Tom pushed her hair off her face, and Tina thought his hand trembled. “You’re too good to get involved in something ugly. And I have a feeling that’s what’s going to happen. I’ve loved spending time with you, loved every minute we’ve spent together, but maybe it would be better if you stayed away from me.”
No! She wouldn’t let that happen, Tina thought stubbornly. “Better for whom? For me?”
“Of course.”
“I don’t think so.” She was struck by a sudden fear. “Would it be better for you?” she asked in a small voice.
“Of course not. How can you even think that?”
“Then there’s no problem. You’ll just have to get over your noble offer.”
Tom touched her cheek. “It might be best.”
“It wouldn’t be,” she said firmly. “The only way you’re getting rid of me is if you don’t want to see me anymore.”
She held her breath as he slowly shook his head. “You know that’s not true.”
“Then it’s settled.” Tina let her breath out and reached for his hand. After a moment he took it, then twined their fingers together.
“Thank you,” he said in a low voice. “Your trust is a gift more precious than anything I could ask for. I won’t do anything to betray it.”
She knew he wouldn’t. And her certainty worried her. She had spent her life avoiding relationships with men. Watching her parents, she had only seen the ugliness of marriage, the broken trust and shattered dreams. She had always vowed that she would never put herself in that position, never allow herself to be controlled by a man, or by her desire for a man.
But her feelings about Tom were too strong to be denied. She tried telling herself that it was the novelty of the situation, the fact that he needed her help. But deep down, she had to admit that she was obsessed with the man. Even at work, she found herself thinking about him. And that both frightened and thrilled her.
“I know you won’t betray my trust.” Overwhelmed by the step she was taking, she slipped her hand out of his. She might be edging toward getting involved with Tom, but she was determined to be careful. Trying to change the subject, she said, “And now I think it’s time we got you home. You’re looking a little tired.”
“Could we do one more thing first?”
“Of course,” she said immediately. So much for trying to be careful, she thought wryly. “What do you need?”
“I need a car. Could you take me to a car rental agency?”
She didn’t say a thing for a moment. Maybe she had misunderstood. Maybe he wasn’t as interested in spending more time together as she had thought. If he had a car, he wouldn’t need her to drive him around. He would be independent.
“Are you sure you should be driving?” she finally said. She was fishing, trying to figure out why he wanted a car, and she hated it. She wasn’t going to play games, she told herself fiercely.
But before she could tell him not to answer, he took her hand again. “Maybe I shouldn’t be. But I was frantic last night, worrying about you. All I could think was that if you needed me, I had no way of getting to you. So I have to have a car. And I don’t care if I’m not supposed to be driving yet.”
Her face burned. “I suppose it won’t do any good to tell you that I can take care of myself?”
“Not a bit of good,” he said firmly. “I won’t change my mind.”
“All right.”
They got into her car and in a few minutes they pulled up outside the office of a car rental agency. “Do you want me to come in with you?” she asked.
“Thank you.” He gave her a grateful look. “Doing business is still somewhat disorienting. It’ll help if you’re there.”
Twenty minutes later they stood next to a black Ford Explorer. “You were pretty determined to get this car,” she said.
“As soon as I saw it, I felt like it was the car I should be driving.”
“Then maybe it is.” She stood to the side and watched him swing into the driver’s seat. “You look like you’re familiar with the car.”
“It feels familiar. But I wasn’t driving this kind of car when I had the accident, was I?”
She shook her head. “It was a sedan of some sort.”
He gripped the wheel and stared out the window, and suddenly she saw his uncertainty. “Do you want me to ride with you for a while, at least until you’re certain you’re comfortable driving?”
“I would appreciate that, but I’m not sure you want to take that kind of risk.” He gave her a smile, but there was no humor in his eyes. “After all, the last time I was in a car, I ended up in an accident.”
“I’ll take my chances,” she said. “If I don’t like the way you’re driving, I’ll take over.”
“It’s a deal.”
Tom started the engine and pulled out of the parking lot, driving carefully. It was just one more reason to believe he was a good man, she told herself. His main concern had been for her. He hadn’t wanted her to take the risk of driving with him. No, there was nothing shady about Tom Flynt. He was a good man, and she refused to believe any differently.
But she intended to be very cautious. She wasn’t about to jump into anything and make a mistake, the way her mother had. She might enjoy Tom’s company, and she might want to spend time with him, but she would go slowly and cautiously. Tom was a strong man, and she wanted to be sure that strength didn’t translate into dominance and control.
“How does it feel?” she asked, forcing herself to concentrate on Tom’s driving.
“Pretty good.” He glanced over at her and gave her a thumb’s up. “I definitely feel like I’m familiar with this kind of car.”
“Why don’t we head back to the rental agency, then? I’ll follow you home, and you can take it easy for a while. We’ve done an awful lot today.”
“All right. But I’m going to follow you home instead.”
“It’s the middle of the day,” she said, laughing. “What do you think could happen?”
“I don’t know, Tina.” He was very serious. “But the more we drive around this town, the more tense I am. I don’t know why, but I’ll feel better if I check your house.”
“All right.” He looked so serious and concerned that a frisson of fear shot through her. “That’s fine with me.”
A half hour later, he had checked her house thoroughly, inside and out. Finally he said, “Everything looks fine.”
“Thank you.”
He nodded. “I’ll talk to you later tonight,” he said, giving her a strained smile. “I think I’m going to take a nap.”
She took a deep breath and said, “I enjoyed spending the day with you, Tom.”
“Me, too.” He leaned over and brushed her cheek with his lips, turned and got into his car. “So long, Tina.”
“Goodbye,” she murmured as he drove away. She watched until his car disappeared, then she went inside, being careful to lock the door behind her. Tom’s anxiety on her behalf was spooking her, she told herself disgustedly. Grand Springs was a safe town, and there hadn’t been anyone outside her house the other night.
But two nights later, she woke from a sound sleep and sat bolt upright in bed. She held her breath, but heard nothing but the familiar silence of her house at night. She closed her eyes and lay back down, telling herself she’d merely been dreaming.
Then she heard the noise. It sounded like someone was scratching at the back door. Her heart pounding, she reached for the telephone beside her bed, keeping her promise to Tom that she’d call the police if she heard anything else. Then she huddled in bed, straining to listen, wondering if there was someone outside her house.
She heard the sound of a car pulling up to the curb in front of the house, and she ran to the window. It was a patrol car from the Grand Springs Police Department. Trembling with relief, she struggled into her bathrobe and ran down the stairs.
She could see the reflection of the police officer’s flashlight through the windows, and she followed his pr
ogress around the house. He stopped when he got to the back. She waited for him to move, but he stayed in one place for a long time.
Had he found something out there? Was he even now trying to arrest a prowler?
Forcing her feet to move, she walked through the dark kitchen and stood next to the window. Gathering her courage, she pushed the curtain aside and looked out.
The police officer was shining his flashlight onto the ground. There wasn’t anyone else in sight. As she watched, he straightened and started to walk around the house again. She must have moved, because he swiveled and shined the flashlight on her.
Startled, she squinted against the light. The officer nodded to her, motioned toward the front of the house and kept walking.
A few minutes later the doorbell rang. She looked out the window, saw it was the police officer, and then opened the door. “Thank you for coming, Officer,” she said.
“I’m glad you called.” He looked around the house. “Everything okay in here?”
“As far as I know. What did you find?”
“There are some footprints in the mud at the back of your house. They’re too big to be yours, and they look pretty fresh. I’d say you had a prowler here tonight for sure.”
“Oh.” She moved backward and sat down abruptly on the couch. She had been so sure that the policeman would tell her it had all been her imagination.
“He’s gone now,” he continued. “But we’ll cruise by here real often tonight, and tomorrow when it’s light we’ll get someone to look around again.”
He paused, and Tina could see reassurance in his eyes. “Chances are it’s just kids acting stupid, ma’am. Go on back to bed and don’t worry too much.”
“Thank you, Officer.” She wondered if she should call Tom, and immediately decided against it. There was nothing he could do tonight, and he needed to sleep.
The police officer nodded to her. “Call us if you hear anything more. And we’ll see you in the morning.”
After lying awake most of the night, Tina finally gave in and called Tom early the next morning. His voice was groggy, but when she told him what had happened, the grogginess disappeared. “Don’t open the door to anyone. I’ll be right over.”
It was barely ten minutes later when she heard his car pull up at the curb. She waited for him to step onto the porch, then she opened the front door.
He swept her into his arms without a word, holding her tightly. She wrapped her arms around him, leaning against his hard chest, and felt the fear and tension drain out of her.
“Thank you,” she said quietly, lifting her head to look at him. “Thank you for coming.”
“Why didn’t you call me last night?” he asked roughly. “You know I would have come right over.”
She managed a shaky smile. “That’s why I didn’t call. I knew you needed to sleep. But I did call the police.”
“Thank God for that. Where are the footprints?”
“Near the back door. I’ll show you.”
But before she could open the back door, they heard the front doorbell ring again. When she opened the door she was shocked to see Detective Jones at the door. “Detective,” she said, “what are you doing here?”
“I came to talk to you. I saw the report about your prowler.”
“Oh. The officer last night said that someone would come by in the morning. I didn’t realize it would be you.”
“One of our evidence guys will be here later. I came because I wanted to talk to you.”
“Come in.”
Detective Jones stopped dead when he saw Tom come out of the kitchen. “Flynt. I didn’t know you were here.”
“I called him this morning and asked him to come over.”
“I see.” The detective’s gaze swung from her to Tom and back again, boring into her. “Have you considered the possibility that Tom Flynt was your prowler?”
“Of course not,” she said immediately, instinctively reaching for Tom’s hand. “Why would he do something like that?”
“He has some connection to the Steele murders,” Jones said. “I just haven’t figured out what it is.”
“And why would that make him prowl around my house in the middle of the night?”
“Yes, Detective, why would I do that?” Tom asked.
Jones shrugged. “I never claim to understand why criminals do the things they do.”
“Tom would have no reason to prowl around my house,” she said firmly. “He’s welcome here any time.”
Jones scowled. “That’s not so smart, Ms. White. You don’t know anything about him.”
Tina raised her chin. “I took care of him for almost a week in the hospital. I think I know quite a bit about him.”
Jones snorted. “Maybe not as much as you think. Do you know where he’d been hanging out before his accident?”
“I have no idea.”
“Neither do I, Jones. Maybe you’d like to tell me.”
Tina glanced over at Tom and was surprised by the steely look in his eyes.
“Glad to,” said the detective as they all sat down. “You know anything about a place called Nell’s Tavern?”
“Should I?”
“You ought to. I have several witnesses who have seen you there, often, in the last few weeks.”
Tom leaned back against the couch, but he didn’t take his eyes off the detective. “I may not remember much, but I don’t think it’s illegal to visit a tavern,” he said mildly.
Tina stared at him, disturbed. She knew what kind of reputation Nell’s had. Then she looked back at the detective. “He was new in town,” she said. “I’m sure he had no idea about Nell’s.”
“Exactly what kind of place is this Nell’s?” Tom asked.
“It’s where the dregs of Grand Springs spend their time,” Jones said bluntly. “If there’s trouble brewing in this town, you can usually find out about it at Nell’s. There have been more arrests for drug dealing, fighting and assault at that hole than anywhere else in town for the past three years running.” He fixed Tom with his piercing gaze again. “It’s also the place to go to get information about anything illegal going down in this area.”
“I guess I made an unfortunate choice in drinking establishments,” Tom murmured.
Jones snorted again. “I don’t think so, Flynt. My witnesses tell me you were mighty interested in the Steeles and the Steele ball. You were asking all kinds of questions about it.”
“That doesn’t mean anything,” Tina objected. “He was a stranger in town, and that ball was the biggest event of the fall season. It was in all the papers. Of course he would ask questions about it.”
Tom shot her a grateful look and laid a hand on her arm. “How did you find out all of this?” he asked.
“I’ve been beating the bushes, asking questions. You’re our only lead for the Steele murders. The other guy has apparently vanished into thin air.” He leaned toward Tom. “This amnesia of yours is really convenient, isn’t it? If you really can’t remember anything, and I have my doubts, I’m going to ride your tail until you do remember. And when you do, I’m going to be close enough that you can’t slip out of town.”
Tina expected Tom to object. Instead, he nodded slowly. “Fair enough, Detective. I hope you’re wrong about me, but I’m sure the Steeles are pleased at how diligently you’re pursuing this case. Let me know if you find any more information.” He smiled, but it didn’t reach his eyes. “And I promise I won’t sneak out of town in the middle of the night.”
“See that you don’t, Flynt.”
The detective seemed slightly taken aback by Tom’s answer, Tina thought with satisfaction. Good. Maybe Tom’s cooperation would make Jones see that he was wrong about him.
The detective stood up to leave, and Tom stood up, also. “Have you had any luck tracing the gun I had when you found me?”
Jones’s lips thinned. “No. The serial number was filed off.”
Tina thought she saw a flicker in Tom’s eyes, then he shr
ugged. “That’s too bad.”
“I guess it is, Flynt.” Jones seemed to have recovered his intimidating attitude. “Honest, law-abiding citizens don’t file the serial numbers off their guns. They also have permits to carry them.”
Tom spread his hands. “I wish I had answers for you, Detective.”
“So do I, Flynt.” The detective glared at Tom, and Tina could easily read the message in his eyes. If I did, this case would be closed.
“I’ll be watching you,” the detective said, then turned and walked out the door.
Chapter 10
The closing door echoed like a gunshot through Tina’s house. Tom listened to it reverberate for what seemed like a long time, then turned to Tina.
“I’m sorry,” he said. “I wish you hadn’t had to see that.”
“I don’t mind,” she said, and her voice was fierce. “He isn’t right, and he’s going to be forced to tell you so.”
Tom resisted the urge to sweep her into his arms. He hadn’t been able to stop himself when she opened the door that morning, but he was determined that it wouldn’t happen again. “He doesn’t think he’s wrong. And he has good reasons for his suspicions.”
“I don’t care,” she said stubbornly. “I don’t believe him. And why did he come over here this morning, anyway?”
Tom sighed. “The fact that I spent time talking to petty criminals at that tavern, asking questions about the Steeles, then ended up at the Steele ball, is pretty damning. I’m sure that just confirmed his suspicions, and if I had to guess, I’d say he came here to warn you.” He gave her a weary smile. “He was probably surprised as hell when he saw me here.”
“I hope it made him think a little.”
His heart moved in his chest. “Tina, are you always so protective of people?” he asked.
“Most people can defend themselves,” she answered promptly. “You’re completely vulnerable. I don’t want to see Detective Jones or anyone else blaming you for something you didn’t do, just because you can’t remember.”
He closed his eyes. He could hardly bear to look at the faith and trust in Tina’s face. It would just about kill him if he disappointed her. “We’ll have to hope I remember soon, then.”
A Thanksgiving To Remember Page 11