Page 41 of Clear Path

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.”

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