Love Inspired Suspense April 2015 #1

by Terri Reed

  Fifteen minutes later, they pulled up in front of the church. As expected, the place was packed. Sarah Swanson had been a beloved member of the community for almost sixty years. There was not a person they met who didn’t have a story to share. Yet there were others, those who stood back and watched with cold, narrowed eyes. How many of those had come for a show, to see Mel and either mock her grief or accuse? Instinctively, he pulled his arm closer to his body, bringing her a step nearer. He would protect her.

  Irene greeted them with a serene expression. She hugged her mother and brother before embracing Mel and placing a kiss on her cheek. She turned her head and whispered in Melanie’s ear. Jace couldn’t make out the words, but he caught Melanie’s sniffle and her small nod. He left the women with Dan and Miles. Paul arrived and took his place behind them. Jace approved wholeheartedly. Mel was surrounded by those who would keep her safe. Then Seth arrived and squeezed in beside Paul. Paul greeted Seth politely, then turned his curious eyes on Jace.

  What could he say? The man could sit wherever he pleased. Besides, the more the merrier if it kept Mel safe. It could be worse. He could be sitting beside her.

  Jace went to the back of the church and took his place as a pallbearer. The ceremony itself went off without a hitch. The news cameras had not invaded the sanctity of the church, which he was thankful for. He even had a moment where he let himself hope that this day wasn’t going to be the circus they had feared.

  He should have known it wouldn’t be that easy.

  The media were in place at the grave site before the mourners even arrived. As the hearse led the parade of cars with purple funeral flags into the cemetery, Jace felt Mel shiver beside him at the sight of the cameras and reporters. It resembled the day she had been released from prison. He looped an arm around her shoulders.

  At the grave site, he exited the car first, then held out his hand to help first his mother, and then Mel, from the car. A zealous reporter hurtled toward them, his microphone held out in front like he was preparing to pass along the baton at a relay.

  “Melanie!” he barked at her. “What do—”

  Mrs. Tucker stepped in front of Mel and held out her hand like a traffic cop.

  “Young man, this is a funeral, not a carnival. Have respect for the dead,” she reprimanded the reporter. Jace ducked his head, hiding a smile. He recognized his mother’s teaching voice.

  “This might be a funeral, but that girl is nothing but trouble.” Jace clenched his jaw as the protestor he recognized from the courthouse stepped forward. “My niece would still be alive today if not for her.” He pointed one meaty finger at Mel, who paled.

  “Sir,” Jace ground out, “I am truly sorry for your loss. Your niece deserved better. But Melanie Swanson was not responsible for her death.”

  A startled murmur swept through the onlookers. Miles’s eyes widened and Dan whistled. Jace grimaced. He flashed an apologetic shrug at Paul. He hadn’t meant to let the cat out of the bag so prematurely, but Mel deserved to be able to lay her aunt to rest in peace, free from undeserved accusations.

  “What are you saying? Has she managed to deceive the police, too?” the uncle demanded in a near shout.

  “No, sir. New evidence has surfaced that, we believe, will prove her innocence.”

  The uncle looked skeptical. “If she isn’t responsible, than who is?”

  “We are investigating, sir. We will let you know when we can.”

  The funeral continued, but Jace could tell there would be questions afterward.

  He was wrong, though. As soon as the graveside service ended, Paul orchestrated a police escort back to the car. When Jace made to enter the car, though, Paul pulled him back.

  “I’m sending Miles and Dan with Melanie.” He fished a paper out of his jacket. “Here’s your search warrant. I want you to go to Maggie’s house now and search it before the press gets wind of what you’re doing. Because once they know, the killer will know.”

  *

  Mel was quiet the entire ride back to the church. She knew it was customary for the funeral committee at the church to put together a lunch at the social hall, but her stomach quailed at the idea of trying to eat right now. She was aware of Miles and Dan holding a hushed conversation, but she tuned them out. All she wanted was a bit of breathing space.

  She had almost fallen over when Mrs. Tucker scolded that reporter as if he were a disruptive student in her classroom. And then Jace had stepped up and defended her, in front of all those mourners. In front of the TV cameras. She had seen Paul’s expression. He had not been pleased. Of course, whoever had it in for her would now know that the police suspected Sylvie’s killer was still on the loose.

  Where was Jace, anyway? He had handed her into the car, then taken off. Dan and Miles had slid into the car with her instead. She liked Miles well enough, although he didn’t instill confidence the way Jace did. Dan, though, still intimidated her a little. Oh, she knew he was one of the good guys. He had explained his behavior, and she believed him. It was just a little difficult to reconcile the polite police officer she had seen in Paul’s office with the sneering lieutenant sitting in front of her.

  No, she didn’t feel as safe with these two as she did with Jace. Where was he? She knew it had to be something urgent that had taken him away. His face went all intense as he talked with Paul. He practically ran to get into Paul’s cruiser with him. She leaned her head against the cold window, idly watching the scenery fade as her breath fogged up the pane. She continued to muse on Jace’s quick exit until she felt a hand on her arm. She rotated her face toward Mrs. Tucker so that her head still lay against the glass. The coldness felt soothing to her.

  “Melanie,” Mrs. Tucker said, “we’ve arrived at the church.”

  Eyes widening, Mel leaned forward to peer out the front window. They had indeed arrived. She had been so focused on her thoughts, she hadn’t even noticed that the vehicle had stopped.

  Inside the building, people were milling around chatting. The aromas of a variety of hot dishes mingled in the air. No one outright glared at her, but she couldn’t help but wonder if people were whispering about her. Bundled in her coat, she started to feel uncomfortably warm. She didn’t want to remove it, though. It gave her an added layer of protection. It was ridiculous, she knew, to feel naked without her coat on, but it was like a security blanket.

  She couldn’t stay in this building. She couldn’t. Where could she go? She just needed a place to hide for a few moments. Suddenly it dawned on her. Of course! Everyone expected her to be here. If she ducked out quietly and went to her Aunt Sarah’s, who would suspect anything?

  It would be stupid to just leave unprotected, though. She looked around. Miles. He would take her. And Dan? No. She knew he was trying to help, but she didn’t trust him. She pulled Irene aside.

  “I need to leave for a few minutes. I’m going to ask Miles to take me to my aunt’s house. Would you tell people I just needed a moment or something? Please?”

  Irene stared at her. “Are you kidding me? Do you know what my brother would say to me if I let you go off on your own, even with Miles with you? No way, my friend. I’m coming, too.”

  Mel started to argue, but Irene thrust out her jaw in a manner so like Jace’s, she weakened and gave in. “Fine. But we need to convince Miles.”

  Miles needed lots of convincing. Only after thinking through the whole plan to verify that their escape would, in fact, be completely secret did he agree. Irene left to grab her coat quietly. When she returned, the three managed to escape to his car. Within minutes, they were speeding toward her aunt’s house.

  Mel couldn’t believe how much she had missed this place. Even though it felt empty without her aunt, it was filled with memories. Her chest loosened and she could breathe again.

  They had taken three steps from the vehicle when the first shot rang out. It slammed into the driver’s side door, mere inches from where they had stood moments ago.

  Irene screamed and grabbe
d on to Mel. With a strength she didn’t know she possessed, Mel yanked the taller girl behind the cruiser and forced her down into a crouch. Miles was right behind them. He pointed his gun at the trees where the shots rang from and fired. A strangled yelp came from the woods. Then one more shot. Miles ducked, but Mel watched in horror as a blood stain blossomed on his shirt. He lifted his gun and shot once more. Crash. Something fell. Seconds later, they heard feet pounding in the opposite direction. Miles slumped to the ground.

  Mel grabbed the radio from his shirt and pushed the button on the side the way she had seen Jace do.

  “Help! Can you hear me?” she screamed into the radio.

  “Identify yourself. You are on a police station,” the dispatcher replied.

  “Please, I’m with Sergeant Miles…Miles. Oh, no. I can’t remember his last name. Please He’s been shot. We need an ambulance.”

  The dispatcher sprang into action at the news that there was an officer down. An ambulance was dispatched at once.

  Miles roused a few minutes later. His breathing was labored and his face was ashen, but determination shone on his face as he struggled to talk.

  “Melanie,” he gasped. “I’m sor…sorry. I never meant to hurt you. Never meant… Must believe me.” Irene gasped beside her.

  “Hurt me? Miles, what are you saying.”

  “The rock. Phone calls. Pictures. Even the snakes. All me.”

  This had to be a horrible nightmare. Soon she’d wake up and find she’s imagined it all. She knew it wasn’t, though. Miles was bleeding next to her, and even now she could hear the ambulance siren.

  “What about the mannequin?”

  “Me.”

  “The shootings? The fire? The car bomb?” Jace had sworn there was another villain, but she wanted to make sure. “Aunt Sarah?”

  “No, I didn’t do any of that. I only wanted you to leave. Never tried to hurt you.”

  She believed him. But she had to understand. “But Miles, why?” Her throat ached and her eyes burned, but she refused to break down now. She needed more information.

  “Sylvie…my stepsister. Dad married her mom. She was four…I was six. They divorced when I was sixteen. I kept in touch with…stepmom. When Sylvie died, her mom—her heart broke. She cried…when you got out. I couldn’t stand her pain.”

  “Her uncle didn’t recognize you.”

  “He hadn’t seen me…ten years. My stepmom and he had a…falling-out. I was a kid.” His eyes fluttered closed. He looked as though he were forcing himself to continue. “Sylvie had a half brother.” His voice faded. Just before his eyes closed completely, he said, “Seth…Travis.”

  The paramedics came and loaded Miles in the ambulance. Dan arrived, looking both furious and frantic. He didn’t say anything as he motioned for the women to get into his cruiser.

  Mel and Irene just looked at each other. Mel wondered if her expression was as shell-shocked as Irene’s. Miles’s confession had completely floored her. Her emotions swung back and forth like a pendulum. She was furious with Miles for putting her through such grief. The thought of the mannequin hanging by the back door or the snakes in the dressing room still made her break out in a cold sweat. She could imagine, however, his agony in watching his stepmother cry for her lost daughter.

  Then his last words hit her. She grabbed Irene’s arms. “Did he say that Seth Travis was Sylvie’s half brother? My ex-fiancé was related to the girl I supposedly killed?”

  Irene stared back at her, her eyes huge.

  “That’s what he said, which means…”

  “Senator Travis was Sylvie’s father!” Mel finished for her. “What I want to know is, did he know it?”

  FIFTEEN

  Jace sat beside Paul on the way to Maggie Slade’s house, drumming his fingers impatiently against the dashboard. Paul had the speakerphone on so they could both listen to Dan as he related the morning’s events.

  “Where are Melanie and Irene now?” Jace demanded. He couldn’t believe the trouble those two had gotten themselves into. All they had to do was remain in the church social hall until they could be escorted home. Was that really too much to ask?

  “Irene’s husband came and picked her up. He was pretty upset. Melanie is here beside me. She’s glaring at me. I think she’s miffed that I’m not letting her explain things in her own way.”

  “Well, that’s just too bad. Put her on.” There were shuffling noises as Dan passed the phone to Mel.

  “Jace?”

  “What were you thinking, Mel! Any of you could have been killed!” He exploded, his fury shooting up a notch as he thought of how close she and his sister had come to being shot.

  There was a pause.

  “I know. But I was thinking…how did he know I would be at my aunt’s house? I had only just decided to go there half an hour before we arrived. And we told no one where we were going. Not even your mom knew. Nor Dan. He’s really mad at me about that, by the way.” Dan’s deep voice agreed in the background. “But my point is, that shooter—he shouldn’t have known.”

  Jace and Paul both nodded.

  “And there’s something else. I haven’t told Dan this yet.” Her voice lowered so no one could hear her. “Miles told us he was the one stalking me.”

  “What!” Jace, Paul and Dan all yelled.

  “It’s true. He was responsible for everything that was just threatening—the messages that told me to leave town, the phone calls, the pictures, the mannequin. And the snakes.” She made a shuddering sound. “Not the shooting, though. Or the attacks on the jurors.”

  Jace was finding it difficult to process this new development. “Why?”

  “Because Sylvie was his stepsister.”

  Whoa. He never saw that one coming.

  “And Jace? He said Seth was her half brother. Same dad, different moms.” She sighed. Jace wished he could be there with her, she sounded so sad. “What’s going to happen to the poor kid? He was only trying to protect his stepmother from more pain.”

  “Melanie,” Paul interrupted. “I understand that you feel for Miles. I do, as well. But Miles had a job to do. Not only has he shown exceptionally poor judgment by taking you ladies to an unprotected avenue, he has also broken the law and threatened those he swore to protect. I can’t let that slide.”

  Her voice was subdued when she replied, “I understand. I’ll stay with Dan until you come home, Jace.”

  Home to Mel. That was the best thing he’d heard all day.

  Paul hit a button, severing the connection. Jace’s mind flew back over the conversation.

  “Bugs?”

  Paul gave him a startled glance. “Jace?”

  “Sorry, thinking about how the perp knew where they were going. There has to be at least one bug planted. That would explain the car showing up in Pittsburgh and outside the mall, as well as today.”

  “It would also explain how the perp knew when to plant that bomb in your car.”

  Jace rapped his knuckles on the window as he mused aloud. “I wonder if he knows where we are going now?”

  “Probably not. We were outside, walking apart from the others when I gave you the warrant. We weren’t in a vehicle or anywhere bug-able…”

  “Excuse me, did you just say bug-able?” Jace sputtered.

  “Yep, sure did. How else would you describe it?” Paul hit his blinker and made a swift left turn onto Maggie’s street. “Anyway, like I was saying, I think we can assume our conversation when we decided to head out was private. It was totally random. My guess is that the bug is either in your mom’s house or somehow in Melanie’s possession.”

  Jace rubbed his jaw in thought. “I’ll look into it as soon as we arrive home.”

  “Here we go.” Paul cut the engine in front of Maggie’s house and they exited the vehicle. “Let’s do this.”

  They approached the steps from the left. As they moved in closer, Jace noticed the door was standing ajar. He silently pointed it out to Paul. In silent agreement, they pulled
their service revolvers from their holsters. A loud crash came from inside the house. “In the back,” Jace mouthed. Paul nodded. More crashing was heard inside. Whoever was in there was looking for something and seemed to be getting frustrated.

  Carefully pushing the door open farther, they slid inside the house, keeping close to the walls. Paul moved around to the left, and Jace to the right. They met again near the hall and proceeded back.

  Silence. Paul raised his hand and they stopped. There were two rooms ahead. Now that it was silent, it was hard to tell which room the noise had come from. Paul indicated that he would go to the room on the left, Jace would take the room on the right. Jace nodded.

  He edged into the room, keeping his gun in front of him, sliding noiselessly along the wall. He darted glances to the right and left, but no one was in the room—or so it seemed. The intruder had definitely been in the room at some point, though. It had been trashed. Books thrown everywhere, papers scattered, glass and ceramic shattered on the floor.

  Paul shouted from the other room, followed by a crash. Jace felt the floor shake.

  He dashed toward the other room. A black-clad figure—a ninja?—ran into him at a full gallop, knocking him against a curio cabinet. It shuddered, and more glass shattered. Jace caught the ninja by the arm. The person twisted out of his grasp. Jace heard a sharp tearing sound as the fabric ripped at the shoulder. Still, the ninja managed to dash out the open kitchen door and yank it shut behind himself. By the time Jace managed to exit the door, the ninja was speeding away into the woods on a dirt bike. There was no way he could follow in the cruiser. Jace took off at run, but it was no use. The dirt bike grew smaller and smaller ahead of him as the perp put more distance between them. Finally, he was gone.

  Remembering Paul, Jace ran back to the bedroom to find his chief rising out from under a bookcase.

  “He toppled it over onto me.” Paul shook his head. “I can’t believe he managed to get away.”

  “Let’s see what he was looking for.”

  An hour later Jace whistled. He had unearthed Maggie Slade’s laptop computer. It had been sandwiched between blankets in a crate at the back of a closet. Not the place one would usually store such a device.