Where the Lies Hide Read online

  “I should get going. The housework and grocery shopping aren’t going to get done if I don’t do it.” Cam’s eyes flashed a darker shade, shifting to another hue. This wasn’t the first time Sarah saw something akin to melancholy. Anguish? Or maybe it was nothing at all and she was once again allowing her loneliness to fill in the gaps. She had to stop wondering about Cam. She’d gotten to see another side of her. A very attractive side, but she wasn’t in any frame of mind to think about relationships, hers or Cam’s. The last month had been full of emotional bruises and financial worries. How could she contemplate opening herself up to another possible heartache if someone she loved left or got sick? And she had to work all the hours she could find thanks to the debts she had to pay. It wasn’t like she had time for anything more than a no-strings night with someone here or there. One thing was for sure, Sarah didn’t know Cam well enough to let her inside. Besides, she didn’t even know if Cam was single, and she certainly wasn’t going down that road, no matter how attractive Cam was.

  “I’ll let you know when I have more information.” As if to ward off Sarah’s constant demands about the case she added, “Patience and time. That’s what will get you closer.”

  Sarah had let her impatience show through on a number of occasions, and it wasn’t necessary. She had to let Cam do her job and remember she wasn’t her only client. She tossed her bag on the threadbare passenger seat of her car.

  “Take care of yourself, Cam. I’ve waited all these years. A few more weeks, or months, won’t change things.”

  * * *

  The elevator ding reminded her to put one foot in front of the other. She’d accepted the metal box as a necessary evil in the high-rise, and unless she was desperate for exercise, she’d forego the ten flights. She still wasn’t sure what had happened in the last twenty-four hours. She and Sarah had grown closer, that much she did know. The question still loomed why she’d been able to drop her tougher veneer and let Sarah see her at her weakest. The most disturbing part was when she’d dreamt of her abuse. She never wanted anyone to know about those dark times. That was a big part of why she didn’t do relationships and rarely spent the night with anyone. There were doors she would do whatever she had to do to keep closed.

  Cam was still deep in thought when Maggie’s voice startled her.

  “Well, look who’s come home.” Maggie stood with her hands on her hips and her lips pursed.

  She wasn’t in any mood to listen to Maggie berate her about her “less than professional action” by going to a hotel with a client. Little did she know they’d shared a room.

  “Is the coffee on?” Cam asked as she headed for her office. It was time she and Maggie had that long overdue talk.

  “Of course.”

  “Good. Fix us both a cup and bring them to my office, please.” Cam rarely asked her to wait on her, but she needed the time to think about her approach. Maggie was a great assistant and she knew how to handle any task Cam threw at her. She didn’t want to lose her, but she also didn’t want Maggie to think she was running the show.

  Maggie set Cam’s mug in front of her as she sat in one of the chairs facing her desk. “I take it this isn’t going to be a social visit.” She blew across the steaming liquid before taking a sip.

  “You’re right. I want to know what’s bugging you about this case and, in particular, Sarah Peters.”

  “No beating around the bush then,” Maggie said as she stared into the mug in her hands.

  “Have you ever known me to?”

  “Not when it comes to work.” Maggie settled back, staring at Cam. “I’m afraid this case is going to dredge up things from your past. Things you aren’t going to want to think about.”

  Cam hadn’t expected that explanation. She’d never shared details of her sordid past, although Maggie knew she’d been bounced around foster homes for most of her life. Some secrets were meant to stay secret.

  “I appreciate your concern, Mags, but don’t you think that’s my decision?”

  “Of course I do. I just can’t help worrying about the recent uptick in headaches and the possible correlation with this case. Maybe it’s just coincidence, but what if it’s not?”

  Maggie’s rationalization wasn’t farfetched. It still didn’t explain her attitude toward Sarah. “If what you’re saying is true, why are you taking it out on Ms. Peters? She can’t help the situation she’s in, and I can’t blame her for wanting to find someone to call family. Can you?”

  “It’s not her, although I think she’s looking for a little more than a professional relationship with you. Why can’t you give the case to Kevin?”

  Cam’s ire rose. Whether or not Sarah was motivated for reasons other than finding her sibling as a rationale for putting in personal appearances at the office shouldn’t be any concern of Maggie’s. Perhaps Sarah’s initial impression of Cam’s ability to do the job was still in play, but she hoped not.

  “I’ve never mixed business with pleasure, and I have no intention of crossing that line now. But if I did, I’d appreciate you keeping your opinions to yourself as to the wisdom of such action.”

  Maggie leaned forward. “Cam, I—”

  She raised her hand, silencing the argument. “No, Maggie. The discussion is over. I decide how to handle every case, professional or otherwise.” The hurt in Maggie’s eyes caused her to soften her stance. “I know you’re concerned, but I can’t have you treating a client less than courteously. Ms. Peters told me she doesn’t think you like her. I can only surmise something you said or did gave her that impression. And that’s not the professional vibe we’ve always presented. I don’t expect any less.”

  Maggie glanced down. “I may have been less than patient with her. I’m sorry. I’ll apologize the next time we speak.”

  Cam leaned across the desk. “That would be good. I appreciate everything you do around here to keep the office running smooth, Mags. I never want to have a reason to second-guess what happens out there.” She tipped her chin, indicating the reception area. “That’s where some of the real magic happens.” She winked, and Maggie laughed.

  “Such a charmer. No wonder the Peters woman has taken a shine to you.” She raised her hand before Cam could give another warning. “I know what you’re going to say. I’ll keep my opinion to myself. Before I go, I do need to know one thing.”

  Cam sat back. This ought to be good.

  “On a scale from one to ten, with ten being the worst, how bad was it?”

  Maggie didn’t need to clarify. “Eleven.” Cam expected to hear motherly advice about going to the doctor. She was surprised when Maggie left without saying another word, quietly closing the door behind her.

  * * *

  The envelope from Dover sat on the kitchen table staring back at Sarah. It had been more than two weeks since the trip to the city of her birth, and she’d begun to think it wouldn’t ever reach her. She wanted to open it and see her mother’s name, although in truth, it wouldn’t change anything about her parents. The people who raised her had loved her unconditionally. The only thing the birth certificate could provide was a trail for Cam to possibly find more information. Hell, maybe she wasn’t meant to find her brother. She’d be no worse off than she was now, no matter how much Sarah wanted family. If that meant creating her own, then so be it. Lesbian couples everywhere were having children and making lasting memories in their own family units. She wasn’t too old to start one of her own. Still, it would be nice to have a blood relative. Find roots.

  She slid the letter opener along the edge, freeing the contents. The first paper was a copy of the payment Cam had given the clerk. The second was the certificate.

  Baby girl Jones, born to Judy Jones and Paul White. March 15, 1989. Dover, Delaware.

  Did that mean they weren’t married? Was Jones Judy’s mother’s maiden name? As a person without experience, she didn’t see much to go on. She wasn’t sure what she’d expected, but her mind was racing at warp speed, and she wondered if that
was how Cam felt when she was on a case. The feeling could become addictive if she wasn’t afraid her heart would explode before long. It took a few minutes for her to calm down.

  “That’s why I hired you, Camdyn Stark,” she said to the empty room. She had to trust her gut and her gut had told her she had hired the right person. The more she saw Cam outside the office setting, the more convinced she was something in Cam’s past made her keep her pretentious shield in place.

  Sarah picked up her phone and stared at Cam’s contact numbers, wondering if she should call the office. She didn’t want to talk to the snarky receptionist. The woman’s attitude annoyed her. She wasn’t sure what she’d done, if anything, to set her off. Maybe that was just her way. If so, Cam should consider replacing her. Her interactions with clients weren’t conducive to running a business.

  A text was her best solution. She’d send Cam a message, letting her respond when she had time. Sarah had gone back to work a couple of days ago. The job had helped keep her mind occupied and recover some of the small contingency account she’d stowed away for lean times, like now. It was enough to get her through two months. Anything more than that and she’d be in arrears with her parents’ medical bill payments and eating on the skinny. Not expecting a reply from Cam, she went to the pantry and pulled out ingredients to make soup. If she made enough, she’d have dinner for the next few nights. Along with a grilled cheese sandwich it was the perfect meal. Inexpensive stick-to-her-ribs food.

  Beans and chicken stock simmered in the pot. Sarah added cut-up celery, carrots, and potatoes. After they were soft, she’d add diced tomatoes, some cooked sausage, and a can of corn. It wasn’t the best she’d ever made, but it would fill her up. She cut thick slices of Italian bread and spread a thin layer of butter on one side. She wasn’t fond of orange cheese, but it was cheaper. She was just about to heat up the pan when her cell phone vibrated across the table. The thought of ignoring it was tempting, but there were only a few people who had her number. It might be a call related to another job or art project. She stared at the number and bit her lip. Cam.

  “Hello?”

  “Hi, Sarah. It’s Cam.”

  “Yes?”

  “I got your text about your birth certificate. I’d like to take a look at it as soon as possible.”

  “Uh, sure. When?”

  “Is now a good time?”

  She looked at her simmering pot and the prepared sandwich. “I can’t leave right now.”

  “I don’t mind coming to get it if that’s more convenient.”

  Cam was being accommodating and she should at least agree to letting her earn some of the fee she was charging. Sarah was trying to stretch what gas she had until her next pay check.

  “That’s fine.”

  “Great. I’ll see you in about twenty minutes.”

  “Okay.” Sarah hesitated. Her parents had taught her to take nothing for granted and to be kind whenever the opportunity presented. She didn’t think Cam was lonely, but looks could be deceiving. “Cam? Have you eaten dinner?”

  “I’ll grab something later.”

  “If you don’t mind simple, why don’t you plan on having dinner here?”

  “I don’t want to impose. I could come after you’ve eaten.”

  “Don’t be silly. I have plenty. It’s just homemade soup and grilled cheese.” Sarah hadn’t really thought about spending more time alone with Cam, but she didn’t need to. Cam was coming on professional business. She was going to eat anyway, and a meal was always more pleasant when there was someone to share it with.

  “Sounds delicious. Thanks for the invitation. I’ll be there in a little while.”

  * * *

  Sarah wiped her hands on her apron, then opened the door. Cam stood at the threshold with two bottles of wine, a white and a red. There was a folder tucked under her arm.

  “Hi.”

  “I wasn’t sure which was appropriate for grilled cheese, so I covered the bases.”

  She stepped back to let her in. “You didn’t have to do that.”

  “I may seem crude at times, but I know common etiquette.” Cam set the bottles on the sideboard, then glanced around. “Cute place.”

  Not sure why she felt awkward having company in her own home, she forced a smile. “Thanks. It’s not much but it’s home.”

  “I think it’s perfect.” Cam stared at her for what seemed like ages, then rubbed her hands together. “What can I do to help?”

  She didn’t want Cam in the small kitchen with her. They’d be too close. Closer than even the hotel room. With the table already set, there wasn’t much to do, so she took two goblets down from the cabinet and set them on the tiny island. “You can open the wine. The corkscrew’s in that top drawer.”

  “No problem. Red or white?”

  Sarah placed two sandwiches on the griddle. “I vote for red.”

  “Red it is.”

  While the first side toasted, Sarah ladled the soup into small crocks. After flipping the bread, she put croutons and some shredded cheese on top of each bowl and set them under the broiler.

  “What else?” Cam leaned on the counter, watching her every move.

  “Here.” She handed Cam the sandwich plates before setting a bowl of chopped chives and cilantro on the island, then opened the oven door and removed the crocks. The cheese was bubbly and golden, just the way she liked it. One at a time, she put a bowl on the mat at each place setting, then brought the herbs to the table. “That’s it.” She took a seat across from Cam as she poured wine.

  Cam picked up her goblet and held it out. “Thanks for the spread.” She waited until Sarah touched her glass, then sipped. She nodded. “Pleasant.”

  “I’m sorry?”

  “The wine. It has a pleasant bouquet.”

  “Oh, yes.” Sarah wasn’t well versed in wine, another reason she’d let Cam order when they’d had dinner together. If she drank at all, she usually indulged in an ice-cold beer.

  “So is the company. Pleasant, I mean.” Cam looked over her glass.

  Sarah looked down as she felt heat rise in her cheeks. She met Cam’s gaze. “We should probably eat while it’s still warm.” Cam’s expression was unreadable, but she thought she saw a twitch at the corner of her mouth. A mouth that looked very tempting.

  “Let’s.” Cam dug through the cheese to the contents in the bowl, then withdrew a heaping spoonful of steaming vegetables. She blew across it several times before closing her lips around it. “Mmm, this is great,” she mumbled around the mouthful.

  She’d been spellbound watching Cam’s mouth and almost missed the compliment. “It’s nothing special. I just threw together a bunch of stuff.”

  “That’s usually the best kind.” Cam sipped wine and ate more. “So, did you look at the certificate?”

  Sarah kept chewing, giving her time to prepare for what might be ahead. “Yes.”

  Cam watched her with an intensity she realized was a frequent behavior and most likely due to her profession, not attraction. Her heart sank a bit at the sobering thought.

  “And?”

  “Just the names you wanted, but it had my mother listed as Judy Jones.” She shrugged. She still had a hard time processing all the family history she hadn’t been aware of. She remembered Cam saying Mary Jones was too common to give her any solid trail, and she couldn’t help thinking the same for the names she had now. At least now Cam was sure she had the correct first name. Maybe she should have left well enough alone. Mom and Dad…Why didn’t you tell me sooner? Or not at all. Cam’s voice penetrated her thoughts.

  “Sarah?”

  She looked up.

  “I’ll take the certificate and dig a bit deeper.” Cam’s expression was one of empathy.

  Sarah appreciated Cam not asking anything else of her. She wasn’t sure she had more to give.

  Chapter Eleven

  Cam folded her hands on top of the file. “I can’t find any contact information or public hospital records related
to Judy Jones other than a woman by that name giving birth to twins, so at least we know we’ve got the right person and hospital. Your brother was born twenty-eight minutes after you, at five forty-two a.m. So far, your father’s name hasn’t revealed any leads either, but White isn’t uncommon.”

  Sarah stared into her coffee cup. After a few minutes, she looked up. “So where do you go from here?”

  Cam had prepared for the inevitable. “I’m not sure there’s anywhere else to go. I’ll investigate a bit deeper in to your father’s name, but that too, will be a shot in the dark. Because ultimately, your birth parents aren’t the key here. They were out of the picture by the time you two were adopted, so without your brother’s name now, or some idea of who adopted him, there’s nowhere to look. And obviously we can’t get a copy of his records without him being present.”

  Sarah’s face turned red. Cam could almost see the steam coming from her ears. “If you can’t do the job why did you take my money?” She stood and held out her hand. “I’d like it back. Please.”

  Cam guessed Sarah was itching to wiggle her fingers, making her demand clear. As much as she wanted to be angry, she couldn’t. She admired Sarah for having balls. She fought against the grin tugging to raise the corners of her mouth.

  “Can’t.” She could tell by the way Sarah shifted her weight she wanted to stomp her foot, and she looked so damn adorable. Cam cleared her throat to mask the chuckle. “You signed a contract. It clearly states no refunds.” She sat back, secretly enjoying the shocked look on Sarah’s face. That was until she saw the pool of tears forming in her ice-blue eyes. “And for that reason alone, I always do my best. If you were paying attention, I said it would be ‘almost impossible.’ Not that I couldn’t get the job done. I just need you to be aware of what we’re up against and not get your expectations too high.”