Killer Reads: A Collection of the Best in Inspirational Suspense

by Luana Ehrlich

  “No, it’s okay. There won’t be a good time until Sara comes home.” Her voice broke followed by a moment of silence. “I’m sorry. I’m just so frightened for her.”

  “You haven’t heard anything?” He knew the answer, but he had to ask.

  “There has been no word. Matthew Foley promised to call me the minute he finds out anything.”

  “If you have no objections, I’ll come over. Two heads can worry better than one.”

  “You may come over, if you wish. A few friends are here now keeping vigil with me. But I warn you, I’m not going to be a very good hostess.”

  Sara Bradford’s Home

  Don tuned in to the Cowboy game on his way across town. It was the third quarter and the Pokes were behind three points. He’d become a more avid fan after retirement from the force. He had more time on his hands.

  Twenty minutes later, he parked in front of the Bradford residence. He’d run into heavy rain on the drive out, but the worst of the storm lay to the north. The sweep of his headlights revealed the three-story brick Tudor design he’d seen when he followed Sara home after the explosion. It was impressive, sitting in the middle of what looked like a hundred acres of rolling meadows and trees. A four-foot white rail fence went as far as the eye could see.

  Maddie answered the door. She was dressed in gray slacks, white blouse, and a gray and green plaid jacket, her gray-blond hair casually styled. Her face was scrubbed clean but tired, with the same pretty features he remembered.

  He followed her into the den where she introduced him to her pastor, Seth Davidson, and Colin Connelly. The other two, Shannon and Jeffery Hayden, he’d met at the banquet.

  Worry lines creased the pale faces of the women. Dark circles under their eyes testified to the strain they were under.

  “Have either of you eaten anything today?” He directed his question to Shannon.

  She shook her head. “Pastor Davidson has tried to get Maddie to eat something, but she won’t. I don’t think she’s eaten since lunch yesterday.”

  Don turned to Maddie. “Well, I won’t take no for an answer. I make a mean omelet, and if your housekeeper doesn’t toss me out of her kitchen, I’ll have a mouth-watering concoction ready in about twenty minutes.”

  To Shannon he said, “Can you point me in the direction of the kitchen?”

  “I’ll do better than that. I’ll take you back and introduce you to Beatrice.” Shannon slipped her arm through his. “I love a man who takes charge.”

  A large kitchen opened up before him, and the faint scents of cinnamon and yeast filled the air. The floor was brick with a long island in the center where copper-bottom cookware hung within easy reach. Someone who loved to cook had designed the space.

  The faithful Beatrice welcomed him into her kitchen. She provided everything he needed to make his omelet “a la Tompkins”, a cholesterol nightmare. But the occasion called for good ol’ comfort food.

  He sizzled bacon, ham, and sausage while Beatrice chopped red onions, tomatoes, cheese, and mushrooms. He beat the eggs until they were light and fluffy, added spices, and then assembled individual omelets for everyone.

  While he worked, Beatrice made coffee and toast and set warm plates at the breakfast nook in the bay window.

  Still wearing one of Beatrice’s frilly aprons, Don went into the den. “Food’s ready, folks. Come on while it’s hot.”

  The group trouped into the kitchen with Pastor Davidson and Maddie leading the way. After the pastor blessed the food, the somber party began to eat. The meal was consumed in short order. Even Maddie finished most of her omelet.

  The small group remained at the table, long after Beatrice cleared away the dishes and refilled coffee cups. It felt like a wake as they spoke of good times shared with Sara.

  Later when they returned to the den, someone had built a glowing fire in the hearth. They scattered into nearby chairs, silently watching Beatrice bring in fresh coffee and place the tray on the teacart.

  At seven o’clock, the phone next to Maddie’s chair rang, making her jump. She hesitated for a fraction of a second before picking up the receiver. Don understood. She feared the call brought bad news and didn’t know if she could handle it.

  Maddie straightened in her chair, inhaled, and lifted the phone. Don scanned her face as worry lines disappeared, and then re-formed as she ended the call.

  “That was Matthew...he found Sara.” Her voice caught with a near-sob. Maddie leaned back and sank deeper into the chair. “Sara’s injured but he doesn’t think it’s serious. He and the sheriff are taking her to Twin Falls Memorial. He’ll fill us in when we get there.”

  Don and Shannon brought their cars under the portico. They loaded the passengers and headed to the hospital. He had watched Maddie’s ashen face as she spoke to Matt Foley. Had he told her the truth about Sara’s condition? He hoped so, for Maddie’s sake.

  CHAPTER 29

  Twin Falls Memorial Hospital

  Matt waited outside the emergency room bay. His gaze followed Maddie as she weaved towards him, past the IV machines and a stretcher that cluttered the hallway. Don Tompkins followed behind her.

  “How is she, Matthew?” Lines of concern creased Maddie’s brow as she placed her hand on his arm with a gentle touch.

  “She seems to be okay. They took her for a CAT scan on the head wound a few minutes ago. We’ll know more after the doctor has a chance to read the results.”

  “Can you tell us what happened, Chief?” Tompkins asked.

  “I haven’t questioned her and she hasn’t said much. We had to take care of her injuries first. She’s had a pretty bad ordeal.”

  “Can I see her?” Maddie asked.

  “Of course, as soon as she returns from x-ray.”

  Maddie lowered her gaze to her hands. Tension tightened the muscles around her mouth. “I can’t believe some maniac is running around Twin Falls trying to harm Sara. Do you have any idea who’s responsible?”

  “We’re hoping Sara can fill in some of the blanks.”

  Based on the questions Sara asked when they’d found her, she hadn’t recognized her assailant. But he wasn’t about to divulge that information in front of Tompkins.

  Twenty minutes later, an orderly wheeled Sara back into the emergency bay. He returned the bed to its previous position in the exam room, and left. Maddie hurried forward and clasped her niece’s hand.

  Sara tried to sit up, but winced, then leaned back against the pillow. “Hey.”

  “Hey yourself. How are you doing?”

  Sara wiggled her hand in a so-so wave.

  After a short interval, the curtain slid back and the doctor entered. He drew up a stool. “Well, young lady, you have a slight concussion. As a precaution, we’ll keep you overnight to monitor your progress. Someone will be in soon to move you to a private room. I want you to stay quiet and rest.” He glanced at Maddie. “Try not to tire her too much.”

  When the doctor had gone, Matt ducked outside and joined the group in the ER waiting room.

  Shannon was the first one to reach him. “Is she all right, Matt?”

  “She’s going to be fine. They’re keeping her overnight. I suggest you all go home. You can check in on her tomorrow. The doctor wants her to rest but will probably release her in the morning, unless there are complications.”

  Maddie walked up behind him. “They’ve taken Sara to a private room.” She turned imploring eyes on Matt. “Will she be safe? Perhaps I should stay the night. I don’t want to let her out of my sight.”

  “You need to get some rest. I’m posting a guard outside her door until she leaves the hospital.”

  “I’d like to stay with her for a while, if that’s okay,” Maddie said.

  “Absolutely.”

  Seth Davidson, Jeffery Hayden, and Shannon left. Don Tompkins caught Maddie’s gaze. “I’ll wait here until you’re ready to leave, then I’ll drive you home.”

  Matt watched Tompkins take a seat in the waiting room, then fo
llowed Maddie to Sara’s room. What was Tompkins doing here? Something Matt intended to ask Maddie. The man headed Matt’s list of suspects. He didn’t like the idea that the security guard was involved in Sara’s personal life.

  While he waited for the officer to arrive, Matt slipped into Sara’s room to check the windows. The turns this case had taken heightened his concern for her safety. Someone wanted her dead. That wasn’t going to happen, not if he had to handcuff Sara and lock her in a cell.

  He opened the window locks, re-bolted them, and then drew the curtains.

  Maddie stroked Sara’s hand, smoothed her hair away from her face, then gave Sara’s hand a squeeze. “Guess I’m ready to leave.” She turned to Matt. “Will you stay until the guard arrives?”

  “I won’t leave her unguarded for a minute.”

  Later, when the police guard arrived, Matt pulled him aside. “Don’t leave this door for any reason. I’ll send a patrol car by to relieve you for breaks. This lady is in serious danger. I’m depending on you to keep her safe tonight.”

  The fresh-faced young cop gave a solemn nod. “Don’t worry, Chief. I’ve got it covered.”

  With the guard in place, Matt stopped at Sara’s bedside. Eyes closed, she looked pale and vulnerable against the white sheets. As if sensing his presence, her eyelids fluttered, then opened wide. “Oh, it’s you, Matt, I thought...”

  “Sorry, I didn’t mean to startle you. I wanted to check on you before I left. I’ve posted an officer outside your door tonight so you can rest easy. I’ll come back tomorrow morning and take you home. Then I’ll want to hear everything that happened.”

  “Thank you, Matt. For finding me...” Her voice trailed off again. The after-effects of her ordeal had kicked in.

  “You’re welcome,” he said but she’d fallen asleep. Matt pulled the door closed behind him.

  Matt stopped in front of the guard. “Remember, nobody goes into that room but hospital personnel. Check their ID. No ID, no entry.”

  The guard straightened his posture. “Yes, sir.”

  Joe waited outside to take Matt to the restaurant to get his car. They drove in silence for a while. Stopped at a red light, Joe glanced across at him. “I think what happened tonight was a God-thing. If we hadn’t gone out to Cook’s place, the kidnapper could have come back and killed that woman. What made you decide to go there tonight?”

  Matt leaned against the headrest. “Who knows where hunches come from? All I can tell you is that for some reason, I wanted to check the place out to look for clues that might help me find her.”

  “How long have you known Sara Bradford?”

  “I’ve known of her for more than ten years. She was Mary’s best friend. But I didn’t really know her. She and her husband moved in different social circles.”

  As they waited for the light to change, Joe’s gaze swept over Matt’s face. “Did I imagine it, or did I see something developing between you two?”

  The question caught Matt off guard. Was there something happening between him and Sara? True, he’d admitted to Seth he felt an attraction there. “I don’t know, Joe. I really don’t know.”

  Sara Bradford’s Home

  Maddie rode with Don in silence from the hospital through the empty late night streets. She didn’t feel the need to make conversation. Don seemed to feel the same way. He maneuvered his SUV with practiced efficiency through the streets of the industrial area that surrounded the hospital. He turned left at the stop sign, then merged onto the freeway.

  At home, Don pulled under the portico and stopped.

  “Would you like to come in for coffee? It’ll only take a minute to make.”

  “That sounds like a winner.” Don got out and came around to open her door.

  Before Maddie could insert her key, the door swung open. Beatrice stood in the entrance, face pale and drawn, an unspoken question in her eyes.

  Maddie drew the Spanish woman into a hug. “Sara’s okay. Go on to bed, you need to rest. I’m going to make coffee before I retire.”

  Switching on the kitchen lights, Maddie led the way inside and started the coffeemaker. She held up the pot. “It’s decaf. I hope you don’t mind.”

  “That’s what I drink at night.” Don pulled out a stool from under the island bar.

  Maddie felt his gaze follow her.

  “How bad is your eyesight, Maddie? You seem to be able to do almost anything you want to do.”

  She smiled as she removed a chocolate cream pie from the refrigerator and placed it on the counter. “I have my limitations. I can handle most things reasonably well, except driving and reading. I’ve learned to compensate for the things my vision can’t accommodate. I really don’t notice it very much anymore.” She chuckled. “Although, I’m still a great backseat driver, as Sara and Pete will testify.”

  While the brew finished its cycle, Maddie cut two wedges of pie onto plates and slid one across to Don. When the coffeemaker’s red light came on, she poured the hot liquid into mugs, then took the stool beside Don.

  He tested the brew with a tentative sip. “What are you going to do about this situation with Sara? She appears to be in serious trouble. I’d like to help, if I can.”

  A smile tugged at the corners of her mouth. “To be honest, that’s why I invited you in. I’m going to hire a bodyguard for her. She’ll hate it, but I’m not giving her an option. I hoped you could advise me where to start, or perhaps, you would be interested in the job. I’ll pay whatever the going rate is. I want protection for her right away, someone to watch over her twenty-four seven until Matt finds whoever’s responsible. Perhaps two people in twelve-hour shifts. If you’re interested, you could stay here and drive Sara wherever she goes.”

  “I’ve been thinking along those lines myself. I don’t want your money. I’ll do it because I like Sara.” He swallowed a bite of pie and made an appreciative sound. “I have two weeks of vacation coming and can guard her for that period of time. If the police haven’t found the perp by then, I’ll find you someone to take my place. I’ll start tomorrow evening, after I finish my shift at Global.”

  “That’s great, but I insist you let me pay for your services. I’ll have Beatrice prepare a room for you.”

  He finished the pie, pushed back his plate, and stood to leave. “I’ll call you tomorrow.”

  Maddie followed him to the foyer. When he’d gone, she locked the door and leaned back against it, satisfied. She had gained a measure of security for Sara. Don’s presence would keep her safe.

  Twin Falls Memorial Hospital

  Sara awoke early and scanned the unfamiliar surroundings. It certainly wasn’t her bedroom, but the beige and green drapes looked familiar. She sat upright, sending knives of pain cascading from her scalp down her spine. Easing her legs to the floor, she poured a glass of water from the white plastic jug on the nightstand and took a deep swallow. Cool drops of liquid rolled over her tongue, soothing her parched throat.

  She inhaled a sharp breath, as instant memories of the cellar flooded her mind, accompanied by the terror the last twenty-four hours had brought. But she was safe now. Relief washed over her and she eased back onto the pillow.

  What day was this? Then it hit her. Monday. The meeting with Global’s new owners was at nine o’clock. Today.

  She glanced at her watch. Six o’clock. And she had to go home, shower and get back to Global.

  Her fingers found the nurse call button on the bed railing. Almost immediately, a voice over the intercom asked, “May I help you?”

  Sara slid her legs over the bedside once again, searching for her shoes. “I have an important meeting this morning. I must leave right away. Can you get my release papers ready?”

  Seconds later, a nurse she remembered from last night rushed in. “Mrs. Bradford, you can’t leave without the doctor’s release. It’s hospital policy.”

  Sara moved across the room, opened the metal cabinet and found her shoes. “You don’t understand. I must leave. If I don’t show up.
..let’s just say it’s important, really important. I have to leave as soon as possible.”

  The nurse left, and soon after, Sara’s friend Gaye stood in the middle of the room, her arms crossed, and a stern look in her eyes. “If you insist on leaving, you’ll have to sign an AMA form.”

  One shoe on, Sara looked up. “What’s that?”

  “It means against medical advice. It also means your insurance company might not pay your hospital bill.”

  Both shoes now on, Sara shrugged. “I can live with that. Would you please bring the form, right away?”

  Gaye came back minutes later with the papers. “Are you always this bull-headed?”

  Sara’s gaze searched the nurse’s face. “Gaye, please believe that under normal circumstances, I’m a pussycat. But Ripley’s Believe it or Not would not believe my life the past two weeks. I’m truly sorry for any problems I’ve caused you, but there are really important matters I have to take care of in the next three hours.”

  Gaye gave a reluctant nod. “Okay, you’re forgiven, but I don’t want to see you back in here for a very, very long time. Do you want me to unhook the IV or do you plan to take it with you?”

  “Unhook me, please.” Sara signed the papers while Gaye removed the IV and taped a cotton ball to her arm. Realization hit Sara. She had another problem. Maddie had taken her dirty clothes home. “I know this is getting to be a habit, but I’ll have to wear the gown home.”

  Gaye put her hands on her hips. “I see your plan now…you’re a hospital gown thief.” She chuckled. “Would it do any good for me to say no?”

  Sara grimaced and shook her head. “Not unless you want me to send shockwaves through the community.”

  The officer at the door proved more difficult. “Ma’am, no way can I let you leave here until I speak to my supervisor. My instructions were that no unapproved person could enter or leave the room. That includes you. I’ll handcuff you if I have to.”