The Darkness Knows by Cheryl Honigford Read Free Book Online Page B

took off his dark gray fedora and placed it atop the coat-tree in the entry hall. “He doesn’t want a lot of loose talk around the station.”
    â€œYes, yes, I understand,” Vivian said, even though she didn’t. She strode straight through the entryway and into the den. “Would you like a drink?” she asked over her shoulder. She didn’t wait for a response before opening the paneled oak doors of the extensive liquor cabinet and surveying the contents. “Scotch all right?” She named the first bottle she recognized that contained enough liquor for two.
    â€œSure.”
    She poured the drinks with a shaking hand, the bottle bouncing against the lip of the glass. She handed Mr. Haverman his drink and took a mighty gulp of her own. She coughed and then sank into the armchair nearest the fireplace, wishing it had been lit. She was suddenly chilled to the bone.
    â€œOkay,” she said, feeling the scotch slide down her throat, her strength artificially buoyed by the trail of warmth the alcohol left. She took a deep breath. “Let’s have it.”
    Mr. Haverman set his glass on the fireplace mantel and reached into the breast pocket of his jacket. He spoke as he slowly unfolded a plain piece of paper. “This isn’t the original, of course, but I was able to jot down the contents of the letter that was found with Mrs. Fox’s body before the police took it as evidence.”
    Vivian took the paper from him and held it gingerly between the tips of her thumb and index finger. She looked up at Mr. Haverman, who nodded his encouragement, and began to read aloud.
    Dearest Evelyn,
    My heart leaped into my throat when I heard you say the secret words today. Our secret words. I like how you dropped them so smoothly into your speech about Bill missing football tryouts, clever girl. I’ll come for you right away.
    Vivian shot the detective a questioning glance, took another deep breath, and continued.
    I’m not upset that you haven’t answered any of my letters. I know you’re busy, and I know you think of me as much as I think of you. I know Mr. Garrett will be angry when I take you away from him, but it has to be done. You belong here with me. Don’t you see that ? He’ll have to see that too. See you very, very soon, darling.
    Your Walter
    P.S. Tell Lorna that I’m waiting for her secret words too.
    â€œI don’t understand,” she said slowly, staring at the words written in the detective’s large, looping script. “What does this mean? It’s addressed to Evelyn and mentions Bill and Mr. Garrett from The Golden Years … This man, this Walter, thought Evelyn was real?”
    â€œIt appears so.”
    â€œAnd he mentions Lorna… He thinks Lorna is real too?” She looked up at the detective, eyes wide.
    â€œWhich is why Mr. Hart has hired me to keep an eye on you.”
    Vivian’s eyebrows knit together with worry but then relaxed as a thought struck her. The whole thing was a mistake, of course. “But this Walter can’t mean me ,” she said. Her voice was strong, buoyed by her sudden certainty. “I just started as Lorna. He’d be after Edith Waters, the original Lorna.”
    Charlie shook his head slowly. “I wouldn’t be so sure. I think this Walter is after Lorna. Period. He thinks she’s real, and as of last week, you are Lorna Lafferty.”
    Vivian slowly slumped back into the chair. Talk about bad timing , she thought. “Jesus, Mary, and Joseph,” she said under her breath. “Why would someone want to kill me?”
    â€œNot you, Miss Witchell,” the detective corrected. “Lorna Lafferty.”
    â€œYeah, yeah,” she muttered. “Well, if Lorna dies, then so do I.” Her attempt at a carefree laugh came out as a cough, and she stifled it with her hand.
    Mr. Haverman paced silently in front of the mantel for a few moments before