Sound of Fear

by Marta Perry

  * * *

  TREY HAD BEEN sitting in his car outside the Winthrop property for what seemed an eternity. At last he spotted, through the screening of trees, the movement of the front door. Amanda emerged and walked to her car so quickly that it looked as if she were fleeing.

  He’d parked a half block back, not wanting to be spotted. He started the engine but kept his headlights off until she’d driven through the gate and headed down the street. Then he turned them on and pulled out a circumspect block behind her. It wouldn’t do to let her spot him. He could imagine, only too well, what she’d say if she knew he was trailing her around town.

  Once she got to the farm, he felt confident she’d be safe. Jacob was acting like an overanxious parent, and he wouldn’t sleep unless he knew Amanda was all right. With him, Amos, and the older boys on the alert, no one could get near her. To say nothing of the dog.

  The danger zone was that stretch of lonely country road once she was clear of town. He’d have to close up there, whether she spotted him or not. All she’d be able to distinguish would be a pair of headlights, in any event.

  Trey could only hope Carmichaels or one of his patrolmen was in place in the farm lane on the opposite side from the Burkhalter property. And that no one would jump the gun too soon, or worse, react too late.

  Was he letting his emotions get the better of him? Maybe so, but if there was going to be another attempt to get rid of Amanda before Elizabeth did anything rash such as changing her will, it would have to be soon. This lonely drive home might be the best opportunity there would be.

  They’d reached the last of the streetlamps, and Trey punched the chief’s number, putting his phone on speaker.

  “Carmichaels.”

  “We’re just leaving town. I’ll get as close as I dare behind her. Be ready.”

  Carmichaels muttered something he couldn’t hear. Then he spoke more loudly. “We’ll do our part. If anything happens.”

  The chief had been skeptical about this, but he wouldn’t risk doing nothing when Trey had insisted.

  “Right. I’ll keep my phone on.”

  He neared Amanda’s car, close enough to see the movement of her head when she checked her rearview mirror. Belatedly, he realized she might well think he was her assailant. He could call...but that would mean cutting his contact with Carmichaels. He didn’t dare do that.

  Better to apologize than explain. Trey didn’t remember who had said that, but it seemed appropriate.

  Forming an apology in his mind, he alternated between studying the movement of Amanda’s car and scanning the road ahead. Nothing. Maybe he’d been wrong. If he cried wolf too often, Carmichaels might find it hard to believe Amanda was in danger.

  Amanda’s car was nearing the boundaries of the Burkhalter farm, and nothing had happened. Then a shaft of moonlight momentarily reflected from chrome in a lane to the left.

  “He’s there,” he said quickly, fingers tightening on the steering wheel. “In the Shuman farm lane. We’ll reach him in a moment.”

  The rev of the patrol car’s engine reached him through the speaker. “Got it,” Carmichaels snapped.

  The motorcycle roared to life, swinging out into the road and fully into Amanda’s lane. He obviously planned to come as close as he could, hoping to force her off the road. And then? If he intended to make certain Amanda wasn’t around to inherit, his plans probably hadn’t included another car coming so close behind. Just how reckless was he?

  They’d find out. Trey accelerated, pulling out beside Amanda’s car, giving the motorcyclist no room to run. He had a quick impression of Amanda’s face, a white blur as she glanced toward him.

  No time to consider her now. Trey focused on the advancing bike. Was he crazy enough to ram them head-on? He’d be the loser in that event.

  The biker must have thought so, too. He swung in an abrupt turn, nearly wiping out, and started to accelerate away from them. At that moment the patrol car came toward him, siren blaring and lights flashing.

  Confronted from both ahead and behind, the biker tried to turn again, seeking an escape, and he capsized.

  Amanda slammed on her brakes to avoid hitting him, and Trey did the same. Jumping out, he shouted at her to stay in her car. The police car wailed to a stop, both doors opening as Carmichaels and his patrolman ran toward the fallen biker. They had him now.

  But just before they could reach him, the motorcyclist jumped back up onto the bike. There was an instant when his escape hung in the balance. But the engine caught, and he roared away, past the two policemen.

  Carmichaels swore and ran back toward the car. “Get after him.”

  The young patrolman beat him to the vehicle, and in a moment they set off in pursuit, siren screaming. Trey blew out an exasperated breath and went to Amanda.

  “They’ll be lucky to catch him with the start he had, but they’ll have his plate number, and Carmichaels will put out an alert. He won’t be free for long.”

  Amanda unclenched her hands from the steering wheel. He could see the movement, but he couldn’t make out her expression. She’d be angry, of course. He didn’t blame her.

  “You’re assuming it was this Shawn whoever—Carlie’s boyfriend?”

  He nodded. “No doubt in my mind. Besides, that was his bike. I wasn’t too rattled to notice.”

  She eyed him. “You didn’t look especially rattled to me.”

  “Believe me, I was.” Since she hadn’t exploded, he allowed his face to relax in a smile. “I didn’t know whether to expect you to hit me or him.”

  “If I hit you, it would be deliberate.” Her tone was tart. “I thought you were the guy who was after me.”

  “Sorry. That didn’t occur to me until it was too late to do anything.” He reached through the open window to touch her shoulder. “Forgive me?”

  “On one condition.”

  “And that is?” he asked.

  “The next time you intend to use me as bait, let me know first.”

  He grinned, fingers tightening. “Okay. I promise.”

  CHAPTER SIXTEEN

  AMANDA REACHED THE FARMHOUSE, Trey following close behind her, to find that Sarah, Jacob and Amos were outside watching for them. Sarah rushed to her car as soon as it stopped.

  “You’re all right. Thank the Lord. We heard the sirens, saw the lights, and we were so worried.”

  Amanda slid from the car to discover that her legs had gone rubbery on her in the aftermath. At least, with Sarah’s arms wrapped around her, it wasn’t noticeable.

  “Sorry.” Trey joined them. “I’d have alerted you, but Chief Carmichaels thought the fewer people who knew about it, the better.”

  “That man you told me about—he tried again to harm Amanda?” Jacob contented himself with putting his hand on her shoulder, apparently reluctant to try a hug.

  “We thought we were ready for him.” Trey sounded rueful. “He managed to elude the police. But they’ll get him. He can’t go far without being spotted, and by now Carmichaels will have alerted the state police and the surrounding communities.”

  “What did he do?” Sarah said, not letting go of her. “You shouldn’t have let Amanda risk being hurt or...”

  “I’m fine,” she said, suddenly realizing how comforting it was to have people worried about her. “Trey was right behind me, and the police were waiting.”

  “He tried to run her off the road again. But I think this time he probably wouldn’t have just ridden away.” Trey was blunt, and his voice sounded strained.

  She hadn’t considered that. If Trey hadn’t been close at hand...

  For a moment she was back in the car, seeing the headlights looming in her rearview mirror. She’d been as scared as she’d ever want to be in that moment, thinking he was the threat. It wasn’t until he’d pulle
d up beside her that she’d recognized Trey. And by then, everything was happening too quickly for her to think about it.

  “You’ll come in the house, ain’t so?” Sarah urged. “Have some dessert, at least.”

  She caught Trey’s expression and knew he was thinking what she was—to Sarah, comforting someone was synonymous with feeding them.

  “Thanks.” She gave Sarah a quick hug. “But I don’t feel hungry after all that’s happened. I’d better go up and let Barney out, anyway.”

  Sarah nodded, giving her a little pat. “Someone must walk you up...”

  “The danger is past now.” Amanda said the words firmly, but a small, niggling doubt remained. “Good night, everyone.” She smiled at Jacob, who still looked worried. “I’ll be fine.”

  “I’m going with you.” Trey captured her hand in his. “We still have a few things to talk over.”

  With quick good-nights to the others, they headed up the lane toward the cottage. Amanda waited until they were out of earshot before she spoke.

  “I keep thinking this is over, and then something else happens. Too many questions are unanswered.”

  “Faced with arrest and time in prison, Davis will probably spill whatever he knows.”

  “If the police catch up with him,” she said. “If not, we may never find out.”

  “We might not in any event,” Trey pointed out. “He may refuse to talk. Or say he was acting on his own. And I doubt that anyone would have confided in him.”

  “You mean if this isn’t just about the money. If the person who was with Melanie that day at the falls has anything to do with this...” She couldn’t have imagined that it would mean as much to her as it did.

  “I know. They’re hardly likely to come forward now unless they’re forced to. But that person, whoever it is, might have nothing to do with Davis’s actions.” Trey grabbed for his phone when it rang, glancing at the screen. “Carmichaels.”

  He raised it to his ear, and Amanda strained to hear the chief’s voice.

  “What happened?” Trey was terse, but she couldn’t make out any words on the other end of the line.

  “Yes, all right. Call me when you hear something.”

  He ended the call, sliding the phone back into his pocket with a frown.

  “Let me guess,” she said. “They didn’t catch him.”

  “He apparently turned off on a logging road and cut through the woods where the police car couldn’t follow. But he can’t get far.” He repeated the words he’d said earlier, as if by saying so, he could make it happen.

  “If he’s not caught, I’ll have no chance of finding out if Carlie was in on it.” She didn’t like the thought of facing her cousin again while wondering if Carlie had actually plotted to get rid of her.

  Trey was silent for a moment. “Maybe that would be better.”

  “How can you think that?” she demanded.

  “I don’t like the idea any more than you do. I’m a firm believer in the rule of law. But I can imagine the consequences, and they’d touch you.” His fingers tightened on her hand. “Oddly enough, I was thinking of sparing you, not the Winthrop family. You’d never be free of the story, any more than they would.”

  “I suppose not.” She shivered involuntarily, thinking of the headlines when Juliet was killed. “That would certainly end my relationship with Melanie’s family, wouldn’t it? Not that that is altogether a bad thing.”

  He shot her a sympathetic glance. “A difficult family dinner, was it?”

  “That’s putting it mildly. Nobody wanted me there, but with Elizabeth’s eye on them, they had to pretend.” She considered. “Well, your friend Mrs. Lindstrom was happy to see me. And Betty wasn’t bad. But the rest of them—I’m not sure which was worse, Carlie’s obvious antagonism or her father’s pretense.”

  She thought he repressed a chuckle. “They’re not your typical happy family, are they? Ethan’s not too bad, I’ve always thought, but he’d be better off away from his father’s and grandmother’s expectations of him.”

  “Apparently Melanie was the only one brave enough to make the break.” She knew she was getting worked up again, but she couldn’t help it. “Can you believe it? Elizabeth actually expects me to give up my own life and move into that house.”

  “I have to admit, I wouldn’t mind having you around all the time. But not living there.”

  “You should have seen her reaction when I told her Jacob is my father.” Seeing his expression, she spoke quickly. “I know, I shouldn’t have said anything without telling you, but Jacob was okay with it. I thought I might be able to tell from their expressions if one of them already knew.”

  “And?”

  “Since Elizabeth looked as if she was about to have a heart attack, I was too distracted to look at them.”

  They’d reached the cottage, and Amanda used that as an excuse to put a pause on their conversation. She trotted up the steps and opened the door, letting Barney out. He danced around her with his usual joy at seeing her again, as if this time he’d thought she wasn’t coming back.

  She nearly hadn’t. Maybe it was the effect of that close call that sent her back to Trey instead of keeping a safe distance between them. What had he meant by saying he’d like to have her around? Flirtation? Or something more, something real.

  She kept her gaze on his face. “You keep saying things like about having me around, and I might just decide to take up practice in Echo Falls.”

  “You heard what Doc said.” He was smiling as he slid his arms around her waist to draw her closer. “He’d be glad to have another vet in practice with him. You could stay.”

  “It would have its advantages.” She rested her hands on his arms, sliding them slowly up toward his shoulders, feeling the solid bone and muscle under the softness of his sweater. “But then there are the Winthrops to contend with. It might have been easier when I didn’t have a family.”

  “Hey, every family isn’t like that one.” His grasp tightened, pulling her closer. “Everybody needs someone.”

  She didn’t speak—didn’t want to spoil the moment with her doubts. And then his lips found hers, and everything else slipped away. The world came down to the close circle of his arms, the desire in his kiss, the crisp male scent of him. To forget every problem, to give in to the slow languor that crept over her...

  She became aware of a cold, wet nose pressing against her knee as Barney insinuated himself between them. The kiss ended in her gurgle of laughter.

  “I may be out of practice, but I don’t think Barney is supposed to figure in this scene.” The laughter was in Trey’s voice, as well. “Or is he playing the part of prudence?”

  “He might be,” she admitted. “Maybe I should go in.”

  “And maybe I should go home. Not that I want to.” He kissed her lightly. “But I will.”

  Amanda hurried to the cottage door, clicking to Barney as she did. Not too fast with this relationship. She’d made that mistake before. This time, she had to be sure.

  * * *

  THE NEXT MORNING, Trey walked up the familiar steps and in through the kitchen door of the house where he’d grown up. He hadn’t stopped by for breakfast lately, and he resolved to do that more often. His father was usually at his best in the morning, more alert and eager for conversation.

  “Trey!” His mother rose quickly from her seat at the breakfast table, hurrying to give him a quick kiss and then flitting back to the stove. “You should have called. I’d have had blueberry pancakes ready.”

  “That’s why I didn’t,” he said, exchanging a grin with his father. “After a stack of your blueberry pancakes I want to take a nap, not go to work.”

  “Well, at least let me make some scrambled eggs.” She was already taking the carton from the refrigerator. “It won’t take a minute.�
��

  Dad waved him to his usual chair. “You may as well let her. She’s only happy when she’s feeding people. Although she insists on giving me fruit instead of bacon at breakfast.” He frowned at the bowl of fresh peach slices in front of him.

  “That’s better than what I usually have.”

  Trey poured himself a mug of coffee, reminded of Sarah’s efforts to feed everyone who came within her orbit. The maternal instinct, he supposed. And he would not let himself wonder what kind of a mother Amanda would be.

  “Are the rumors true?” his father asked abruptly. “Has the Winthrop family actually accepted your client as Melanie’s daughter?”

  Trey took a gulp of coffee and put down the mug. He should have expected that the news would spread quickly. “The DNA tests came back positive. They didn’t have much choice about accepting them, so apparently they decided to put a good face on it. At any rate, they invited Amanda for dinner last night. Amanda and Jacob don’t care who knows. I’m not sure about the Winthrops, but they’re not my clients.”

  His mother had turned away from the stove to listen but now spun back, exclaiming, “Gracious!”

  “Don’t spoil the boy’s eggs in your excitement,” his father said.

  “I didn’t,” Mom said quickly. “But you can’t deny it’s fascinating. It’s like a fairy tale.”

  Wicked stepsister and all, except in this case it might be wicked cousin. But he’d already decided not to say anything to his parents about the attempts against Amanda unless he had to.

  “I don’t imagine some of the Winthrop clan thinks that. If Elizabeth takes to her, it means they’ll have to share.” His father sent a questioning look at Trey. “I was afraid Elizabeth might hold it against the young woman because she’s illegitimate.”

  “Apparently not even Elizabeth is that rigid these days.” Trey slid his fork into the fluffy scrambled eggs his mother set in front of him. “It could have turned out very ugly for all of us if it came to a fight.”

  His father gave him a steady glance, seeming to read between the lines. “You have to do your duty to your client, no matter what the consequences. But yes, I’m glad they’re being sensible. The young woman deserves some consideration. How is the family taking it?”