Marta Perry - Murder in Plain Sight

Geneva put the cups down with a clatter. “But it’s already dark out, and raining besides. I’m sure Trey wouldn’t want you to go alone. Let me get him.”

“No, don’t.” She caught Geneva’s hand to stop her instinctive movement. “Honestly, Geneva, I can certainly drive a few miles alone. Now that we know Jacob was responsible for the accident, I’m not worried.” She was about to add that she’d spend the night at the motel, but Geneva looked distressed enough already. “I’ll be back before you know I’m gone.” She squeezed the hand she held. “Really, I’ll be fine.”

She had to repeat the words several times before Geneva was convinced, and even then she stood looking after Jessica with a worried expression.

She hurried to the car, eager to get away before Geneva brought Trey’s wrath down upon her. She could stand to have a few minutes, at least, free of Trey’s presence. When she was with him, her mind had a deplorable tendency to flicker off to his thoughts, his feelings, the slightest change in his eyes. The fact that they warmed every time they rested on her did wonders for her emotions, but nothing at all for her powers of legal reasoning.

The dark shadows of the pines swallowed up her headlight beams as she pulled onto the road. She and Leo were agreed that they needed considerably more than they had in the way of a link between the note left for her and Cherry’s death, but at least now there was reason to hope. The thought filled her with energy. She had ammunition, and she was determined to dot every i and cross every t. No one would be able to claim that she’d been negligent in preparing this case.

Her stomach clenched, as always, when she thought of that accusation. She hadn’t been negligent, and Henderson Junior knew it. He was the one who’d failed to follow through on the papers she’d put in his hand, documents that would have saved the firm’s client a tidy sum in damages from a disgruntled former employee. But Henderson had looked on blandly while she took the brunt of the blame, secure in his position as the son of the firm’s founder.

Trey would never let anyone else take the blame for his mistake. Instead, he’d very likely jump into the breach, accepting responsibility even for something that wasn’t his fault. A decent, honorable man…one a woman could count on. She hadn’t thought to find someone like him, had certainly never expected to trust her heart to anyone. But Trey-

Lights flashed in her rearview mirror, nearly blinding her. She blinked, moving her head a bit, trying to escape the glare. Where had that idiot come from? And why didn’t he have sense enough to switch to low beams? Didn’t he realize she couldn’t see with that high-powered light in her eyes?

She slowed instinctively, trying to concentrate on the road ahead. There was nothing at all in sight. Plenty of room to pass. He could-

The vehicle behind her hit her bumper hard enough to snap her head back. Her stomach clenched, adrenaline racing along her nerves. She couldn’t think, could only react. He slammed into her again, metal shrieking. Her car swerved toward the edge of the road and the darkness beyond.

She fought the wheel for control, heart pumping, pain shooting though her injured wrist. This wasn’t an accident; this was deliberate. He wanted to make her crash. She had to get away.

The instant her wheels straightened she stepped on the gas. Stupid, stupid. She’d been distracted, her thoughts wrapped up in Trey, not paying attention to the road. She didn’t know how far she was from the edge of town and safety. If she could just get far enough ahead of him-

She rocketed down the narrow road, seeing nothing but the reflection of pavement in front of her and the intense glare of the headlights behind her. Nothing at the side of the road, nothing but darkness. She vaguely remembered pastures and cornfields on either side, a ditch running along the road. No lit farmhouses, no place to seek help.

The pursuer smashed her bumper again, jolting her down to her toes. Her car spun, out of control on the rain-slicked road. Headlights glanced crazily off a road sign, a kaleidoscope of images, and then she was off the road entirely, wheels bumping for a moment before she went nose-down into a ditch, the air bag exploding in her face.

Brakes screeched behind her. She fought to shake herself free of the blackness that threatened to overcome her. She had to keep her eyes open, had to move, get out of the car, call for help… She reached, fumbling, trying to find her handbag and her cell phone in the smothering folds of the air bag.

Something bumped against the side of the car, sending a fresh spurt of terror through her. Someone was coming, climbing down into the ditch on the driver’s side.

But not to help. She knew that instinctively. He’d forced her car off the road. Now he was coming to finish the job.

A clang against the side of the car-metal on metal. A tire iron? Panic surged through her, clearing her head. She had to get out, get away, but she couldn’t even find the release for the seat belt through the muffling folds of the air bag.

Closer-in another step he’d yank open the door. She’d be trapped. Helpless. Her fingers touched the smooth surface of the seat-belt latch. Fumbled, pressed the button.

Release. She shoved at the air bag, diving for the passenger seat, pulling herself over, toward the door, toward safety, but she couldn’t make it, there wasn’t enough time…

Dear God, if you’re there, if you care, help me.

Metal clanged. He was reaching for the handle, he…

And then he was gone, scrambling up the bank. She pulled herself around, trying to see who it was, but he was nothing but a dark figure melting into the shadows.

Then she realized why he’d run. Headlights, coming fast down the road from the direction she’d come. A car door slammed. The assailant was gone, speeding toward town without lights.

The oncoming car…no, truck…stopped with a scream of brakes. The inside light came on as Trey leaped from the seat, leaving the door hanging open, the motor running as he rushed to her.

Thank you, she breathed. Thank you.

He was there in a second, pulling the door open, calling her name. “Jessica. Are you all right?”

“I…I think so.” She hadn’t had time to decide that, intent only on getting away. Now she flexed muscles, moved arms and legs, tried to assess damages. “Bruised. I think that’s all.” She gave a shaky laugh that ended on a sob. “Thank goodness for air bags.”

“Thank goodness I decided to come after you when Mom told me you’d gone off alone.” His voice roughened with emotion.

She moved, trying to get out, but her legs seemed to have turned to rubber. Trey leaned in, his hands gentle as he disentangled her from the air bag and lifted her from the car.

Once she was on her feet, leaning against the car, he let his breath out in a whoosh of air.

“He could have killed you.” Anger threaded through the concern in his voice. “What possessed you to leave the house alone at night?”

“I thought…” Her voice sounded too weak. She stopped, started again, stronger. “Did you see him?”

“Not to identify.” The words sounded as if he bit them. “This is crazy. Why is he after you? It doesn’t make any sense.”

“None of it makes sense.” She touched her face, wincing a little. Brush burns, it felt like, and she was probably going to have a black eye tomorrow. “If he thinks I know something, he’s wrong.”

“Come on.” He put his arm around her. “The E.R.-”

“No, not again.” She stiffened. “I’m all right. Just take me home.” Her voice broke on the words. Home. How could she think of Geneva’s house as home?