Fool Me Once

“Right,” Judith said with a sad chuckle, “I can see that.”

“But I need to know why you’d be paying off the Coast Guard officer who was investigating Andrew’s death.”

“Why would you need to know that?”

“It’s a long story.”

Judith’s chuckle was more pained than any sob. “Oh, I think I have time, Maya.”

“My sister found out about it.”

Judith frowned. “She found out about this supposed payoff?”

“Yes.”

Silence.

“And then Claire was murdered,” Maya said. “And then Joe was murdered.”

Judith arched an eyebrow. “You’re saying they’re connected? Claire and Joe?”

So Kierce hadn’t told her. “The same gun killed them both.”

Maya’s words landed like another blow, staggering her back. “That can’t be.”

“Why can’t it be?”

Judith closed her eyes again, summoned some inner strength, opened them. “I need you to slow down and tell me what’s going on here, Maya.”

“It’s simple. You’re paying off Tom Douglass. I want to know why.”

“Seems to me,” she said, “you already figured that out.”

Judith’s sudden change in demeanor threw her. “The suicide?”

Judith managed a smile.

“You wanted to cover up a suicide?”

Judith stayed still.

“Why?” Maya asked.

“Burketts don’t commit suicide, Maya.”

Did that make sense? No, of course not. What was she missing? Time to change direction, get Judith back off her footing. “So why did you pay off Roger Kierce?”

“Who?” Judith made a face. “Wait. The police officer?”

“Yes.”

“Why on earth would we pay him?”

We. “You tell me.”

“I assure you I have no idea. Is this something else your sister supposedly uncovered?”

“No,” Maya said. “Caroline told me.”

Another small smile came to Judith’s lips. “And you believed her?”

“Why would she lie?”

“Caroline wouldn’t lie. But… she gets confused.”

“Interesting, Judith.”

“What?”

“You paid off two men. Both were investigating the deaths of your sons.”

Judith shook her head. “This is all a lot of nonsense.”

“Luckily, we can solve this easily,” Maya said. “Let’s ask Caroline.”

“Caroline isn’t around right now.”

“So call her. This is the twenty-first century. Everyone has a mobile phone. Here”-Maya held up her phone-“I have her number right here.”

“That won’t do any good.”

“Why not?”

“Let’s just say,” Judith continued, her words coming slower now, “Caroline can’t be disturbed.”

Maya lowered the phone to her side.

“She’s… Caroline isn’t well. This happens to her. She needs rest.”

“You put her in a loony bin?”

Maya had intentionally used the derogatory term to draw blood. It worked. Judith visibly cringed.

“That’s a horrible way to put it,” Judith said. “You of all people should be sympathetic.”

“Why ‘of all people’…? Oh, you mean because of my own issues with PTSD?”

Judith did not bother replying.

“So what trauma has Caroline faced?”

“Not all trauma occurs on the battlefield, Maya.”

“I know. Some might occur by having two brothers die young and tragically.”

“Precisely. Those traumas have caused issues to arise.”

“Issues to arise,” Maya repeated. “You mean, for example, Caroline thinking her brothers are still alive?”

Maya had expected that her words would be another blow, but Judith seemed ready this time. “The mind wants,” Judith said. “The mind can want so, so badly that it manifests delusions. Conspiracy theories, paranoia, visions-the more desperate you are, the more susceptible. Caroline is immature. That’s her father’s fault. He sheltered her and overprotected her. He never let her deal with adversity or stand on her own. So when the strong men in her life started to die-her support system-Caroline could not accept that.”

“So why wouldn’t you let her see Joe’s body?”

“She told you that?” Judith shook her head. “None of us saw Joe.”

“Why not?”

“You of all people should know why. My son was murdered. He was shot in the face, wasn’t he? Who would want to look at that?”

Maya considered that and decided once again it didn’t fully add up. “How about when Andrew was pulled out of the water?”

“What about that?”

“Did you see his body?”

“Why would you ask that? My God, you can’t possibly believe…”

“Just tell me if you saw him.”

Judith swallowed hard. “Andrew’s body had been at sea for more than twenty-four hours. My husband identified him, but… it wasn’t easy. The fish had gotten to him. Why would I want to…” She stopped and narrowed her eyes. Her voice was a whisper now. “What are you trying to do here, Maya?”

Maya just looked at her. “Why are you paying off Tom Douglass?”

She took her time. “Let’s say what Joe told you about Andrew’s death was true.”

Maya waited.

“Let’s say that Andrew did commit suicide. I was his mother. And I couldn’t see it. I couldn’t save Andrew in real life. But maybe I can protect him now. Do you understand?”

Maya studied her face. “Sure,” she said.

But she didn’t.

“Whatever happened to Andrew-whatever he suffered all those years ago-it has nothing to do with today. It has nothing to do with Joe or your sister.”

Maya didn’t believe that for a moment. “And the payoffs to Roger Kierce?”

“I told you. That simply isn’t true. Caroline made it up.”