Dead of Spring: An Alexa Williams Novel

by Sherry Knowlton

  “Alexa. I know you’re probably at your brother’s house, but I wanted to call and say Happy Easter. It’s great to be home. I’ve missed my mom’s cooking.”

  Before the message had finished, Alexa continued toward the stairs. When she reached the top, she paused to hear John’s last words. “Give me a call back when you get this.”

  When she had stepped out of her slacks and shed her top, Alexa swept her hair into a clip and grabbed a large towel.

  John can wait, she thought, glad for some solitude after a day with two rambunctious kids. I need a soak in the hot tub.

  With the towel flung over her shoulder, Alexa carried her sweats downstairs and tossed them onto the corner wing chair. She stripped off her underwear and wrapped the towel around her torso, glancing toward the dog bed. Scout usually came along on Alexa’s trips to the hot tub and snuffled around the woods or stretched out on his deck cushion. But his name died on her lips when she saw the giant mastiff curled up, fast asleep.

  “OK. You stay here. I’ll feed you when I come back inside.” Scout continued to snore through her words, so Alexa picked up a flashlight and walked out the front door. She smiled at the feel of the deck beneath her bare feet and danced a few steps of celebration for the arrival of spring. It was finally warm enough to walk to the hot tub without slippers. She giggled. The joy of living in the middle of the woods, with no neighbors for miles, included soaking naked in the hot tub. So much better than stewing in a soggy bathing suit like they did in the burbs.

  She padded down the dark walkway to the far deck. Although ambient light from the big dining room window illuminated the front deck, that light vanished when Alexa rounded the corner. Reaching the hot tub, she switched on the flashlight and laid it on the plastic steps next to the spa. Even with the easy-fold lever, she needed two hands to raise the heavy hot tub cover back against the wall of the house. Dousing the light, Alexa the tossed her towel over a hook and slipped into the steaming water.

  “Ahhhhhhh.” She leaned back and closed her eyes, feeling the warmth surround her. Truth be told, Graham and Kate’s news about the beach house did upset her, just a little. It had only been a few years since Alexa left New York City to return home. She’d been tired of the city and wanted off the fast track at her prestigious law firm. But she had also missed her family and wanted to be near them. Now Mom and Dad were spending spring and summer in Italy. Soon Graham, Kate, and the kids would be away most of the summer too. She and Scout were going to have to do Friday pizza nights on their own.

  “Stop whining,” she muttered. Alexa knew she was being unreasonable. She also knew if she had a relationship that consumed her heart and soul she wouldn’t need her family so much. She’d always want to spend time with them, of course. But, if Reese had stuck around, she’d be wrapped up in their relationship. Wonderful as he was, she didn’t envision a lifetime commitment to John. He was handsome, brave, charming, and, above all, nice. But beyond that . . .

  Alexa opened her eyes and pushed away any melancholy thoughts. She loved to sit out here at night, luxuriating in the steaming water and watching the stars. With almost no light contamination, night clung to the mountain, dark as velvet. Alexa could see only the narrow swath of open sky that soared over the clearing. The trees blocked a fuller view. But her little slice of the heavens was enough. Gazing at the expanse of stars and planets made Alexa feel small yet connected to a universe so large she couldn’t even comprehend its magnitude. She often sat here and pondered the life that existed out there.

  She rarely turned on the jets, instead preferring to contemplate the night in silence with only the soothing sounds of the forest to keep her company. The forest harbored many sounds: the sigh of the wind through the trees, the scurrying sounds of small creatures; the hoot of owls at night and birdsong during the day; the chorus of frogs in late spring and the hum of insects in the summer. Alexa relished them all.

  A shooting star flashed across the moonless sky. Delighted, Alexa remembered another shooting star she and Reese had watched crease an African night over the Samburu plain. Her nostalgic smile faltered at the sharp crunch of dry leaves on the forest floor.

  She peered into the darkness but could see nothing. Charcoal trees against a jet-black hill. The noise had come from high on the mountain that sloped down to the deck. Probably a branch falling to the ground. Hearing nothing more, Alexa resumed her reflection on the universe.

  Crunch. Crunch. There it was again. Closer.

  Alexa straightened upright, then cocked her head toward the sound. She often heard deer at night, and this sound was similar. Except a lone buck walked with a series of small explosive crunches. And doe and fawns usually traveled in herds, their footsteps crackling the dry leaves in ripples of sound. This animal paused between each footstep.

  Crunch. Crunch.

  This was no deer. Clearly, a large animal. Alexa ran through the possibilities. A bear? Although early in the season, a bear could have emerged from hibernation. But a bear would pad along, unconcerned. This animal seemed to be walking with a measure of stealth, as if trying to mask its approach.

  Crunch. Crunch. Crunch.

  The animal was still quite high on the slope but descending. Could it be a bobcat? When Alexa was a child, she’d seen a few bobcats during the summer nights. And their gait had been fluid but silent. She braced for a blood-curdling bobcat scream, but instead, more halting footsteps.

  Crunch. Crunch. Then, an ominous waiting silence.

  Alexa’s throat tightened. This thing was stalking her. Not like an animal. Like a man.

  Alexa sank lower, trying to conceal the white gleam of her body. Edging toward the side of the hot tub, she extended her arm to search for the flashlight. She couldn’t find it.

  Still sensing the watching presence on the hill, Alexa knew she had to make a run for the house. Now. She took a deep breath and sat up, preparing to slip over the side. Just as she moved, the forest exploded with noise. She caught a brief flash of light and heard a loud crack. Something with an acrid smell ripped into the hot tub cover with a smack, just missing her head. Panicked, she ducked back down into the water.

  A gun. He was shooting at her.

  With the need for stealth gone, her attacker barreled down the slope dislodging an avalanche of dry leaves. Alexa bolted from the hot tub, bare feet sliding over the wet deck. She regained her balance and dashed toward the walkway.

  “Asshole,” Alexa hissed when the beam of a powerful flashlight lit up her naked body. Without breaking stride, she fled.

  Rounding the corner of the cabin, another rifle crack split the air. Crack. Crack. A chunk of wood sliced her back. Alexa bit back a scream at the sharp pain but didn’t break stride until she reached the front door. Inside, a frenzied Scout barked and slammed his body against the door.

  She sprinted through the door past the dog, threw the deadbolt, and switched off the light. As she ran to check the back door lock, she murmured soothing sounds to Scout. She needed him to quiet down so she could hear. Keeping low and away from the big front windows, Alexa moved to the living room, maneuvering past Scout’s nudges of concern. She rose to hit the living room light switch, and then dropped again to the floor.

  Outside, it was quiet. The gunfire had ceased. There was no movement around the house or on the deck. Alexa tugged her clothes from the corner chair, pulling the sweatshirt over her head. After a pause to listen, she shimmied her panties on. Feeling less exposed, she belly crawled across the living room floor to seize the phone. Crawling back to the front corner, she dialed 911 with shaky hands.

  “Help. I’m under attack by someone with a high-powered rifle. This is Alexa Williams.” She shook as she whispered her address to the man.

  “Are you alone?”

  “Yes. With my dog.”

  “Stay on the line, ma’am. I’m going to dispatch a patrol car to your location. Are you hurt?”

  “Yes, but it’s not life-threatening.” Alexa set the phone on the
floor. Her panic had given way to a cold, familiar calm. She recalled another life-threatening situation, one that had been far, far worse than this. Repeating a mantra had kept Alexa from losing it that night. She began a silent chant: Panic means death; panic means death.

  She looked toward the stairs. Should she make a run for the shotgun in her bedroom closet? Too risky. She decided to stay put and drew Scout next to her. She gripped the phone with one hand and stroked the mastiff with the other, trying to soothe him. As she quieted Scout, Alexa’s racing heart slowed almost to normal. She scrunched farther into the corner. This section of the house was part of the original log structure, built of ten-inch logs stacked close with chinking in between. They might stop a bullet.

  “Ma’am,” the dispatcher’s voice came back on the line. His voice seemed to boom through the quiet room. Alexa jammed the receiver against her ear to muffle the sound. He continued, “Troopers are on the way. It shouldn’t be more than a few minutes. Has there been any more shooting?”

  “No, it’s quiet.”

  “I’ll stay on the line until the police arrive.”

  “Thank you. Can you just hang on? I need to stay quiet and listen. He might try to break into the house.”

  “Absolutely. Just let me know if you need to talk. The police will be there soon.”

  Arms around Scout, Alexa burrowed into her corner, phone by her side. On edge in the darkness, she remained alert, waiting for the smallest sound. She feared her attacker would try to scale the back of the house and climb in through a bedroom window. The windows there were only about five feet from the ground. She strained to hear movement outside, but the protective log wall muffled any sound. Her back, wet with blood, throbbed more each moment.

  Although it seemed like an eternity, Alexa estimated less than ten minutes passed until she heard sirens in the distance. The sirens drew closer when the police turned into her lane. Alexa jumped at the alarm bell when the police vehicle triggered the early warning system. Scout sprang to his feet, barking. She picked up the phone. “Thanks, sir, for staying on the line. They’re here.” She looked across the room at the mastiff with worry. “Can you tell the cops not to shoot my dog? He won’t hurt anyone.”

  “No problem. I’ll relay that message. You’ll be safe now. I’ll sign off.” The dispatcher broke the connection.

  When the vehicle stopped out front, the siren died. Alexa stood and plucked her sweatpants from the corner chair. She pulled them on before she walked into the dining area. “Shh, Scout.” Seconds later, someone crossed the deck and knocked on the front door.

  “Ms. Williams. State Police. I’m Trooper Davis. Are you OK? Please open the door,” a woman’s voice called out.

  “Alexa, this is Trooper Cannon,” said a second, familiar voice.

  “I’m OK. My dog is very large but harmless. Right now, he’s just as scared as I am. Please don’t harm him.” Alexa unlocked the door. “Sit,” she told Scout then opened the door to the two uniformed troopers. “I’m so glad you’re here.” Trembling, she collapsed into a nearby chair.

  Chapter Fourteen

  “Ms. Williams, whoever shot at you has disappeared. The forensic science unit will be here soon to look at the scene and recover any bullets they can find.” Trooper Davis removed her full-brimmed hat and unbuttoned her uniform coat. “The FSU might have to wait until daylight to follow the trail down the mountain and discover the shooter’s exit route. Cannon and I didn’t see any vehicles on the lane when we arrived. The gunman must have parked farther up the mountain and hiked in.”

  “That sounds right. I have a driveway alarm system. I would have heard a car come down the lane. He might have left when I ran inside the house. I didn’t hear anything more outside after I came indoors. But Scout was barking. I was calling 911. So he could have hung around for a while.” Alexa couldn’t move from the dining room chair.

  “You say ‘he.’ Did you catch a glimpse of your assailant?” Davis pulled out a chair and took a seat across from Alexa.

  “No. I guess it could have been a woman. But judging from the sound of the footsteps in the leaves―especially at the end when he charged down the hill―it seemed like a fairly big man.”

  Cannon walked through the door and stood at the end of the table. “Are you feeling better?”

  “A little. This cut on my back is throbbing. It feels sticky too, like it’s still bleeding.” Alex turned her body to show the trooper the wet spot below the right shoulder of her sweatshirt.

  Davis exclaimed, “You’re hurt? Were you shot?”

  “I think a splinter or something caught me, not a bullet.” Alexa lowered her voice. “I wasn’t wearing clothes, so it nicked me pretty bad.”

  Cannon spoke into his portable. “What’s the ETA for the paramedics? Victim has possible GS wound or contusions.”

  Davis said, “While we’re waiting for EMS, can you walk us through everything that happened?”

  Alexa described how her relaxing soak in the hot tub had turned into a nightmare. “Like I said, I didn’t see the shooter. I believe it was just one person, although I can’t be completely sure. The gun sounded like a high-powered rifle of some sort. The first shot just missed my head.” She winced at the memory.

  Cannon looked at the door. “The ambulance is almost here. Alexa, do you have any idea who would want to harm you?”

  Alexa tried to concentrate. “I can think of three possibilities. It could be someone who’s holding a grudge about my role in breaking up that sex trafficking ring last summer. But most of the key players are dead or in jail, so that seems unlikely. I’ve arranged Protection from Abuse orders for a few clients. One of the recent ones, Lois Martin. Her husband is an Iraq veteran with a short fuse who liked to slap her around. She finally came to me when he threatened her with a gun. He’s pretty pissed that I got her a PFA.”

  Cannon wrote that one into his notebook. “You said three.”

  “I’m betting this one is the most likely. You knew I saw Senator Martinelli die. You drove John to Harrisburg so he could bring me home in my car?”

  “Yeah. They’re calling that case murder now,” he informed Trooper Davis.

  “I only saw the guy crash into the floor. I have no idea who pushed him. But, somehow, it’s leaked that there were witnesses. I’d been hoping the names of those witnesses were still secret.” She sighed. “But tonight might mean my name is out there. And the killer might think I can identify him.”

  “I knew you were there when the senator bit the dust. I didn’t know word was on the street about a witness.”

  Alexa gasped. “Keisha. I’m not the only witness. Keisha Washington could be in danger too.”

  “Do you know her address?” Davis asked. “We’ll send the locals out to pay her a visit.”

  “Harrisburg, or maybe the suburbs.” Alexa leaned over to fish through her purse, which was sitting on the table. She drew out her phone and located Keisha’s number. “Here’s her cell number. I don’t get cell service here, but there’s a landline in the living room.”

  Davis jotted down the number and hurried toward the door, “I’ll be back. I’m going to call this in.”

  Two paramedics raced through the door.

  Cannon said, “I’ll leave while they check you out. I called John. He was already on the road home from State College. He’ll be here soon.”

  The EMTs had just finished their examination of Alexa’s wound when John came bounding through the door. “Are you OK? Cannon said someone took a shot a you.” John managed to weave his way between the two EMTs and gather Alexa in his arms.

  Alexa winced when his arm brushed her wound but gritted her teeth and nestled into the comfort of his embrace.

  The scrawny EMT who looked barely old enough to drive answered John’s question before Alexa could respond. “She’s suffered some minor blood loss. That cut below her shoulder should have stitches.”

  The taller EMT spoke to Alexa. “You can still change your mind, and we�
��ll take you to the hospital.”

  When Alexa shook her head, he looked at her and then John. “I recommend you drive into the Urgent Care center and get them to stitch it up. Otherwise, you’ll continue to bleed and end up with an ugly scar.”

  “I’ll make sure she gets there very soon,” John stepped in before Alexa could answer.

  The EMT looked uneasy as he said, “OK, if you are refusing transport to the hospital, let me ask again. Are you experiencing any other pain? Dizziness? Are you experiencing chills or lethargy?”

  “I’m fine except for the cut. Thank you. I’ll head into Urgent Care as soon as I can.” Alexa trailed the two men to the door, Scout on her heels. Then she turned back to John. “I’m glad you’re here. Weren’t you going to stay with your parents until tomorrow?”

  John guided Alexa onto the living room sofa and wrapped a throw around her shoulders. “That’s why I wanted you to call me back. My schedule changed. I now have a big meeting tomorrow. A last minute thing. So I decided to hit the road tonight instead of early tomorrow morning.”

  Alexa sighed. “I got your message. I was going to call after I came in from the hot tub. Then all hell broke loose.” She looked at the mastiff lying with his head on her feet. “I never fed Scout either.” She slid forward and shrugged off the throw, but John stopped her with a gentle hand on her shoulder.

  “I’ve got this. Come on, Scout, time for dinner.”

  When John and the dog disappeared into the kitchen, Alexa sat back against the big sofa and closed her eyes. Who would want to shoot her? Could this really have something to do with Senator Martinelli’s death? Thoughts bounced through her brain like ping pong balls in a lottery machine. Her eyes opened wide when a question popped to the surface. How did the shooter know she would go to the hot tub? It seemed he’d taken a position up on the hill with quick access to the back deck and the hot tub. Had he been watching her before tonight? How else would he know her habits? Alexa cringed and pulled the furry throw closer. Being watched without her knowledge, maybe for some time. That was almost creepier than being shot at.