Shirlee McCoy - When Silence Falls

“I think I’ve already explained. I used a roundhouse kick. If you don’t know what that is, I can demonstrate.”

“Not necessary.”

“Then I’m free to go?”

“Let me check with Chief Russell. He might want to ask a few more questions before you leave.”

“But—”

Jake put a hand on Piper’s shoulder and gave it a light squeeze. “I’ll go with him. See if I can speed things along a little.”

“I appreciate it.” And she did. Her head ached, her throat was parched and all she wanted was to catch a ride back to the college with Gabby, get in her car and go home.

“No problem. You might want to call Grayson while you wait. He’s been trying to reach you and he’s worried.”

“I would, but my cell phone battery died.”

“You can use mine.” The man standing beside Jake held out a phone. He was tall and rangy, his well-worn jeans and black T-shirt a perfect match for the shaggy, overgrown haircut he sported. A camera, cradled in his hand, seemed as much a part of who he was as his brown hair and green eyes.

Something about those eyes sparked a memory, but it flitted away too quickly for Piper to grasp. “Thank you.”

“Not a problem.” He turned away, taking some shots of the women who were waiting to be questioned.

Jake left, too, following Lieutenant Bradley across the parking lot to a short, balding man.

Which meant it was time to call Grayson. Piper braced herself and dialed his number.

He picked up on the first ring. “Sinclair, here.”

“Gray. It’s me.”

“Piper! Are you all right? I’ve been worried sick.”

“I’m fine.”

“Then maybe you can tell me what’s going on. A friend of mine called to say you were on the seven o’clock news. Something about a kidnapping.”

“I was at a weight-loss meeting—”

“You don’t need to lose weight,” Gray cut in, the impatience in his voice obvious.

“Gabby—”

“Why am I not surprised? She’s been pulling you into her schemes for…”

“Grayson, can I get a word in, here?”

“Sorry. Go ahead.”

Piper took a deep breath, forcing back frustration. “Gabby and I were at a weight-loss seminar and some maniac decided to kidnap one of the women. She escaped, but during the scuffle, candles fell into a curtain and set the place on fire.”

“Nice condensed version, sis. Now, why don’t you tell me the rest?”

“This isn’t my phone. I don’t want to run up a stranger’s bill.”

“I don’t mind.” How the stranger had heard her when he seemed completely engrossed in photographing the scene, Piper didn’t know.

She flashed a smile, then turned away, facing the back of the ambulance she’d been leaning against and lowering her voice. “Look, Gray, we’ll talk more later. I’ve got to go.”

“Is Jake there?”

“He’s talking to one of the officers.”

“Can you ask him to call me when he’s done?”

“Gray—”

“Piper, Mom and Dad are enjoying the first vacation they’ve had in years. I’d hate to ruin it by telling them you’re in some kind of trouble.”

“That’s blackmail.”

“Whatever works.”

“Fine. I’ll tell him.” She hung up and thrust the phone back at its owner. “Here you go. Thanks again for letting me use it.”

He nodded, his gaze too knowing to be comfortable. “I guess Grayson hasn’t changed.”

“You know Gray?” No wonder his eyes had seemed familiar.

“Knew. But not as well as I knew Seth. He and I were too young to hang with Grayson and his buddies.”

He grinned and held out a hand. “Cade Macalister.”

“Cade? Cade who used to tie my shoelaces together and laugh when I tripped?” Piper squinted, trying to see the scrawny kid with glasses in the scruffily attractive man who stood before her.

“I guess you remember.”

“How could I forget? You and my brother spent hours coming up with ways to torture me.”

“Self-defense. You followed us around everywhere. It’s hard to look cool when you’ve got a little girl hanging out with you.”

Piper laughed, relaxing for the first time in what seemed like hours. “I guess that’s true.”

“It’s definitely true. How is Seth?”

“Good. He’s out of the country. We should hear from him early next month. Aren’t you a military guy, too?”

“I was. Dad had a stroke a year and a half ago, and I’m helping him out for a while.”

“I’d heard about his stroke. How’s he doing?”

“Better.” Cade’s grimace made a lie of the words.

“Ms. Sinclair?” A short, balding man hurried toward Piper, Jake close behind him, their arrival cutting off the questions she wanted to ask.

“Yes?” She turned toward them, her tension suddenly back.

“I’m Chief Russell. Lieutenant Bradley said you gave him your statement. We’ll need you to come by the station tomorrow morning and sign it. Other than that, we’re all set. You can stop by at your convenience.”

“Thanks.”

He nodded, gave her a brief smile and moved away.

“I guess I’m free to go. Thanks, Jake. Nice seeing you again, Cade.”

“You, too.”

She hurried away, feeling the weight of both men’s stares as she slid into Gabby’s car.

“Finally! I thought they’d never let you go.” Gabby’s eyes were dark and filled with worry as she put the car in gear and pulled out of the lot. “Are you okay?”

“I haven’t decided yet. How about you?”

“Still shaking.”

“Me, too.”

“I can’t believe I talked you into coming tonight. We both could have been killed.”

“But we weren’t.”

“Thanks to you.” Gabby turned into the university’s parking lot and pulled up next to Piper’s GTO. Then turned to face her. “You’re a hero. You know that, don’t you?”

Piper laughed and pushed the door open. “The only twenty-nine-year-old hero whose brother sends the cavalry to save her.”

“Is that what Sheriff Reed was doing there?”

“Yep.”

“And the guy that was with him? The cute one with the camera?”

“Cute? Cade Macalister is not cute. He’s a menace. Or at least he was when we were kids.”

“He’s cute.”

“To each her own.” But even as she said it, Piper silently agreed with Gabby’s assessment. “Have a safe trip tomorrow, and have fun in Florida.” Piper leaned over and hugged her friend.

“Me and my parents are sharing a two-bedroom condo. I don’t think fun is going to be possible.”

“At least you won’t be teaching. That’s got to be worth something.” Piper stepped out of the car, hitched her purse up on her shoulder. “See you in a month.”

She waved as Gabby drove away, then slid into her own car and started the engine. Usually she enjoyed the forty-minute drive to Lakeview, but tonight she felt anxious and worried, each shadow by the side of the road, every car swooping up from behind, a sinister reminder of the attempted kidnapping.

The outcome could have been so much worse. The gun could have discharged as it fell. Someone could have been hurt in the fire. Or killed. The thought brought a wave of nausea, and a cold, clammy sweat to Piper’s brow. Gabby had called her a hero, but there was a fine line between heroism and foolishness. Piper had yet to decide if she’d crossed it.

She swiped a shaky hand across her forehead and forced tense muscles to relax. By God’s grace no one had been hurt. Piper wouldn’t have to live with regrets or recriminations. She needed to be thankful for that, and move on.

Mozart’s Fantasy in D Minor was playing on the radio and she cranked up the volume, trying to lose herself in the music, but the images of the kidnapper and his intended victim were etched deep in her mind and she couldn’t shake them, no matter how loud the music or moving the score.