by Terri Reed
“I heard on the radio that there was an incident at the mall today. Please tell me you weren’t there.”
Flustered, Mel exchanged a glance with Irene. Mel couldn’t lie, though. Especially not to Jace. So she nodded. His eyes fixed on her in frustrated disbelief and he raked his hand through his hair. She rushed to explain.
“We had two officers with us, and Paul knew where we were going.”
“But why did you need to go? Particularly now?”
Mel stood and went to Jace. She put a hand on his arm, feeling the muscles jump beneath his shirt. He looked…what? Disappointed? She couldn’t bear to think she had let him down.
Before she could say anything, Irene rushed in to defend their excursion.
“Honestly, Jace, we had to go! Melanie had no clothes that were appropriate for her aunt’s funeral. And you know people will be watching. Please don’t be mad.” Irene gave an exaggerated pleading look.
Jace rolled his eyes. “I will never understand women and their clothes. All I heard on the radio was that there was an incident. Fill me in, will you?”
Choosing her words with care, Mel told him what had happened, then waited. She wasn’t sure what she expected. Anger, maybe. Or frustration. Maybe even a lecture.
What she didn’t expect was gleam in his eyes.
*
Finally, a break in the case.
“Mel, first of all, are you all right?”
She nodded. “I’m fine. It shook me up, but I’m okay.”
“Good. I think you’d better sit down.”
She bit her lip and looked up at him anxiously. He had the urge to lean down and kiss her sweet lips. Not that he would, of course, because that would end any chance he had of protecting his battered heart from her. Instead, he focused on the matter at hand.
“Let me tell you what I found out today.” He told them about his conversation with Chief Garraway.
“I believe that Steven Scott was killed because he told someone he was planning to go to the cops. I don’t think the killer knew he had already gone.”
“You weren’t able to talk with the detective who had spoken with him?” Irene asked her brother.
“Couldn’t. He’s undercover, trying to find the person who sabotaged Scott’s car. She wouldn’t even give me his name. It would jeopardize his cover.”
He then related the events that occurred on his drive home. Both women gasped, their hands over their mouths, concern darkening their eyes. It warmed him to see the caring on their faces.
“It was a stolen car. I suspect the car that was used when we were shot at was stolen, too.”
“So you’re no closer to catching this guy?” Dismay colored Mel’s voice.
“Ladies, one good thing has come of this.” He laughed at their matching skeptical expressions. “I’m serious. I have been confused by the way this perp had no patterns. It struck me that maybe there were two perps, not one.”
“Two!” Mel jumped to her feet.
Jace came to his feet as well. He reached over and gathered her hands in his. “Mel, think of it. That’s the only explanation that makes sense. How could someone corner you at a store and go after me at the same time? There have to be two different perps. My question now is whether they are working together or separately.”
Mel squeezed his fingers so hard, he wondered if she was cutting off the circulation. He doubted she was even aware of what she was doing.
“What’s your gut instinct tell you?” she asked him.
“My gut says they are two people with separate agendas. That’s why the one is intent on frightening you into leaving town. A bully, so to speak. The other one, though, is out for blood.”
“I’m so sorry, Jace.”
Jace was astonished to see the tears pooling in her eyes.
“Good grief, Melanie, why are you sorry? You’ve done nothing to deserve this.” He smoothed her hair back from her face.
She caught his hand in her free one. “Jace, the only reason you are in danger is because of me.”
He scoffed. “I would have become involved sooner or later. My conscience, if nothing else, would have driven me to act.”
“He’s right, Mel.” Irene stepped up beside Mel and placed an arm around her shoulders. Jace was touched to see the affection blossoming between the two women. “Whoever these guys are, they’re playing a sick game. They need to be stopped.”
“And Mel—” Jace placed his knuckle under Mel’s chin to bring her face back to face him “—you don’t deserve this.” The desire to kiss those lips was pulling at him. It was becoming harder to remember why he was resolved not to fall for her. But he had to. Especially now. Because her life depended on his ability to do his duty, and he couldn’t do that if he let emotions cloud his thinking. With an effort, he stepped away from her and moved to the window.
Irene chuckled.
“Where’s Mom?” he asked his sister, mostly to distract her.
Irene adopted an indifferent expression and shrugged her slim shoulders. “I don’t know. She wasn’t here when we got home.”
“She called you while we were at the store,” Melanie tilted her head.
“Yeah, but she just said she was running errands.”
“Well, before she gets home, let’s go over what happened this afternoon again.” Jace gathered up paper and pencils and made a list of the events and their approximate times.
“See?” He pointed to an item on his list. “You were in the dressing room at two. I was in my car at two forty-five. It’s a good two hours from Erie to Pittsburgh. There’s no way—”
“Hey, kids, I’m home!”
Jace and Irene both rolled their eyes. “In here, Mom.”
The click of heels hitting the linoleum flooring echoed in the kitchen. They waited patiently for Mrs. Tucker to reach the living room. She took in the sight of the three people in the living room, her eyes lingering on Mel. For a moment, Jace worried that he might need to intervene between the two women again. Then, in the oddest turn of events, his mother grew flustered and patted her hair, a sure sign she was feeling uncomfortable.
“Melanie.” Her voice sounded strained, nervous.
“Mrs. Tucker?”
“Mom, are you okay?” Jace was starting to get just a little tense. Was she getting ready to try to kick Mel out again? He couldn’t force his mother to accept Mel into her house, but he was running out options.
“I’m fine, dear.” Mrs. Tucker fixed her troubled gaze on her daughter. “Irene, would you mind giving us a moment? I would like to talk with Melanie alone.”
Irene looked surprised, but she kissed her family farewell and headed toward the front door. “Not a problem. I have to get home, anyway. Tony has a meeting tonight, so I need to get home in time to get him and the boys’ dinner.”
“Give them a hug from their favorite uncle.” Jace adored the rambunctious one-and three-year-old boys.
“Only uncle,” Irene snorted as she shrugged into her coat and departed, leaving the scent of her perfume in the air.
Jace was slightly concerned. His mother had not been Mel’s biggest fan. He folded his arms across his chest and waited. Mel would not be facing this conversation alone. He loved his mom, but he knew she could be a real harridan when the moment warranted it. He wasn’t exactly sure what he expected her to do.
Nothing could have prepared him for what happened next.
Mrs. Tucker walked over to Melanie and took one of her hands in her own wrinkled one. Mel rocked slightly, almost like a deer preparing to flee. “Melanie, I need to ask for your forgiveness.”
“Wh-what?”
“Mom?”
She turned her sorrowful eyes on her son. “I have been thinking all day of what happened yesterday—how someone shot at you and Jace. And then when I called Irene, she told me about the incident at the mall. I don’t know if you are guilty of the crime you went to jail for. Jace and Irene don’t seem to think so. But regardless of your guilt or innocen
ce, I know that in trying to force you from my home, I placed you and Jace in danger. I know my son well enough to know that he will protect you with his life if necessary. I only have two children left. I would never have forgiven myself if anything had happened to him because of me.” She looked down. “And I know he would suffer if anything happened to you on his watch. I can’t let him go through that again.” Tears filled the woman’s eyes.
Mel reached out her free hand and placed it over their joined hands. “Of course I forgive you, Mrs. Tucker. You were not at fault.”
His chest ached with tenderness for this woman.
He was in trouble. Epic trouble.
*
Mel felt as if she had been hit by truck. The sight of Mrs. Tucker begging for her forgiveness was surreal, to say the least. Only yesterday, this same woman had regarded her with open hostility. Even Jace appeared to be stunned by the change.
A few minutes later, Mrs. Tucker left to head upstairs to take a brief nap before supper. Jace muttered something about being thrown for a loop. Mel nodded, distracted. Yes, she knew that feeling well. It seemed something was always throwing her off balance lately. She frowned at Jace. He was the biggest offender, she realized.
“Mel,” Jace’s voice called her back to the situation at hand. “I need to talk with Paul. We need to plan for security at your aunt’s funeral.”
“You really expect trouble at a funeral?” Mel was horrified that anyone would consider using such a painful event for violence.
His face compassionate, Jace nodded. “I wish I could say no, but yeah, I expect trouble. What kind of trouble, I’m not sure. I hate to sound cold, but we need to be prepared for anything.”
“What about the calling hours? Will we still have those?” It was common practice in this part of Pennsylvania to have calling hours the day before the funeral. One afternoon session and one evening one.
Jace considered the question, then shook his head. “No. I’m sorry, Mel, but there are too many variables. Our police force is going to be stretched pretty thin with the funeral. I think the calling hours would be more than we could safely handle. You really don’t want to be in the public’s eye that much, anyway, do you?”
The mere idea filled her with dread. “No, but it would be for Aunt Sarah, not me. I could do it for her.”
“I know you could, but I don’t think it would be a good idea. Let me call Paul, and we’ll see what he says.”
Paul agreed with Jace. There would be no calling hours. Only a funeral at the church and a graveside service. Paul was all for ditching the procession to the cemetery, but Mel was stubborn. Her aunt deserved it. She had been a kind and faithful servant of the Lord her whole life. Mel was sure there were many friends who would need to grieve and say their final goodbyes to her. She was determined to let them have that opportunity.
Paul finally stopped trying to change her mind. “All right, Melanie. We will allow the graveside ceremony to happen. But you need to promise to follow my instructions to the letter. Because your life might depend on it.”
THIRTEEN
As Mel got ready for bed that night, she thought about the strategy Paul and Jace had developed for the funeral. She grimaced. The one person she did not want to see there was Dan Willis. It made sense, though. At the cemetery, she would be out in the open, exposed. As Jace had pointed out, the more officers on scene, the safer she would be. She just wished Lieutenant Willis didn’t intimidate her so much. Jace will be there, she reminded herself. She trusted him to keep her safe.
She went to bed that night with all the events and details of the day whirling in her mind. How on earth she would ever get to sleep when she was so wired was beyond her. Exhaustion got the best of her, though. She drifted to sleep almost as soon as her head hit the pillow.
The casket was being carried down the aisle of the church. She walked behind it, dressed in black. The organ was playing, but it was out of tune, the sound warped.
Suddenly, the church erupted in whispers. She whipped her head frantically from side to side, staring at the people in the pews, who were pointing their fingers at her, murmuring. What were they saying? She couldn’t make out the words. It felt as if her ears were filled with cotton.
All at once, the pallbearers stopped. Jace turned away, disgust etched on his handsome face. “You! Murderer!”
Then the murmuring grew louder, clearer. “Murderer! Murderer!”
She clapped her hands over her ears, but strong hands grabbed them and pulled them away. She tried to free herself, looking over her shoulder to see her captor. Officer Dan Willis was holding her, a leer on his face.
“Melly,” Seth sang out, appearing before her. “It’s time to take your medicine!” He held out his closed fist. Slowly, oh, so slowly, he opened his fingers to reveal a handful of large pills. Officer Willis held her as Seth stepped closer to her, an evil grin stretching his mouth. He grabbed her chin to force the pills into her mouth.
“Jace, help me! Help me!”
But Jace pivoted, abandoning her as he walked from the church.
Mel bolted upright in bed, the sound of her pounding heart loud in her ears. Her T-shirt was soaked with sweat, and her hair was melded to her skull. Her breath wheezed in and out as she reached over to the night table and fumbled for her inhaler. Trembling hands lifted the canister to her lips, and depressed it.
Once her lungs were able to fully expand again, she walked to the window and peered out. The full moon glowed down on the yard below. Restlessness shivered in her bones. She needed to move. She walked on bare feet to the door and peered out into the hall. Careful to make no sound, she made her way to the kitchen and poured herself a glass of milk. The light came on, startling a gasp from her. Whirling, the milk splashed on her wrist.
A rumpled-looking Jace, complete with five-o’clock shadow, stood blinking in the door.
“Mel? You okay?” His voice was husky with sleep.
She opened her mouth, but found it was too dry to speak. She took a swig of milk. “Fine,” she croaked.
He walked closer and his hand snaked out and caught her elbow. He gently pulled her under the light. Warm blue eyes scrutinized her face. She imagined it was probably pale and wan from both her nightmare and lack of sleep. She swallowed when he tenderly brushed her hair back from her face. Her breathing felt constricted again, but this time it had nothing to do with her asthma.
“You don’t look fine, Melanie. Trouble sleeping?” he murmured.
She nodded, not trusting her voice.
“You want to tell me about it?”
She shook her head. Then immediately contradicted herself when she admitted, “Bad dream.”
“Oh, Mel. C’mere.” Jace enfolded her in his arms, resting his chin on the top of her head.
She allowed herself to sag against him for a few perfect moments before stiffening her spine. Drawing away from him, she forced a smile to her face.
“I’m okay,” she insisted. “Just too much going through my mind.”
He waited.
“What happens if we can’t pick out the guy from the hospital?” she voiced her fear.
“If we can’t pick him out of the book, then we will work with a police artist to get a likeness that we can circulate. It’s amazing how fast we can identify people with technology. It’s very possible that we’ll find his likeness in the national database.”
Mel bit her lip, considering this. Satisfied, she nodded.
“What else was bothering you?”
“How do you do that?” she exclaimed.
“What?” he asked, a smile playing around his mouth.
“How do you know what I’m thinking about?”
Jace placed a gentle finger in the center of her forehead.
“Your forehead creases when you are worried.” He followed the furrow with his finger. “I figured there must be something else bothering you other than ID’ing Ramirez, because the crease stayed.”
“I’m worried about th
e funeral.”
“I’ll do everything in my power to protect you. You know that.” His head tilted.
She hesitated. “I know you will. But I can’t help thinking about the mob scene the day I was released. I feel like I’m going to be on parade, with lots of judgmental stares turned my way.”
Jace opened his mouth to answer, but she never knew what he was going to say. The security lights in the yard flared on. A loud clang sounded right outside. They leaped apart, startled. Jace dashed to the window, Mel right behind him. They laughed softly when they saw a large raccoon scurry from the tipped-over garbage can. Jace placed an arm around Mel’s shoulders and squeezed.
The phone on the wall rang. Jace answered, keeping one arm firmly encircling Mel’s shoulders. “Hello? Yes, the security lights went on. It was a raccoon. Thanks for checking.”
He hung up the phone. Mel realized his arm was still around her shoulders and stepped away. She deliberately crossed the kitchen to put some distance between them. Jace gave her a funny look but didn’t remark on her actions.
“That was the police station. The security system alert went off. Guess we can safely say it works,” he joked.
Something was off. His face had changed. Some of the softness she had seen mere moments before had disappeared. It was disconcerting how quickly his mood changed. Fearful of what he might be thinking, she decided she had better make her exit.
“Guess so. Well, I’m off to bed again. See you tomorrow.”
Without looking back, she escaped to her room. She needed to get a handle on this. Jace had made it perfectly clear that the last thing he wanted was a relationship. Was he regretting hugging her? Even though he had hugged her to offer comfort, it had felt like more. She had to protect her heart. She needed to be sensible. She hoped that in the morning she would be able to act as though nothing had occurred.
And speaking of sensible…she would be worthless if she did not get some sleep. Determined, she got into bed and pulled the snuggly comforter up to her shoulders. This time sleep evaded her.