Love Inspired Suspense December 2013 Bundle: Christmas Cover-UpForce of NatureYuletide JeopardyWilderness Peril

by Lynette Eason

  Alex turned off the ignition and opened the car door. “I didn’t know you and Sharon were friends.”

  Grace climbed out and looked over the car’s roof at him. “We weren’t close friends. Our families were members at the same country club, and I was always invited to Sharon’s parties. It’s strange, though, I hadn’t even thought of her since I heard Billy was dead. I don’t know why I didn’t.”

  Alex rubbed his neck and frowned. “I know what you mean. I’ve still got this feeling that I’ve forgotten something.”

  Grace walked around the car, and they climbed the steps to the front porch. “I’m sure it will come to you.”

  Before they could ring the bell, Sharon opened the door. Even though Grace hadn’t seen her in years, she still recognized the girl she’d known growing up. She had matured, and her once-blond hair was darker than Grace remembered. But the blue eyes still crinkled at the corners when she smiled.

  She reached out and grabbed Grace’s hand in both of hers. “Grace, it’s so good to see you.”

  Then she turned to Alex and shook his hand. “And Alex Crowne. You’re still as good-looking as ever. Come in.”

  Alex’s face flushed, and he grinned. “Thanks, Sharon. I didn’t know if you’d remember me or not.”

  “Of course I remember you. Who could forget the guy who helped us win the state football championship?”

  Alex’s smile grew larger. “That was a long time ago.”

  Sharon rolled her eyes. “Don’t remind me.” She held the door for them to enter the house and led them to a study in the rear of the residence. When they entered the room, she closed the door. “I thought we’d talk in here since this is more private. Some of the household staff might pop into an open room while we’re talking, but they won’t open a closed door.”

  Grace sat down on a sofa and waited for Alex and Sharon to take their seats before she shifted to the edge of the cushions. “I was excited to hear from you. What is it you think might help us?”

  Sharon took a deep breath. “As you know, Billy and I dated through high school. Everything went well until about midway through our junior year. Something happened to change Billy. He became surly, his grades dropped and he cut school all the time. I was so concerned I went to his parents.”

  “Had they noticed the change in him?” Alex asked.

  “Yes, but they had no idea what was going on. Then when Landon died, it got worse. Billy became paranoid and said he was going to be the next to die. His parents were afraid he’d commit suicide, too, so they placed him in an institution.”

  A gasp escaped Grace’s throat. “I’d forgotten Billy wasn’t there to walk through graduation with us.”

  “No, he was off in another state undergoing treatment for a mental collapse. In the fall I started college at Rhodes here in Memphis, but I loved Billy, and I went with his parents to see him often. It was two years before he was able to leave the facility, but he said he couldn’t live in Memphis anymore. His father had a business out in Colorado, so he gave Billy a job there. By the time I finished college, he seemed like the old Billy, and we were married.”

  Grace counted up the years in her head. “So you must have been married about four years before he died.”

  Sharon nodded. “I found out after we were married he wasn’t the old Billy. He hardly slept at night. When he did, he’d wake up shouting all kinds of things.”

  Alex frowned. “What would he say?”

  “He’d say things like ‘I’m next’ or ‘Don’t kill me.’”

  Alex leaned forward. “Did you ask him about this?”

  “I did over and over. Finally, one night he broke down and told me that during our junior year in high school, he and Landon, Clay, Jeremy, Sam and Dustin had gotten some fake IDs and gone to a club in one of the seamier sides of the city. They were looking for some excitement in their lives, and they found it. Billy said the guys who hung out there were like characters you’d see in a gangster movie, but they were real. Billy and his friends wanted to be a part of that macho lifestyle, and before long they were pedaling drugs for their new friends. They made a lot of money selling to kids at school, and then they branched out with college kids.”

  Grace’s mouth gaped open, and she turned to stare at Alex. “They were drug dealers. That explains the money Mr. Mitchell found in Landon’s room.”

  Sharon nodded. “Things were going great for them. They were making money, hanging out with drug lords and thinking of themselves as smarter than the cops who were trying to get drugs off the streets. Then they began to get email messages from someone who warned them not to sell drugs to this one guy. Of course they ignored them. They thought they were untouchable. One day Landon emailed the others to tell them he’d found out who was sending the messages. He said he’d let them know that night. Instead, his car was found on the bridge.”

  “So he never told them who it was?”

  “No, but the messages continued. The person who sent the messages said he had killed Landon, and each one of them would meet the same fate if they sold this man’s son any more drugs. They wanted to go to the police, but they were scared. The last thing they wanted was for their parents to find out what they’d done. So they told their suppliers they were through selling, which didn’t sit well with them. For weeks they were afraid they were going to die in a drive-by shooting, but the emails stopped.”

  “What happened next?” Alex asked.

  “Billy had his breakdown and entered the hospital, and the others got their parents to send them somewhere for the summer before college in the fall. Dustin went to the Gulf Coast where he disappeared. By the time school started, the police had busted the drug ring, and their suppliers were in jail. They thought they were safe…that is until the letters began to arrive a year or so later.”

  Grace leaned forward. “What did they say this time?”

  “They said the boy they’d been warned about selling drugs to had died of an overdose, and it was their fault because they’d gotten him hooked. They were warned to watch their backs because the Wolf Pack was about to pay for what they did.”

  “Wolf Pack?” Grace and Alex spoke at the same time.

  “That’s what the boys called themselves. They had a wolf’s head tattooed on their shoulders.”

  Alex stared at Sharon. “Why didn’t you go to the police with this?”

  “Because Billy made me promise not to. He said if anything happened to him, I was to keep quiet. He didn’t want me or our daughter harmed. A week later he died when his Jeep crashed through a guardrail and ended up at the bottom of a Colorado ravine. The police suspected his brakes might have been tampered with, but they couldn’t prove it. I was scared, and I kept quiet.” Tears sparkled in her eyes. “But when I saw Grace on television last night, I knew I had to come forward. This killer has to pay for what he’s done.”

  Grace reached over and grasped Sharon’s hand. “I’m glad you called. What you’ve told us lets us know that Landon was indeed murdered, and it looks like the others were, too. Did Billy tell you the name of the boy who died?”

  She shook her head and wiped at her eye. “No.”

  “Did he mention anything that might give us a lead about where to start looking for someone who’d want to avenge his death?”

  “No, he didn’t…” She paused, and her eyes grew large. “He did say the guy was a college student, but they weren’t the ones who sold him his first drugs. He’d started using when he was in high school. He mentioned that the first time they sold this guy drugs he was stoned out of his head and sitting on a motorcycle in a parking lot. Sam had been trying to get his dad to buy him one like it, and he kept asking questions about the bike. The guy mumbled something about it not being his but his father’s.”

  “Is there anything else you can tell us?” Alex asked.

  She shook her head. “I can’t think of anything else.”

  Alex let out a big breath and rose. “You’ve been very helpful, Sharon.
I hope you and your family have a great time at Disneyworld. Maybe by the time you get back, we’ll have all this sorted out.”

  She stood and looked from one to the other. “I know Billy did some bad things, but he was really sorry about it later. It robbed him of his life, and our daughter will never know her father.”

  Grace hugged her and smiled. “Thank you, Sharon. If we catch this guy, it will be because of your help.”

  She gave a small shake of her head and led them back through the house. “If I had done it earlier, Sam might still be alive.”

  When they were back in the car, Grace swiveled in her seat and faced Alex. “Are you thinking what I’m thinking? Mr. Donner rides a motorcycle.”

  He nodded. “That he gave to his son. But there are still some unanswered questions. I’m going to the station to search the police records for all the deaths by drug overdoses in the years following our high school graduation. When I get the names, I’ll check each one out.”

  “But even if you have all the names, how will you be able to tell which one is connected to the boys from our school?”

  “We know the kid who died was in college, so I’ll pull out the ones that fit the age. Then I’ll trace the families and talk with each one of them.”

  “That may take a long time.”

  He smiled and turned the ignition. “This is the way cases are solved, Grace. We follow up one lead at a time, no matter where it takes us. Sometimes it leads nowhere, and other times we find answers. There’s still something I’m missing, and I’m not going to rest until I find out what it is. I’ll take you back to the hotel first.”

  “All right. I told Mom I’d go shopping with her to buy replacement presents for the ones destroyed last night. We also have an appointment to stop by our decorator’s office to discuss getting the house cleaned out and buying new furniture.”

  “What’s your Dad going to do?”

  “He’ll stay at the hotel.”

  “Alone? What if he needs something?”

  “That concerns me, too, but he assured Mom this morning he’d be all right.”

  “What if…” Alex hesitated as if he wasn’t sure what he was going to say. “What if I stayed with him?”

  Her mouth dropped open, and she stared at him. “You’d stay with my father? What about going to your office to check those records?”

  He waved his hand in dismissal. “I can go later after you and your mother get back.”

  “No, I couldn’t ask you to do that,” Grace protested.

  “Really I don’t mind. I’d feel better knowing he wasn’t alone.”

  Grace could hardly believe Alex had volunteered to stay with her father, especially with the history between the two. She blinked back tears and squeezed Alex’s arm. “Thank you. It means so much to me that you’d offer to stay. Even though it looks like the suite may be home for us for a while, he still hasn’t learned to navigate well in his new surroundings.”

  Alex glanced down at her hand on his arm and cleared his throat. “No problem. I’m glad to do it.” He pulled free of her and reached for his seat belt. “So is your family planning to spend Christmas there?”

  She sighed and buckled her seat belt. “It’s not about the house where you spend Christmas, Alex. It’s about being with the people you love. By the way, that reminds me. When will your father arrive for the holidays?”

  “He’s not coming. I talked with him this morning, and he’s not feeling well. I’ll probably leave Christmas Eve and drive down there.”

  “That’s only a few days away. Will you be back for New Year’s?”

  “I don’t think so. I’ve already put in for some vacation time. I’ll probably stay a few weeks.”

  She hoped her face didn’t convey the disappointment she felt knowing Alex would be gone all through the holidays. But if he decided to stay in Florida, he’d be gone for good. She forced a smile to her lips. “I know your father will be glad to see you.”

  He nodded and put the car in gear. He didn’t speak as they drove back to the hotel, but Grace glanced at him every once in a while. The muscle in his jaw twitched, and she knew he was deep in thought. Whether it was about the killer they were after or his sudden decision to drive to Florida, she didn’t know. Whatever it was, she wondered how much longer Alex would be in Memphis.

  *

  Alex still found it hard to believe he could feel so relaxed with Grace’s father, the man he had feared most of his life. Now as he sat in the hotel suite and chatted with Harrison Kincaid he saw nothing in his demeanor that even resembled the arrogant bank president of a few years ago.

  Mr. Kincaid took a sip of his coffee and set the cup and saucer on the tray of his wheelchair. “Thanks for sticking around to keep me company while Grace and her mother are shopping. They don’t want the vandalism of our house to ruin our Christmas. I’m sure when they come back they’ll have a tree as well as bags filled with all kinds of ornaments and presents to replace the ones damaged last night.”

  Alex smiled. “I was glad to stay.” He let his gaze drift over the room. “This suite is very comfortable. Grace said you’ll probably spend Christmas here at the hotel.”

  Mr. Kincaid nodded. “Of course we’d prefer to be in our home, but we’re thankful we can be together. Why don’t you join us for Christmas dinner? We’d love to have you with us.”

  “Thanks, but I’m going to Florida to see my dad.”

  “I’m sure he’ll be glad to see you. Tell him I said hello.”

  “I’ll do that. My father asks about you every time we talk. He always enjoyed taking care of the gardens at your house.”

  “He always did a good job. I hope you’ll tell him I’m sorry for the way I acted about him bringing you along all the time.”

  “I’ll tell him.” Alex hesitated a moment. “About that…I still find it hard to believe how different you are now. I’ve heard people talk about how God can change your life, but I never saw it until now.”

  Mr. Kincaid nodded. “I suppose some people would think I should be angry because I’m unable to walk and confined to this wheelchair, but the truth is I’m happier than I’ve ever been. When I turned my life over to God, He filled me with peace and the greatest love I’ve ever known. If He can do it for me, He can do it for anybody.” He pointed to his useless legs. “Don’t misunderstand me, Alex. It’s not easy, but I find myself able to cope with my disability because I trust God to make me content in my situation.”

  Alex’s brow wrinkled, and he shifted to the edge of his seat. “But how can you trust something you can’t see?”

  “It comes from faith, Alex. It’s a feeling inside that lets you know you’re not alone, that you’ll never be alone again. I have to admit some days I feel sorry for myself, then it’s like a small voice whispers in my head and tells me I’m not alone. When I feel like I’ve gone as far as I can go, I turn it over to Him, and He gives me the strength to carry on. He can do it for you, too.”

  Alex shook his head. “I don’t know.”

  Mr. Kincaid smiled. “Think about what I’ve said, and maybe we can talk about it again sometime. If you change your mind about going to Florida, then join us.” He took a deep breath and pointed to a manila folder on his wheelchair tray. “Now if you don’t mind, I have some work to do.”

  “I didn’t realize you were still working,” Alex said.

  “I do a lot of work for the bank from home. These are some loan applications I want to study.”

  Alex chuckled. “I’m glad it’s you and not me making those decisions. It would be hard for me to turn down anybody for a loan.”

  Mr. Kincaid nodded. “It is. There have been people I knew and respected that I had to say no to because they couldn’t afford to repay the money. I wouldn’t have done them any favors if I had led them deeper into debt. Unfortunately they didn’t always see it that way. I’ve had some really angry customers over the years.” He glanced back down at the folder. “But that’s all in the past. I th
ink I’ll go in the bedroom to work on these. There are soft drinks in the refrigerator. Help yourself and turn on the TV.”

  “I will, and I’ll be right here if you need anything.” Alex rose to his feet and watched Mr. Kincaid guide his wheelchair toward the bedroom. Just before he reached the bedroom door, Alex called out to him, “I enjoyed talking with you. I’ll think about what you said.”

  Grace’s father turned his chair around and smiled at Alex. “I hope you will.” He swallowed, and his Adam’s apple bobbed up and down. “I have many regrets, Alex, but my biggest one is that I interfered in your and Grace’s relationship. If it wasn’t for me, you two might be married, and I would be a grandfather. I don’t know if I’ll ever get that chance now. She’ll never love anyone else the way she loved you.”

  “Mr. Kincaid, it wasn’t…”

  He held up his hand. “I know it wasn’t entirely my fault, but I was determined to break you two up. Now I have no idea why. I didn’t realize until I was shot how much I loved Grace’s mother. I wasted a lot of years when we could have been happy.” He paused and took a deep breath. “In spite of everything that’s happened this past week, Grace has been happier than she has in years because you’re back with her. She told me you might move to Florida, but I know she doesn’t want that. I think you have to decide what you want. I’ve been praying you will discover what our family knows now—it’s never too late for love.”

  Alex stood in stunned silence as Mr. Kincaid disappeared into the bedroom. He wanted to run into the room and tell Grace’s father he wasn’t to blame for their breakup. Alex could blame no one but himself. He and Grace could have worked out some sort of compromise if they had tried. Instead, he had declared that if she loved him, she’d give up her dreams, and she’d turned the same argument around on him.

  It made him sad now to think how he had decided Grace was only concerned with her own needs and that he could never trust her to care about his. Then when she became engaged to Richard Champion, he’d known he’d been right. Why hadn’t he gone to her and insisted they work out their problems instead of letting years pass while resentment and anger build up in both of them?