Blood in the Trunk

Theo drove Elise back to the station in silence because Roslyn would not let Elise near the recovered SUV.

That was good procedure. It also felt like exile.

"They are setting me up for Ruby," Elise said.

"Yes."

"You say that too calmly."

"Because panic is your department today."

She glared at him. He kept his eyes on the road.

After a mile, he said, "They need the story simple. Greedy daughter fakes death, conspiracy cracks, accomplice Ruby gets killed, daughter blames family."

"Ruby is not dead."

"Then we find her before simple becomes official."

Elise turned toward the window. Rain had cleaned the town into something innocent. Westport could look pretty while eating people alive.

At the station, Adam waited outside with two coffees and a new bruise on his cheek.

"Do not hit me," he said.

"That greeting keeps getting more specific."

He handed her a coffee. "I remembered something."

Theo took the cup from Elise before she drank. "No offense."

"Some offense," Adam said. "But fine."

Elise crossed her arms. "Talk."

"Martin used Mara for signatures, but the big account was not Mara. It was a bank custody account with a verbal passphrase. Vivian used to joke that Martin hated it because he could forge ink, not voices."

Theo straightened. "Which bank?"

"Westport."

"My bank."

"Your former bank," Adam said.

Theo looked ready to commit a small crime.

Elise took the coffee back and did not drink it. "What passphrase?"

"I do not know."

"Adam."

"I heard Vivian say it once. Something about a claim breaking where grief wears a mask."

Elise went still. Vivian had written nearly the same thing to her.

Theo saw it. "She made you the passphrase."

Roslyn came through the doors. "Elise, do not leave town."

Elise almost laughed. "I cannot even prove I exist."

"You may need to. Ruby Bell's blood was found with yours."