The Perfect Liar (Last Stand #5)(55)
Author: Brenda Novak

Tati claims it could be someone named Mark Cannaby."

"Who’s Mark Cannaby?"

"From what I was told, he used to work for the Harters. He hasn’t for several years, but he only lives three miles away and works just down the street at the cemetery."

"The detective told you all this?"

"Yes."

"Aren’t they usually pretty tight-lipped?"

"Professional courtesy. He’s familiar with TLS. He once met Skye at a forensics seminar in Scottsdale."

"Why would Tatiana blame this Mark Cannaby? Did she see him skulking around the house or yard or–"

"She didn’t see him. She had no clue there was anything wrong until her dad cried out. But there’s plenty of animosity between Cannaby and the Harters and has been ever since he was let go. When Kalyna was sixteen, they suspected he was messing around with her, so they started watching him very closely."

"And caught the two of them in the act."

Ava lowered her voice. "No, they caught him in the act. But he wasn’t with Kalyna. He was having sex with one of the corpses."

Luke blanched. "That’s too sick to even contemplate. I hope they turned him in."

"No, they were afraid the negative publicity would adversely affect their business, so they simply fired him and agreed to say nothing so long as he kept his distance."

"But it didn’t end there."

"Detective Morgan said that, according to Mr. Harter, things settled down for a while. Cannaby was gone, out of sight. But then he got a job at the cemetery, so the Harters would bump into him now and then. When he started dating a girl from Mrs. Harter’s church, it was too much. She couldn’t stand to see him every Sunday, acting as innocent and normal as everyone else. So she went to the girl privately and warned her."

"I don’t blame her, but…" Luke gave a low whistle. "I can’t imagine that went over very well."

"No. He called up, ranting and raving, saying she was a bitch who deserved to die. And then he threatened her–told her to keep her mouth shut or he’d make her pay for trying to ruin his life."

"When was this?"

"Sounds as if it was just a few weeks ago."

Luke shook his head. "Wow. Does Cannaby have an alibi?"

"I don’t know. Morgan hasn’t talked to him yet."

He stroked his chin, scraping the stubble. He hadn’t been able to shave. It wasn’t his usual look, but Ava liked seeing him a little rough around the edges. "If Kalyna goes to jail, I can’t imagine my case wil proceed to court," he said.

"What happens with your case wil depend on whether or not the prosecutor believes there’s enough evidence to proceed. But I’m betting Ogitani would drop it instantly. The military has too much invested in you."

"And I’m innocent," he reminded her with a slightly wounded expression.

She managed a smile. "That, too."

He stared at the floor. "Part of me hopes she goes to jail."

This statement surprised Ava. Since Kalyna’s incarceration would very likely make the rape charges disappear, she would’ve expected him to be all for it. "And the other part?"

"I don’t like the idea of her being in prison while she’s carrying my baby."

Ava knew it was sil y, but she experienced a twinge of jealousy at the thought of Kalyna having such a permanent and very personal tie to Luke.

"It would solve any custody issues."

That seemed to offset his concerns. "Good point. What else did the detective tell you?"

"Nothing. That’s all he knows. Except that he believes Kalyna might be on her way to California. He’l get in touch with the air force, just in case she shows up for work, and he asked me to give him a call if I hear from her."

"They can’t reach her on her cell?"

"She’s not picking up. But Tatiana spoke to her earlier."

"And?"

"She acted surprised by their mother’s death."

"If she just learned that her mother’s been kil ed, wouldn’t she be on her way back to Arizona–not here?"

"It didn’t sound like they were expecting her."

"Wouldn’t most people turn around, considering the circumstances?"

"You already know Kalyna isn’t like most people," Ava said. "She and Norma were estranged. Besides, she’s absent without leave so she has a very good excuse to continue on to the base."

"I don’t care if she has a good excuse or not. To my mind, that makes her look even guiltier."

"I agree. I’m just telling you how the police see it."

Luke leaned one shoulder against the wall. "She said she’l kil anyone I’m involved with."

"You told me you’re not involved with anyone."

He tilted up her chin. For a second, she thought he might kiss her.

But he didn’t. "She thinks I might be involved with you."

And she’d done nothing to destroy that assumption when she’d spoken on his cell phone last night. "No…she’s got to realize that can’t be."

"Why not?" He grinned. "I have seen you in your underwear."

"It doesn’t matter."

He leaned closer. "Does it matter that I want to see you that way again?"

"Don’t joke about this."

"What makes you think I’m joking?"

Their eyes met, and Ava felt butterflies. "You’re a client," she said to cover her reaction.

"That’s not what concerns me."

"What does concern you?" she asked.

Putting his hand on her waist, he guided her back to the table. "The fact that there might be a homicidal maniac out to kil anyone I touch."

Tatiana Harter stared at her mother’s bloated body. At least two or three times a week, her father picked up a corpse from the morgue. It was routine, part of the business. Today, however, that process would happen in reverse–a body would be taken from the mortuary to the morgue. And it wouldn’t be a member of someone else’s family. It would be Norma, one of the central figures in Tati’s life. After the autopsy, they’d be able to bring her home–here, where she’d spent the past thirteen years–but only to dress her for burial.

Her artist’s eye already dictating what she’d use, Tati imagined applying Norma’s makeup as she did every Sunday before church. Maybe she wasn’t the best make-up artist in the area, but she knew what Norma liked. She’d apply a thicker foundation than normal to hide all the bruising.

Then she’d go with a pretty pink blush and matching lipstick, and pencil in her eyebrows with a high arch the way Norma preferred. From there she’d create some definition around the eyes using brown shadow and a touch of green at the outside corners. But first she’d dye her hair to hide the gray.