Shirlee McCoy - Missing Persons

Seth shot a look in her direction, but didn’t comment on her quick change in subject. “The kind of stuff any kid loves—pizza, hamburgers, chicken. Sweets. At least those are the things he’d like to eat.”

“I can make some variations that he’ll enjoy.”

“Sounds good. Where to now?”

“Turn right. Dee’s house is there. The first one on the left.”

Seth pulled into the driveway.

Finally.

Lauren shoved the car door open and hopped out. “Thanks for the ride, Seth. I’ll be in touch.”

She started toward the house, wobbling a little in her heels as she moved from the paved driveway to a stone path that led to the backyard.

“You’re not going inside?” Seth stepped up beside her.

“No. Dee has a guesthouse out back. I’m staying there.”

“I’ll walk you around.”

“There’s no need.”

“Of course there is.”

“Seth—”

“A body was found buried under the sidewalk at the college a week ago, Lauren. A little caution makes sense.”

“Whatever happened to that poor girl happened a long time ago. I don’t think I need to worry about it.”

“No? If she was murdered, a killer is walking free. I think that’s something we all need to be concerned about.”

Lauren wasn’t sure she agreed, but Seth’s words still made her shiver. “If she was murdered. It’s possible she died of natural causes or that she fell into the construction area and died from her injuries.”

“And somehow got buried beneath enough dirt that the crew pouring the sidewalk didn’t see her? That seems highly unlikely.”

“Maybe so, but I doubt a murderer would be hanging around town waiting for his crime to be discovered. Even if he is still around, I doubt he’ll be coming after anyone else.”

“Maybe he already has. Maybe there are other victims. We don’t know and, until we do, I think it’s best if we all be careful.”

That was definitely not a thought Lauren wanted to dwell on as she continued toward the edge of Dee’s property and the small carriage house that stood there.

An outside light glowed above the bright red door, lighting the cement stoop and the thick bushes that stood on either side of it. Lauren fumbled for her keys, pulled them out of the sequined handbag she carried and unlocked the door, reaching in to flick on the living room light before she turned to say goodbye to Seth. “Thanks for the ride. And the walk.”

“Thanks for helping me with my son.” His hair looked deeper red in the light, his eyes dark and unreadable. The years showed in the creases near his mouth, the fine lines near the corners of his eyes. Each spoke of time passing and of the life he’d lived in the time since they’d last seen each other. As much as she wanted to believe she didn’t care, Lauren couldn’t stop the emotion that clogged her throat and made speaking difficult.

She swallowed, forcing back all the things she knew she shouldn’t be feeling. “It won’t take me long to create the menus. I’ll contact you as soon as I’m finished.”

“I’m looking forward to it.” He smiled and her heart responded even as her head shouted that she was a fool.

“Good night.” She stepped inside and closed the door, shutting out Seth’s smile and the uncomfortable emotions it evoked.

But she couldn’t deny that she’d felt them, that somehow, despite all that had happened, she responded to Seth in a way she hadn’t responded to many other men. To any other men.

The truth didn’t sit well with her, and she paced across the small living room, frustration making her want to get in the car and drive back to Savannah and the life she’d created there. Sure, she’d needed this vacation, but she didn’t need to spend time with Seth and his sweet, shy son.

“They’re clients. Just like any other client you’ve worked for.” She muttered the words as she stepped into her bedroom and grabbed her Bible from the suitcase she’d left on the bed.

Clients. She could say the word a hundred times, and it wouldn’t make things any less complicated than they were.

Lauren opened French doors that led out onto a small patio. Honeysuckle-scented air drifted into the room, the sweet smell reminding her of carefree childhood summers. Frogs called to one another, their deep song mournful and lonely. Or maybe it was Lauren who was both those things.

She flicked on the outside light, determined not to be melancholy. This was her vacation, and she wasn’t going to spend it thinking about past heartaches.

Moonlight played over the trees that edged Dee’s property, casting deep shadows across the lawn. It should have been beautiful. It was beautiful. There was something else there, though. A darkness that seemed more than night and shadow. A shape that wasn’t quite the same as those around it.

Lauren shook away the thought.

Obviously, Seth’s talk of bodies and murder had her imagination working overtime. Reading her daily Bible study would ground her. At least Lauren hoped it would. She opened the worn leather cover and tried to immerse herself in her reading, but the more she tried, the more conscious she became of the strange shape at the corner edge of the yard.

“It’s nothing.” She spoke loudly, hoping the sound would chase away the warning that hummed along her nerves. Her voice broke through the mournful call of frogs and soft drone of insects, and the night creatures fell silent as if waiting for her to continue.

She didn’t, but in the sudden stillness new sounds emerged, the crackle of dry leaves, the snap of a branch. Then silence so deep it felt as if the world were holding its breath, waiting for whatever lurked in the shadows to make its move.

Lauren stood, clutching her Bible in her hand and backing toward the door. “Hello? Is someone there?”

She didn’t expect an answer, and she didn’t get one, though she thought she heard the rasp of someone’s breath, felt the weight of someone’s gaze.

One step at a time, she eased toward the door afraid to turn her back on the darkness and whatever hid there. It wasn’t until she was inside, the doors locked and lights blazing, that she realized just how silly she was being. Despite what Seth had said, there was nothing to be afraid of. She knew that, she’d just forgotten it for a minute.

Still, she felt compelled to pull the drapes across the French doors and check the windows to make sure they were locked.

She’d just stepped back into the living room when a firm knock sounded on the door. She jumped, her heart slamming against her ribs, her gaze flying to the mantel clock. Eleven o’clock seemed an odd time for a visitor. She grabbed the fireplace poker, striding toward the door with more confidence than she felt and praying that whomever was out there was someone she’d be happy to see.

“Who’s there?” To Lauren’s disgust, her voice wobbled on the last word.

“Me.” Dee knocked again. “Who were you expecting? Jack the Ripper?”

Lauren pulled the door open, stepping aside to let her sister in. “I don’t know, but I wasn’t expecting you. What are you doing back so early?”

“Early? I’m not seventeen anymore, sis. This is late.”

“Right. You came to check up on me.”

“Okay. So I came back to see what was going on. Sue me.”

“That would require a lawyer, and I’ve had about all I can take of lawyers for one evening.”

“I’d sympathize, but you did it to yourself, offering to meet Seth’s son tonight.”

“It seemed like the right thing to do at the time.”

“Did it?” Dee settled down into an overstuffed chair. “To me it seemed crazy.”

Lauren laughed and settled down on the sofa. “Why don’t you try being blunt next time?”