Buried (Detective Ellie MacIntosh) by Kate Watterson Page B

you were involved with a former suspect in another case. Don’t worry, just a sentence in the article, but I notice details.”
    That wasn’t the best news ever, but it probably was impossible to keep your personal life completely secret, no matter who you were. “No, not Bryce,” Ellie was able to say with quiet conviction. “I don’t think he’s ever lied to me. Or if he has, I have not yet caught it.”
    “Yet?”
    “I’m suspicious by nature. Comes with the territory. We can talk about Bryce at a different appointment.”
    “It sounds like we should.” Lukens leaned back, fingering a pen, her brows lifted. “I guess I assumed that the two of you have a complicated relationship, but maybe I see too many patients who have had bad experiences. Obviously, from the tone of your voice, you have a lot of confidence in him. So let’s move on.”
    “I have a lot of confidence in quite a few people, some of which might be a mistake.” She exhaled and ran a hand through her hair. “But, no. Strike that. I have every confidence in this person and yet he’s lying to me.”
    “Motivation?”
    “Now you sound like a police officer.”
    “No, now I sound like a therapist. You feel betrayed for some reason.”
    Did she? She wasn’t at all sure about the terminology, but she did need some answers. “I am someone to whom he could tell the truth. He knows that. He doesn’t want to. The realization struck a somewhat ominous note.”
    “So you think he was lying. Maybe you should explain why you think he isn’t being honest.”
    “It was a feeling. Not very scientific but I do know this person well.”
    “I can tell you from experience human behavior is not an exact science. Let me ask you this: was he protecting you from the truth, or protecting himself?”
    Food for thought. It took her a second, but then Ellie swallowed hard. “I don’t see how either could apply.”
    Lukens’s fingers toyed with the edge of her blotter now that she had put down the pen. “Okay again. Why would he lie? Do you have a theory?”
    “He doesn’t want me to look closer.”
    “You say it with conviction. Into what?”
    Nope. Not going there. Ever . Once the words were said, they couldn’t be taken back. “That is not part of this discussion.”
    “I believe at this moment it would be fair to say you wish me to shoot blind into a dark alley. Would you do that? Look, Detective MacIntosh, you came here for help, and I am more than willing, but could you solve a case without information? Help me out. You need to at least give me some evidence we are discussing something worth our time and effort.”
    That was reasonable enough. Ellie took in a breath. “Dr. Lukens—”
    “I think at this point you can call me Georgia. You need to deal with this and you thought of me. Fine, I’m here to help. Help me back and tell me what exactly we’re dealing with. Otherwise I am throwing darts at the walls.”
    Fair enough . “I just want a few insights.”
    “I’ve heard that one before, but in this case I believe it. So he’s lying. Does he realize—after all in your profession you are naturally suspicious as you just said a moment ago—that you know he’s lying?”
    Ellie cast back … replayed the whole scene with her grandfather in her mind, and then nodded. “He knows.”
    “But is trusting that you won’t probe too deeply? Good guess?”
    “I suppose.” Ellie stood and then walked to the single window. It looked out over the street. Her car was still there, and she’d parked it pretty well, considering parallel parking was not her forte. “He’s counting on me to be polite and show respect and never ask the right questions.”
    “Father?”
    Well, crap, that was way too close to the truth.
    “Grandfather.”
    Dr. Lukens laughed softly. “Oh, how that complicates the situation. Let’s face it, Detective, that is a lot of life experience. Grandparents are supposed to teach us . We are told that, and we believe it.