raced into the house and dialed Information. She should have thought of this before. The notebook had probably been left in Rachel’s car.

      “Sheriff’s office,” a clipped female voice answered.

      Less than a minute later, Kelly winced at the buzz of the dial tone in her ear. Apparently small towns not only took care of their own, they also didn’t talk to outsiders. The woman had dismissed her by simply explaining Rachel’s effects had been forwarded to her family.

      Kelly dialed the phone once more. Rachel’s brother answered on the third ring.

      “Jim, it’s Kelly.”

      “Kelly.” He sounded exhausted and she hoped she hadn’t called at a bad time—as if there could be a good time when you’d just lost your sister. “Is everything okay?” he asked. “How’s the packing going?”

      “I’m off to a slow start.” She took her time, wanting to choose her words carefully. “I needed to ask you something.”

      “The rent’s paid through to the end of the month,” he interrupted. “So don’t worry about taking your time.”

      Kelly squeezed her eyes shut and continued, “Jim, I’m not calling about the house. I spoke with the police and I understand the coroner has given his final determination.”

      “She drowned.” His friendly tone evaporated, growing strained.

      “There’s more, isn’t there?”

      Silence.

      “Jim?”

      “The toxicology report showed drugs in her system, Kelly. It’s been a great shock.”

      Kelly sat stunned for a moment. “She never used drugs,” she said, realizing she sounded just like Dan talking about his sister.

      “I don’t think the results would lie.” A tired sigh whispered across the line. “The family would like to keep this quiet.”

      “Understood.” Alarm bells screamed inside Kelly’s head. “Did you know she was doing a story about the very thing?”

      “What do you mean?”

      “Rachel was investigating an illegal drug ring. That’s the reason I called. Did the police forward a notebook to you?”

      “A notebook?”

      “Covered with butterflies.”

      “No. Look, Kelly, my sister’s dead. That’s all I can deal with right now.”

      She’d pushed too hard. “Forgive me.”

      “No problem. I’ve got to go.”

      “Jim?” She took a deep breath, gathering her courage for one last question. “May I ask what kind of drug showed up in her system?”

      “An opiate.”

      Kelly’s mouth went dry. A time-released opiate. Dan’s explanation bounced around her brain. “Could they tell the specific type?”

      “We didn’t request additional tests. What difference would it make?”

      “I understand. I’m sorry, I—”

      “The police did say one more thing.” His words cut her short.

      “Yes?” She straightened, holding her breath.

      “They thought it might be something called Oxygesic. Apparently it’s real popular up in those parts.”

      Chapter Three

      Early the next morning, Kelly leaned her full weight against the smooth shower tiles, letting the steaming water pelt the small of her back. She rolled her head from the left to the right then back again to ease the knot of tension in her shoulders.

      Oxygesic. She’d never heard the word before yesterday and now it was all she thought of. That and Dan Steele’s breathtaking blue eyes. Those two things had haunted her dreams, the little that she’d slept.

      She’d spent several restless hours realizing she might have been too quick to believe Dan’s story. After all, he was a complete stranger, even if he’d been a friend of Rachel’s. Yes, he’d piqued her curiosity where Rachel’s death was concerned, but from now on, she’d be more cautious in following his lead.

      Kelly straightened, letting the water run over the top of her head. The man might have a sound reason for wondering how Rachel and his sister had died, but Kelly didn’t know him well enough to trust him, and she didn’t plan to.

      She’d once trusted her ex-fiancé, Brian, with all of her heart. What a lesson that had been.

      Brian had entered her life like a knight in shining armor. Her parents had died in a small plane crash during one of their European jaunts. Kelly and Brian had been colleagues at a large Philadelphia advertising agency, and his kind, concerned manner had been most welcome in her time of emotional need. Hell, she’d clung to him like a love-starved puppy. He and Rachel had become all she had.

      Two years later, she’d learned every move he’d made had been carefully choreographed to achieve his goal of a vice president’s slot. In the end, he’d broken Kelly’s heart, cost her a career and reputation, and taught her trust was an attribute highly over-rated.

      Kelly had been falsely accused of trading corporate secrets, and Brian had been hailed for his role in exposing her. Rachel had exploited the story for a front-page byline.

      A knock sounded out front just as Kelly finished drying off her hair. She shook off the old hurt, anchored a towel around herself and rushed to open the door. An express envelope sat wedged against the screen.

      Pushing the door closed behind her, she dropped onto the sofa to open the envelope. The key sat taped and folded inside a note from Jane. Happy hunting, was all she’d written.

      A chuckle slipped from Kelly’s lips, and she shook her head. Hunting was right, but she wasn’t so sure how happy she and Dan would be when they found their answers.

      DAN STOOD on the deck, staring at the angry morning ocean. Storm coming, he thought. His mind wandered to Rachel and Diane. Did they have anything in common other than the way they died?

      Guilt welled from deep inside him. Maybe if he’d been more available to his sister he could have prevented her death. All he could do now was continue his search for the truth about how she’d really died.

      As for Rachel, had his quest for the truth pushed her into harm’s way? His gut said yes—most definitely yes—but one thing was for certain, she’d grabbed on to the story like a pit bull, as determined as he had been to find answers.

      Rachel’s desirability had stemmed from the fact she was a reporter. Once Dan had discovered that, he’d manipulated her investigative nature to draw her interest to Oxygesic. They’d briefly shared a physical relationship, but neither had had any interest in taking things further.

      Kelly’s image flashed through his mind. So much like Rachel and yet, so not like Rachel. The pull of attraction tugged at him, but he fought it. He’d slipped last night when he’d felt concern for her. As intriguing as he found the woman, he needed her for her ties to Rachel, nothing more. She was his one possibility to make a breakthrough on this investigation—his one hope at finding something that would convince Jake to go after Miller.

      He glanced at his watch. Nine-fifteen. Time to find out what treasures her post-office key held.

      DAN PULLED THE CAR into the gravel lot of the post office. Stones flew as he brought the car to an abrupt stop.

      “Her brother said it was some kind of opiate.” Kelly sat in the passenger seat, scrutinizing the key in her palm.

      Dan