Dead Women Tell No Lies by Nora LeDuc

of his lawbreakers.”
    “My Gram was old school, too. I often thought that my mother was the opposite. She never outgrew her teenage rebellious years.”
    “How about you? Were you rebellious?”
    “If you call being in the honor society and president of the marketing club defiant.”
    “They had a marketing club in high school?”
    “You were too busy with your wild parties to notice.” Rose slapped her hands against her thighs. “Okay, Squanto, which way do we go?”
    “If we head toward the river we’ll find The Ledges. I can hear the water running. This time of year, the melting snow feeds the current, and the river runs high and fast.”
    “Thanks for the warning. I’ll cancel the dip.”
    “You should pay attention to my warnings.”
    “Just a little levity, Lennox. It helps when I’m nervous.”
    “Understood.” He shot pictures of the area while she stamped her feet. Then they started off again. The scent of evergreens bobbed in the air. Sunlight filtered through the treetops, dimming the light as they traveled deeper into the woods.
    “Recognize anything?” he asked over his shoulder.
    She paused. “I’m positive I never walked through a forest in my visions.” She jammed her fists into her jacket pockets.
    “Don’t forget. You can go back if you feel overwhelmed.” Maybe she needed an out. “I can’t forget. You keep reminding me.” She shivered. “It’s colder with the trees blocking the sun. Spring is two weeks away, and I still need gloves.”
    “Good old Spring in New England. Most people agree we slide out of winter right into summer, but they’re forgetting the season in between.”
    “Spring?”
    “Mud season.”
    “Ah, I understand why New Englanders visit Florida.”
    “My mother would agree. She loves to call and inform me of the temperature on the beach in front of her Florida condo.”
    “I’d be tempted to join her during a blizzard, but not today. Lead on, Detective Lennox.”
    They plodded forward. The ground sank under their feet in the muddy places exposed to the sunlight.
    “Where are we? All I see are the tree branches in my face.” She bent to avoid a low‒hanging limb.
    “Don’t worry. A few more feet and we’ll reach the end of the path. Listen, the river’s louder.
    She stood still. Her head tilted upward.
    “Recognize anything yet?”
    “Nothing.”
    She was going with Plan C, “see no evil.” He dropped back and stayed glued to her side as they trekked out toward the brighter light. She focused her gaze straight ahead. Instead of the vulnerability he’d sensed a moment ago, there was only purpose. Was she as strong as she was acting? Cripe, he should have come alone and shown her the pictures of The Ledges when he returned; he’d been too anxious to disprove her bogus story.
    “I hope I find something familiar.” She sped up her pace.
    “The clearing is after the curve.”
    They entered the tree line where she halted. Bushes and the few stubby trees grew between the woods and the rocks. Then she plowed ahead. He pushed on to catch up to her.
    “Is this the place?”
    “Dahlia didn’t know the way either,” she said, staring off.
    Was she falling into a trance? His gut chilled.
    “She followed someone to The Ledges.” Rose slowed and stretched upward on her toes. “I can’t see the person, Lennox.”
    Relief poured through him at the sound of his name. “You’re probably too nervous. Walk around a little.” He raised an arm and pointed to the protrusion of granite. “Here’s where people sun themselves in the summer.” He strode onto the top of the gray, flat boulders. The familiarity of his surroundings chased away his suspicions. “If we could travel back in time, we’d be standing in the middle of the glaciers.” He flung his palms out at his sides. “I’m always amazed by these stones.”
    “If we could travel back, we’d learn the truth about my sister’s death.” Rose sidestepped closer to him and massaged her