Alaskan Courage: Silenced Part 6

"It's fine to speak the truth," Jake rea.s.sured her. "Do you think it was a last-minute decision to climb or that Conrad simply waited until the last minute to tell you?"

"Stuart said they'd had it planned for some time."

"When did he tell you that?"

"When he came here last night." With a slight catch in her throat, she added, "After the accident."

Jake cleared his throat. "I'm sorry to inform you that Conrad's death wasn't an accident."

Vivienne blanched. "I beg your pardon?"

"Forensics confirmed our hunch this morning. Conrad's equipment was compromised."

"Equipment. What equipment? Conrad went on and on about being one with the rock. The power of bare human hands."

"Not completely bare," Kayden said.

Vivienne's gaze s.h.i.+fted to her. "Excuse me?"

"All climbers, whether free climbers or boulderers, such as your husband, use chalk."

"Chalk?"

"Yes, ma'am. It helps you grip."

"I was a gymnast. I understand the concept." Interestingly, she didn't mind Kayden addressing her as ma'am.

"Then you understand its importance. Its necessity."

Her gaze swung back to Jake. "What does any of this have to do with Conrad?"

"His chalk was compromised."

"Compromised? How?"

"I'm afraid we cannot divulge the details, but rather than being a help, your husband's chalk became his murder weapon."

"Murder?" She swallowed. "Are you saying . . . ?"

"Your husband was murdered, Vivienne."

She blinked, then stared at the water gla.s.s in her hand. "On second thought, I believe I'm going to require something a bit stronger. If you will excuse me." She stood and swiftly exited the room, her heels clicking along the marble floor.

Kayden scooted to sit beside Jake. "That didn't seem like a typical widow reaction."

"There's no typical when it comes to death. Though Stuart's presence is intriguing."

She glanced toward the hall. "Doesn't sound like Conrad and Vivienne had an ideal marriage." Rather far from it, if Vivienne's behavior was any indication.

"No." Jake shook his head. "It certainly doesn't."

"You think their shaky marriage could be motive for murder?" She couldn't help wondering what his and Becca's marriage had been like, brief as it was.

"I've seen murders committed for far less."

"Do you think she's telling Stuart what we said?"

"Most definitely."

"And that's okay? I mean, letting the two chat?"

"Vivienne's demeanor after speaking with Stuart will tell me a lot."

"Such as?"

"What do you mean Conrad's death was murder?" Stuart asked, surging into the room, followed by a very agitated Vivienne.

Jake stood to meet Stuart eye to eye. "Exactly that. Conrad was murdered."

"Are you forgetting I was there? No one was holding a gun to his head."

Jake crossed his arms. "I never suggested there was."

"Then what exactly are you suggesting? You aren't implying I had anything to do with Conrad's death?"

"I'm simply stating the fact that Conrad Humphries' death was murder."

"He fell. How on earth is that murder?"

"His chalk was compromised."

"What?" Stuart paled. "When, how?"

"That's what we're trying to determine. You said you didn't use the same chalk as Conrad?"

"No, I told you-" He stopped. "I see what you're doing. You're twisting Conrad's fall to call it murder and trying to pin it on me. What? Do you not get enough crime out here? You need to invent some so you can look like real cops?"

"Mr. Anderson, I suggest you settle down."

"And I suggest you speak with my lawyer if you have any further questions."

"No one is suggesting you had anything to do with Mr. Humphries' death. We weren't even questioning you. We're simply trying to determine who had access to Conrad's chalk before his climb."

"Which would be me or Vivienne."

"Or whoever worked at the shop where he bought it," Vivienne added, placing a calming hand on Stuart's back.

Jake followed Vivienne to the utility room, where Conrad kept his climbing gear, but as he suspected, no chalk remained. Conrad must have filled his bag, leaving none left over.

"Where did Mr. Humphries purchase his chalk?"

"I already told you that," Stuart said, impatiently. "Vivienne, this is highly irregular. You shouldn't allow them to search your home. They need a warrant."

"Mr. Anderson, I asked you to wait in the front room."

"I don't want Vivienne alone after hearing such shocking news."

"She's not alone. Miss McKenna and I are right here."

"She needs a friend with her. Not a cop and his a.s.sistant."

"Kayden's not my a.s.sistant. She's a renowned climbing expert."

"McKenna." Stuart snapped. "That's where I knew you from. You're the gal that holds the free-climbing record for Stoneface."

Kayden nodded.

"I find climbing to be such a masculine pastime," Vivienne said.

Kayden ignored the insult.

"Mr. Anderson," Jake said, stepping between him and Conrad's utility room. "I appreciate you wanting to be here for Mrs. Humphries, but I a.s.sure you, she's in good hands, and we won't be long."

"It's all right, Stuart." Vivienne rubbed her arms as if she'd caught a sudden chill. "Go on and wait in the parlor. I'll be fine."

He inclined his head. "You're sure? You can say no."

"I'm positive."

He glared at Jake before leaving.

"He's very protective of you," Kayden said.

"Like I said, the three of us go way back."

"Do you know where Conrad bought his chalk?"

"I a.s.sume at the climbing gym, but I don't pay attention to that sort of thing."

"Do you know when he purchased it?"

"Couldn't tell you that either, but I know he went climbing at the gym the day before he went to Stoneface. Actually left work early to do it and then had to go back in after dinner to finish his work. It was ridiculous. Who does that?"

"So to your knowledge, Conrad left work early, went to the gym, came home for dinner, and then went back to the office?"

"Yes."

"For how long?"

"Maybe an hour, an hour and a half. His secretary, Amber Smith, could confirm it. He requires she be there whenever he is working in the office-in case anything comes up." She crossed her arms and looked up at the ceiling. "He's particular about that."

She turned her attention back to Jake. "Stuart was here, and he took off just like that. It was quite rude, if you ask me. Luckily Stuart and I are friends. It could have been very awkward if it were any other of Conrad's friends, you know."

"Yes. You and Mr. Anderson seem quite close."

"Like I said, we go way back."

Sure seemed to be more to it than that.

"Well, that was interesting," Kayden said as Jake held the truck door open for her outside the Humphries residence.

"They're having an affair." He said it so matter-of-factly. How could he be so certain?

"How . . . ?"

"Years of experience," he said with weary resign.

"Oh." She waited until he climbed in the truck before proceeding. "You think they killed Conrad?"

"If they did, Stuart was right-it was stupid of Vivienne not to lawyer up."

"Wouldn't it look awful incriminating if they did?"

"Yes, but it's the wise thing to do."

She buckled in. "So what now?"

"We head to Rocktrex."

"Right." Talk about going way back. She wondered if Brody would be working and really hoped he wouldn't. She had no desire to see the man, and with Jake being so perceptive, he'd easily pick up on the fact that a past existed between her and Brody. A past she preferred to forget.

Reef watched as Piper cleared the empty plates.

Anna stood. "Let me help you with that."

"I got it, but thanks."

"Are you sure?"

Piper set them in the sink. "Positive."

Anna glanced around. "You have a lovely home here."

"Thanks. Would you like a tour?"

She smiled. "I'd love that."

Piper looked to Reef. "Do you want to do the honors or should I?"