But she would think about it, which was obviously the whole point. Her nemesis was trying to unhinge her and he was doing a pretty good job of it, too. She would not, could not, let him win.
“They won’t scare me as much the next time, if there is a next time,” Lindy vowed.
Harlan gave her a sincere, “Atta girl.”
She might have objected to being called a girl if she hadn’t known he came from a generation that thought of any woman as a girl, even those old enough to be grandmothers. Many ladies in Serenity were addressed as Miss This or Miss That rather than simply called by their given names. It was a charming Southern custom that countless generations had grown up with.
She’d thought that Danny would grow up with it, too. Was she going to have to flee Serenity in order to protect her son and see to it that he had a normal childhood?
She certainly hoped not. Now that Ben was gone, she was really beginning to feel as if she belonged in the small, rural community. Leaving it would mean bidding her friends a permanent goodbye. If she didn’t want her enemies to follow her, she knew she’d have to cut all ties. Completely.
Was it possible to hide that well on her own? she wondered. Probably not. Even people in the Federal Witness Protection Program were revealed every now and then. Since she would still be tied to a bank account which was practically her sole support, there was no way she’d be able to just vanish.
And when that money was gone? When Ben no longer had any more wages or commissions due him? If she could have sold the house and taken those profits with her, it might have been enough to finance a fresh start. Now that title to the property was also in limbo she’d lost that option.
Thinking about leaving her new job and the boss who had already become such an integral part of her life, Lindy felt a sense of sadness wash over her like icy winter rain.
It chilled her to the bone in seconds and helped strengthen her resolve. She and Danny were not going anywhere. This was their home. They were not going to be driven from it by any threats, real or imagined.
“I’ll want you to check Danny’s room, too,” she told the portly sheriff as he stripped off his gloves and dropped them into a separate plastic bag. “Somebody ransacked it while we were gone today.”
“Can you tell if anything was taken?” he asked.
“The way it looks now we can’t even tell if there’s still a rug on the floor,” Lindy said wryly. “Whoever tore it apart did a bang-up job.”
“Okay.” He reached for the radio clipped to his belt and requested backup.
When he was finished speaking he smiled. “Now, Miz Southerland, how about that meal and maybe a quick cup of coffee while you tell me everything that’s happened, right from the beginning.”
Although Lindy grimaced as she led the way back inside, she knew it was time to come clean. There was only so much she—and Thad—could do on their own and it wasn’t smart to exclude the professionals like Harlan and his officers.
“We’re not sure exactly when somebody started harassing me,” she began. “The first inkling I had was when I surprised a couple prowlers in the house. Danny and I hid behind the sofa until they left.”
As she had suspected, Harlan did not receive her opening remarks well. His brow knit and she could see the muscles in his jaw clenching. If he had been her father rather than the sheriff, she imagined he’d have been yelling by then.
In retrospect, it was no surprise that she’d married Ben. He had been a lot like her dad with a temper to match. The major difference between them was that her father had not been physically abusive even on his worst day. With Ben, the abuse had started about a year before he’d been killed. The reason he had changed so drastically still eluded her, although she surmised it had had something to do with his involvement with criminals.
Fixing a dish of spaghetti for herself and her hungry child while the others helped themselves, Lindy dreaded the interrogation she knew was coming. As Thad had told her, the fact that she hadn’t reported the attacks immediately made her look as if she was hiding something.
If she could have found the proper words, she might have tried to explain how, in spite of herself, she couldn’t help blaming her husband’s demise on the way the authorities had stormed the cabin where she, Danny and Samantha were being held hostage six months before. Ben had died in the ensuing shoot-out. Logically, she knew it wasn’t the police’s fault. They’d done their best, and really, it was a marvel they hadn’t all been killed.
For that, she supposed she should have thanked God, yet she was still struggling to do so. Perhaps returning to church, as Samantha had urged, would help her as well as Danny. It couldn’t hurt. The way Lindy saw it, her biggest problem was the fact that she’d been unable to properly forgive any of the parties involved at that time, particularly her late husband.
In her deepest heart she knew there was one far more important fact, a weakness she constantly struggled to overcome, both consciously and subconsciously.
She was angry at God.
* * *
Thad sat patiently at the dining room table with the others and listened while Lindy laid out the events of the past few days. The sheriff took notes between forkfuls of food. Thad didn’t add anything or argue with her conclusions until she’d finished speaking.
“There’s one more problem,” he interjected soberly. “Somebody has tried to destroy Ms. Southerland’s credit. They’ve tapped into her bank accounts and messed up the record that she’d paid off the mortgage on this house.”
Harlan’s left eyebrow arched. “When did this happen?”
“I got a call from my bank in Atlanta today,” Lindy said. “I’m pretty sure we can iron out those difficulties. It has to be a clerical error.”
“You think so?” He took a sip from his coffee mug and tilted his head for emphasis. “Sounds to me like it’s all cut from the same cloth.”
Lindy scowled back at him. “How can it be? I didn’t do anything wrong. I don’t understand who can possibly be trying to ruin me.”
“You were Ben Southerland’s wife. Maybe that’s enough.”
Thad leaned forward, elbows on the table and stared at her. “Think. There must be something. Anything. You’re sure Ben never told you about what he was doing besides being an normal investment counselor?”
“Not a word. Lots of people who didn’t know us well might assume he and I were confidants simply because we were married, but we weren’t. Ben was adamant that I keep my nose out of his business affairs. I only saw him discussing his work once.”
“When? Where?”
“It was about a year ago. Near Little Rock. I happened to be in the car when Ben got out to meet with some men who were strangers to me. They all looked very serious, even angry, but I couldn’t hear a thing they were saying. Cross my heart.”
“Well, somebody must think you know more than that,” Harlan said flatly. He wiped his mouth with his napkin, laid it aside, then stood and hitched up his utility belt and holster. “Thanks for supper. I’ll take care of the fingerprint work out in the kitchen. When my deputy, Adelaide Crowe, gets here you can take her into the boy’s room and show her what was moved.”
Thad also stood. “Thank you, Sheriff. I know we haven’t always seen eye to eye. I’m glad to see you taking all this seriously.”
The sheriff huffed. “It’s serious as a dead rat, son. I was afraid something like this might happen after the set-to in the woods last year, but I figured it
had blown over by now.”
“Meaning?”
“Meaning, we caught the getaway driver. And the two bag men who did the kidnapping were killed in the raid on their hideout. Trouble is, we never did manage to track down any bigger fish. That means they’re still out there. And it’s beginnin’ to look like Miz Southerland has their attention.”
“What’re you going to do about it?” Thad asked.
“Start by takin’ prints and gatherin’ clues, unless you two happen to know more than you’re tellin’ me. You sure did take your time tellin’ me this much.”
Thad’s gaze met Lindy’s and he saw an expression of contrition. Well, that fit. She had ignored his suggestions to contact the sheriff immediately and if he hadn’t been there to make the call after her fender bender, that incident wouldn’t be on the record, either.
“You do remember about the so-called accident this morning, don’t you?” Thad prodded.
“Yep. We took scrapings from the mashed fender and sent ’em off. No telling how long the lab will take before we get the results back. So far, this isn’t real high priority.”
“Then tie it to the original case you were just talking about and make it high priority,” Thad insisted.
“All in due time.” The older man absently scratched his chin. “Let’s put a few more facts together before we jump to conclusions.”
Lindy had opened her mouth as if she wanted to say something before abruptly turning away. Thad could tell she was frustrated and more than a little upset. He didn’t blame her. She’d assumed she’d put the troubles of her past behind her and now the sheriff was suggesting otherwise.
The headlights of another vehicle illuminated the driveway and shone through the windows briefly.
“That’ll be Adelaide,” Harlan said, heading for the door. “I’ll go make sure she brings an evidence kit in with her.”
As soon as he was gone, Thad looked to Lindy. “He’s just doing his job, you know.”
“I know.”
There was enough resignation and sorrow in her tone to make Thad’s gut twist. “I wish there was something I could do for you right now.”
When she raised her gaze to meet his, smiled slightly and said, “Just being here with us is enough,” he felt more than touched. He felt connected.
What they would decide to do later was up in the air but he knew he’d agree to pretty much anything she suggested. The important thing was to keep her and Danny safe. If he had to sleep in his truck in her driveway to do that, he would.
* * *
Lindy was embarrassed to admit how much she desired Thad’s company. He must think she was either crazy or the clingiest woman in the state of Arkansas. They hardly knew each other, yet she had been absolutely honest when she’d told him that she was glad he was there. In the space of a single day, a stranger had become her anchor, her shelter from whatever or whoever wanted to harm her.
That whole premise was preposterous. It was also true. Like it or not, she and her son needed the protection of the man she had been formally introduced to barely ten hours ago. If she had not been directly involved in the entire situation she would not have believed it was possible, let alone probable.
Her head was spinning with wild speculation. She closed her eyes for a moment and felt Thad’s hand gently cup her elbow.
“You okay?”
“No,” Lindy said quietly. “I was just wondering if we’ll ever be okay again.”
“Of course you will.” He directed her toward the hallway. “You and Danny go wait outside his room.”
“What about these dirty dishes? I suppose I should leave them for now.”
“Probably. I’ll stick the leftovers in the fridge for you so they don’t spoil, then bring the deputy up.”
Shaking her head, Lindy stood firm. “No. This is my house. I’ll deal with her myself.” A smile twitched at the corners of her mouth as she looked at her son. “Danny and I will help the deputy go over his things and then we’ll straighten everything up.”
“You’re sure?”
“I’m sure.” The smile grew and she focused on her handsome benefactor. “You’ve done more than enough already. Thank you for everything.”
“That sounds like an invitation to leave.”
The crestfallen look on Thad’s face was touching. “No way, mister. Unless you feel like running to keep from becoming more involved in my crazy life, I’d love to have you stick around. I don’t know how long all this is going to take but I really would like company.”
“I’m here,” the boy piped up.
Lindy tousled his hair. “And I don’t know what I’d do without you. I just meant that it’s good to have a grown-up friend here, too.”
“Yeah,” the child answered with a wide grin. “He’s pretty cool.”
“There. See?” Lindy told Thad. “You have the approval of the man of the house.”
“That’s a heavy burden for such small shoulders,” Thad said, speaking aside.
Although Lindy agreed, she didn’t think this was the right time or place to discuss family dynamics. Letting Danny feel important had been the suggestion of his pediatrician right after the fatal shooting and the child acted proud of his new role.
The way she had envisioned the future, she and Danny would be all the family either of them needed. They had always been close and since Ben’s death their bond had strengthened even more. The little boy was her life. She would devote herself to him and make up for the rocky start he’d gotten because of her poor choices.
And if Danny needed a male role model the way Thad had insisted? That was easy. She’d just continue to cultivate the friendship that was beginning to blossom between her and the ex-marine. If that relationship didn’t work out, she’d find others to mentor her son.
In the back of her mind was the niggling suspicion that she was personally attracted to her new boss but she tamped down that notion. It was silly to even imagine herself getting involved with another man.
Lindy wasn’t the type to have a fling or settle for less than complete commitment. She might not be attending church at present but her morals were straight out of the Bible. That was one of the ways Ben had found to coerce her. Whenever he had wanted total control, he had reminded her that she was commanded to be submissive and dedicated only to him.
She huffed in disgust. It had taken much soul-searching and poring over scripture for her to realize she was being manipulated. By the time she’d learned what the Bible really meant, it had been too late. She had already alienated the few distant relatives remaining on her side of the family and had also become a widow.
And thankful to be free, Lindy added with more than a modicum of guilt. She was certain it must be a sin to thank God for her freedom even though she would never have wished Ben dead.
Still, when she remembered her past life with that man, she couldn’t help feeling that she had narrowly escaped a fate worse than death.
And so had her innocent son.
But had they really escaped after all? With Ben dead, Lindy had hoped to leave the past in the past. But someone seemed determined to pull her and her son back into danger again.
SEVEN
It was nearly midnight by the time the sheriff and his deputy finished gathering evidence.
Thad ventured upstairs after Harlan was done in the kitchen and discovered that Danny had fallen asleep in his mother’s arms.
Deputy Adelaide Crowe had packag
ed up the results of her search of the boy’s room and was leaving, too.
Lindy brightened visibly when she saw Thad in the doorway. “My helper conked out.”
“He looks heavy. Here. Let me take him for you.”
“It’s okay. Really.”
“I know, I know. You can do it. But wouldn’t you like a rest?”
She managed a shrug. “Yes. This kid weighs a ton. I know he’s gained at least five pounds in the past few months. His pediatrician says he’s a lot healthier for it.”
“He didn’t eat well when his father was at the same table, right?”
“How did you know?”
Thad thought of saying, Been there, done that, but settled for “That’s typical.”
“I suppose so. We were both pretty careful to keep from antagonizing Ben. He was far too stern, especially about table manners and things like that. Nobody’s perfect, especially not kids.”
Thad opened his arms and Lindy carefully passed the groggy child to him. “I take it you tried to be the perfect wife.”
She smiled thinly. “I was the perfect wife. I just couldn’t convince my husband of it.”
That brought a wider smile, especially when Thad chuckled softly. “I believe you. Anybody who’s willing to take on the job of straightening up my office deserves a gold medal in my book.
Yawning behind her hand, Lindy blinked. “It must be really late. I’m sorry to have kept you so long.”
“No sweat.” The bed was still piled with toys and now dusted with gray fingerprint powder, as well. “Where do you want me to put him? It’s obvious he can’t sleep there until you’ve washed everything, even the blankets.”
“I see that.” She yawned again. “Sorry. I guess you should take him to my room.”
“Where will you sleep?”
“That’s the least of my worries right now. I may be exhausted but I’m not a bit sleepy.”
Thad didn’t bother to argue. He wasn’t sure what he was going to do from this point on and was waiting for more clues from her. If he volunteered to stay over, she’d probably think he was making inappropriate advances, yet, if he walked away, there was no telling what calamity might befall this little family.
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