Debra Burroughs - Paradise Valley 02.5 - The Edge of Lies by Debra Burroughs Page A

have to give me more than that.”
    “All right, all right. But you can’t say anything.”
    Maggie nodded.
    “I found something. A journal. Evan’s journal.”
    “What? Where?”
    “Under the gazebo, of all places. I was sitting out there the other day, thinking, and I noticed something between the boards below my feet. I used the flashlight on my cell phone to get a better look and saw it was a manila envelope in a plastic bag, taped to the bottom of the gazebo.”
    Maggie gasped, raising her hand to her mouth. “Oh m’ goodness. Did you read it?”
    Emily glanced at her purse, where the journal was stashed, then back at her friend. “I didn’t read the whole thing, but I peeked inside.”
    It had been almost six years since Emily had married Evan, and almost one year since he had been tragically murdered. He had been a private investigator, and Emily couldn’t help but wonder if his death had somehow been connected to one of his cases.
    After a period of grieving, Emily had begun to recover and she had gained strength from her circle of friends. In time, she’d decided to take over her husband’s business and become a private investigator, determined to find out who killed him.
    She was not totally without skills. She had helped Evan on some of his cases, but he had not wanted that widely known, for her own protection. He had made sure she knew how to handle a gun and had taught her how to read people. Over time, Emily had become an adept investigator in her own right, bringing her to why she was sitting in her car in a dark parking lot.
    “What are you gonna do, Em?”
    “I haven’t decided yet.” Emily reached into her purse and felt the hard spine of the journal, just as Maggie shook her shoulder.
    “Emily! It’s him, isn’t it?”
    Emily released the journal, grabbed her camera, and began snapping photos. Sure enough, the man was with another woman. As he leaned in to kiss the woman in the car, all of Emily’s attention was focused on the task at hand—gathering evidence that would tear a family apart.
    Within minutes, both cars had driven off, leaving Emily and Maggie sitting in the Volvo, letting their adrenaline seep away.
    Maggie finally broke the silence. “Well, I bet your client never saw this vision on her weddin’ day.”
    “No, probably not. But then, who does?”
    Emily’s thoughts flew to her own wedding day. She was so young and naïve back then, totally and blissfully in love—it seemed like a lifetime ago.
    A vision of Evan’s handsome face filled her mind—his sandy blond hair, piercing blue eyes, his crooked, sexy smile. She grinned at the thought of him. He would be proud of the strong woman she had become.
    “I’ve made up my mind,” Emily announced.
    Maggie turned toward her, anticipation written all over her face. “Well? Are you gonna tell me or not?”

Chapter 2
    Emily dropped Maggie off at her house, and then she drove home, thinking about the journal and her five-year marriage to Evan.
    Maggie was right, of course, when she had told Emily to move on. But first, she had some reading to do.
    Once home, she kicked her shoes off and padded barefoot into the kitchen to make herself a small pot of tea and grab a yogurt from the fridge. Then, foregoing a shower, she climbed onto her bed and hugged a pillow into her arms as she closed her eyes, letting her mind drift back to her wedding to Evan.
    ~*~
    Distant organ music spilled into the room as the door creaked open, allowing the scent of cherry blossoms to waft in.
    “Is Evan here yet?” Emily asked, turning away from the window. She refused to consider that he would stand her up, leave her waiting at the altar.
    Her sister stepped into the cramped bride’s room of the little stone chapel. “No, I’m afraid he’s not.” Susan crossed her arms and raised an eyebrow. “Are you sure he’s coming, Emily?”
    Susan had only met the groom-to-be at the rehearsal dinner a few nights ago, before he was suddenly called