She rushed back downstairs and found Casey waiting for her at the door.

  “You ready?” he asked.

  “As ready as I’ll ever be.”

  But not nearly ready enough for what might be coming next.

  Chapter Eleven

  Honea Farm, 4:00 p.m.

  Sheriff Tanner and his deputies had shown up with UTVs for roaming the farm. For the past going on two hours, they had covered the open fields and pastures. More deputies, federal agents and officers had taken the woods, moving on foot in a grid pattern to ensure nothing was missed.

  So far Naomi had noticed nothing unusual. Nothing different than it had been when she was a child. Her hopes were dwindling.

  Yet, she knew there had to be someplace Arlene carried on this evil part of her work. There was nothing in the lab—other than the remains found on Monday—that even hinted at an operation like Arlene appeared to have been running. Naomi wanted to feel guilty for thinking such bad things about the woman, but she was so far past that point now she felt nothing but anger.

  Casey stared across the latest field they’d explored. “Think hard, Naomi. What we’re looking for could as easily be underground as aboveground.”

  He’d reminded her of this about a dozen times already.

  “I get that but...” She heaved a weary breath. “I haven’t seen anything that jumps out at me.”

  “I’ll check in with the other teams and see how they’re coming along.”

  The disappointment in his voice made bad matters worse.

  Surely there was something she was missing. She closed her eyes and thought of all those days she had roamed this farm, unafraid of running upon anything she couldn’t handle.

  “Idiot,” she muttered.

  Her mom had always scolded her for running off in the woods. She’d remind Naomi that there were sinkholes and caves around Franklin County that could swallow up little girls.

  Caves.

  “Casey!” She turned all the way around looking for him. Found him only a few feet away deep in conversation.

  She waited, barely able to contain herself, until the phone call ended. “There’s a place,” she blurted. “In the woods near a spring that comes out of the hillside. I used to sneak over there all the time. There are lots of rocks and trees. It was like a grotto in the hillside. I didn’t consider it as someplace Arlene might use until just a moment ago when I thought about all the caves in this part of the state. There was a narrow opening in the mouth of the hillside where the water came out. It might lead to a deeper cave.”

  “Show me.”

  They climbed into the UTV and headed toward the woods on the back side of the farm. The grotto wasn’t in the woods but it was nearby. Casey spoke to Sheriff Tanner en route and had him and a couple of his deputies meet them at the location.

  By the time Casey parked not so far from a cliffy side of the hill, she was ready to leap off the UTV and rush down the hill. How had she forgotten about this place? Maybe she’d erased more than she realized from her memory banks. When she’d gone to Hollywood, she’d worked hard to keep the memories of home at bay.

  She’d been homesick but refused to admit it even to herself.

  As they approached the spring-fed pool, she stalled. “This isn’t how I remember.”

  There was no narrow opening next to the water. She recalled vividly having to wade through knee-deep water to reach the narrow opening and peer inside.

  “You’re certain it was here.”

  She nodded. “Positive.”

  Sheriff Tanner, hands on hips, surveyed the terrain. “We didn’t run upon any other underground springs in our search.”

  Naomi was as certain as she could be and at the same time terrified that she might be wrong. Still, she insisted, “This has to be the place.”

  “Sometimes these hillside cave openings collapse,” the sheriff suggested. “With the water coming out there, you can bet there’s been an opening at one time.”

  “We need to get an excavator in here and start digging,” Casey suggested.

  “We’ll likely run out of daylight before we can get set up,” Sheriff Tanner warned.

  “If you have the resources,” Casey said, “let’s get them in place so we can begin first thing in the morning.”

  “I’ll make the call now,” he assured.

  Naomi walked closer to the small pool. The runoff from the pool traveled beyond her line of sight down the hillside. Even in the hottest part of summer there was water here. Sometimes in the winter ice would form on the pool. She remembered trying to skate on it and almost falling through.

  She really had been too adventurous. Fearless, as Casey said.

  She remembered all the times her father had to take her to the clinic and have her stitched up. Or to get a tetanus shot. Naomi was forever stepping on old rusty nails or ripping open a wound on some rock or what have you. The nurse who worked for her mother for as long as Naomi could recall would always say, “Uh-oh. Here comes trouble.”

  Nurse Sarah. Sarah Holland.

  Naomi had forgotten about her. She always gave Naomi whatever shots she required. Sarah would whisper to Naomi that her mom couldn’t bear to stick a needle into her little girl.

  “Sheriff.” She walked over to the man who’d just ended a call. “Do you know if Sarah Holland is still around?” Naomi hadn’t heard anything about her or run into her since she’d been back in Winchester this past year.

  “She is,” Sheriff Tanner confirmed. “She’s the administrator at the Happy Valley assisted living facility near the hospital.”

  “She was my mother’s nurse when she had her clinic.”

  He smiled. “That’s right. She came to the school on career day once when I was in high school.”

  Naomi walked over to where Casey was crouched by the pool. The way he studied the terrain she hoped he could see what she saw. Rocks and shrubs and secret places that ignited a child’s imagination.

  He pushed to his feet. “If there’s anything here we’ll find it.”

  She felt confident he only said this to make her feel better since the opening she recalled was nowhere to be seen. “There’s a nurse who worked with my mom when she had her clinic. I’d like to go talk to her.”

  “We could go in the morning,” he offered.

  “You need to be here. My security detail can take me, right?”

  “Sure. We can arrange that.”

  Anticipation fluttered in her belly. They could be getting closer to finding something useful in the search for answers. At least she hoped.

  Happy Valley, 5:00 p.m.

  HAPPY VALLEY ASSISTED living was one of the newer facilities in the Winchester area, Naomi learned as she waited to see Ms. Holland. According to the brochure on the lobby table, the facility was state of the art and the first of its kind in middle Tennessee. A very expensive and classy joint. Naomi was surprised. The rooms, if the photos in the brochure were any indication, were like high-end apartments only smaller. The shared dining room and kitchen were every bit as sleek and well-appointed as a five-star restaurant.

  If a senior needed help with everyday living, this was the place to be.

  “Ms. Honea.”

  Naomi looked up. “Yes.”

  The woman smiled. Her hair was gray, and she was now pleasantly plump, but Naomi recognized Sarah’s face.

  “Ms. Holland.” She stood. “Thank you so much for making the time to see me.”

  “I’m sorry we haven’t done this sooner. Let’s go to my office.”

  Naomi followed her along the corridor to a large, airy office that overlooked the grand fountain out front.

  “You’ve done a marvelous job of creating a sanctuary,” Naomi said as she settled into the offered chair. “I’m amazed at how peaceful and lovely it is here. I’ll bet you have a waiting list.”

  Smiling broadly, Ms. Holland nodded. “We do. We’re very lucky that people have recognized and appreciated the priceless value of a place like this one.”

  Naomi figured the priceless part was the one sticking point.

  Sarah’s smile slipped into a frown. “I’m so sorry to hear about the horrors you’re experiencing at the farm. It truly is quite awful. Your mother would be beside herself. Is there anything I can do to help?”

  “Actually, that’s part of the reason I’m here. In all the years that you worked with my mom did she ever mention any issues at the farm? Maybe with any of the people who worked with my dad?”

  Her mom had spent countless hours each evening after a long day at the clinic to help out on the farm. It hadn’t seemed strange at the time. To a nine-year-old there was no difference between a doctor and a farmer. They were both jobs. But now she understood that what her mom did was above and beyond the call of duty.

  Mrs. Holland pursed her lips. “You might not remember but one of the reasons your mother decided to work so hard with your father on the farm was because of Lanita Carlson. She was only four and she suddenly fell terribly ill. Your mother felt as though she didn’t diagnose her in time to save her life. She never got past it. Every physician loses a patient eventually, but this one haunted her. She started to second-guess herself in everything she did. It was quite painful to watch. After you left for California, she actually spent more time on the farm than at the clinic. A nurse practitioner took care of the patients.”

  Naomi felt sick. “I had no idea.”

  “It wasn’t something she wanted to talk about. Instead, she devoted herself more and more to the farm. Truth be told, your mother was the one who turned it around. Nolan, bless him, worked very hard to make a go of things. But he just wasn’t as savvy as your mom. He had the vision but couldn’t quite pull off the execution. Your mother really was a genius. To her way of thinking, the way to a healthy life stared with healthy eating.”

  “My dad seemed happy to have her with him in any capacity.” Naomi didn’t recall any tension between them, but she’d been a kid. She may not have noticed.

  “He was thrilled. As I said, she was the brains behind the vision. With her help, he had the farm thriving in no time flat.”

  “Arlene Beck had been working for my dad for a good number of years already when my mother started pitching in. They seemed to work well together also.”

  “Arlene was another one who had cutting-edge ideas about how to elevate the farm to an organic farm. She and your mother became quite close, I think.”

  “I guess you heard she was murdered.” It was ridiculous to think for a second she hadn’t. The debacle at the farm was big news. National news.

  Something flashed in Ms. Holland’s expression. “It’s all quite tragic. Your parents loved the farm. I know they would hate to see it torn apart this way.”

  On Naomi’s watch at that. How had she allowed this to happen? Surely there were signs. Had she just not been paying attention?

  “It’s unsettling to say the least.” Naomi considered how to best frame the next question. She’d already ventured into this territory but she needed to be sure. “When you were working together at the clinic, did Mom ever mention anything about Arlene? I don’t recall there ever having been any issues at all.”

  “I can’t think of a time when there was an issue. But then, your mother was very private when it came to her personal life.”

  “Did you know Arlene very well? I haven’t been able to figure out where she lived before Winchester. Or if she had any family I need to contact.”

  Ms. Holland frowned. “She was already here when I moved to Winchester. I suppose I’ve never thought of her as living anywhere else. I don’t recall her ever saying.”

  “No accent that suggested a particular part of the country?”

  Ms. Holland considered the question for a moment. “There was a bit of an accent. Nothing like ours down here. I assumed it had to do with where she’d been educated. These kids go off to college and come back talking like strangers.”

  Naomi could vouch for that scenario. She’d spent ages trying to conquer her Southern accent. “She never mentioned family or friends from somewhere else?”

  “Not that I recall.” She smiled, but the gesture was obviously forced. “I really didn’t know Arlene well.” She glanced at the clock. “Oh my, it’s time for my next appointment. I hope we can chat again soon.” She stood, broadening her plastic smile.

  “Thank you for your time, Ms. Holland. Please let me know if you think of anything that might help us learn more about Arlene.”

  “Of course.”

  Naomi left with the strangest feeling that she’d said something that made the woman uncomfortable. She’d seemed fine until Naomi pushed the subject of Arlene. She hadn’t wanted to go too deeply into that past.

  Certainly it was possible she did have an appointment but no one had been waiting in the lobby as Naomi left. Or perhaps she simply didn’t want to get involved in this bizarre case.

  Maybe Donnie would have some insight into Ms. Holland’s relationship with Naomi’s mom and Arlene. Didn’t hurt to ask.

  Dogwood Apartments, 6:00 p.m.

  DONNIE WAS SURPRISED to see Naomi again so soon. She was surprised herself. Her uncle wasn’t one to keep in touch and Naomi hadn’t really put forth the extra effort to try to change that reality. Frankly, she’d been a little busy.

  “This is wild,” Donnie said after listening to her rundown of the latest news. “You’re saying Arlene’s mother might have been some sort of war criminal?”

  “I can’t say for sure, but that’s the way it looks so far. I’m having trouble accepting that Mom didn’t know any of this. Dad might have overlooked it. You know he didn’t like to get into people’s business. But Mom was so keenly perceptive. I can’t see her missing all this.”

  She thought of the story about the patient—the child—her mom had lost, and her heart ached. Why hadn’t her mom ever talked about it? Had her dad known? What was worse, all these questions were making her doubt everything she thought she knew about her family. Naomi didn’t like that feeling at all.

  “I can’t see it, either,” he agreed. “Muriel was always the smart one. She was far too perceptive for anything to be happening around her and not recognize it. There’s something off with all this, Naomi. I’m very concerned. Would you like me to come to the farm and stay with you for a while? It’s not like I have anything pressing to do around here. The fresh air might even do me good.”

  “You’re always welcome, Uncle Donnie.” She thought of how Casey Duncan had slept on her couch and likely would tonight and instantly regretted having extended the invitation.

  “Oh, snap,” he muttered. “I did promise Heloise I’d look after Mr. Grumpy this weekend. She’s going to visit her sister in Indiana. He’s quite the feisty little pooch and her sister hates him. I’d have to come back and forth through the day and evening to take care of him.”

  “It’s not necessary right now, Uncle Donnie. I have my own personal bodyguards.”

  “Just like a celebrity,” he teased.

  She rolled her eyes. “One more question,” she ventured. “Do you know of anyone in the area who might have emigrated from Germany after the war? Anyone who might have known Arlene’s mother?”

  “You mean like a Holocaust survivor?”

  “Yes, I suppose I do.”

  “There were a couple I remember reading about, but that was years ago. I can’t recall their names.”

  “Maybe I could find something at the library?” If it was still open. Damn. She always seemed a day late and a dollar short.

  “I’d call that lady who owns the newspaper, Audrey Tanner. She’s the sheriff’s wife. I’ll bet she can tell you right off. I just remember that it was in the newspaper a while back.”

  Naomi started to go but decided she had another question or two.

  “Do you think Arlene could have done something like this? I mean, really, was she so coldhearted?”

  He stared at his clasped hands hanging between his knees. “You know, she was a little cold. Standoffish. Not with your folks, I don’t think, but she rarely spoke to me.” He chuckled. “Everyone likes me. But like I told you before, I sort of stepped on it where Arlene was concerned.”

  Naomi smiled. “You’re just a likable kind of guy.”

  Her uncle gave her a half smile. “Try talking to Audrey over at the Winchester Gazette. She’ll know if I’m recalling right.”

  Before leaving Naomi asked, “You remember that cave-like opening by the underground spring I used to talk about all the time? The one Mom told me time and time again to stay away from?”

  “Sure do. I even went in it one time. I was hoping for lost treasure or hidden booty of some sort. But I didn’t find anything at all.”

  “You could actually climb inside?”

  “Yep. I saw it with my own eyes.”

  “There was only one on the farm, right?”

  “As far as I know. Why do you ask?”

  “We went out that way this afternoon and it must have fallen in or something.”

  “That’s too bad. It was pretty cool once you got past the part that required you to belly crawl through it.”

  “Cool how?”

  “It was a big room. Like a cavern. Seems weird that it would just fall in like that. But it happens. Usually something causes it.”

  Very weird, she agreed. She could only imagine what had caused it.

  Something more to add to this horror story.

  Tanner Home, 7:00 p.m.

  THE WINCHESTER GAZETTE was closed so Naomi asked her driver, the deputy assigned to her security detail this evening, to drive her to the Tanner home. Casey had called to check on her—he was heading to the chief of police’s office for a big conference call with all the entities involved with this ever-evolving case.