Shirlee McCoy - When Silence Falls

“One of my men brought a German shepherd to the SPCA a few days ago,” Jake added, completely ignoring Piper’s protest. “Female. Maybe two years old. She was wandering around near the lake. If she hasn’t been claimed she’d be perfect.”

“Why don’t I pick you up after work tomorrow? We can go to the SPCA, see if the shepherd’s still there.” Grayson paused, his brow furrowed. “Wait. I can’t. I’ve got a dinner meeting.”

“That’s all right. I’ll go myself.” Maybe. Though as far as Piper was concerned, Grayson’s unavailability was the perfect excuse to not get a dog.

“Do you know anything about dogs?” Cade’s question caught her off guard, and she shook her head, recognizing the mistake immediately.

She tried to backtrack, think of a good reason why she’d be capable of picking out the perfect guard dog, but came up blank. “I’m sure someone at the shelter will be able to help me.”

Apparently Cade wasn’t. He leaned forward, his steady, reassuring gaze almost masking the humor that danced in his eyes. “Maybe it would be a good idea for one of us to go with you.”

“I wouldn’t want to put anyone out.”

“You wouldn’t be. I’m doing a photo shoot at the new medical clinic tomorrow. It’s ten minutes away. Why don’t I stop by when I’m finished? We’ll go to the shelter together.”

“I’m giving a final exam tomorrow. I can’t be out.”

“It’s your early day isn’t it, Piper?” Grayson knew it was. Just as he knew she wasn’t gung ho about the dog idea. Of course, being Grayson, he focused on the part that coincided with his plans and completely ignored the rest.

“Yes, but I’m not sure—”

“Then it’s settled.” Cade set his coffee cup down on the tray and pulled a business card from his pocket, flashing his dimple and acting like he had no idea Piper would rather not go to the shelter. “Here’s my card, Piper. Call if something comes up. Otherwise I’ll be here at two. I’d better get back on patrol.” He stepped past Grayson and disappeared into the darkness. Jake followed close on his heels.

“I’m staying the night, and don’t even bother trying to talk me out of it,” Grayson said as he stepped out onto the front stoop. “I need to talk to Jake. I’ve got the key. Lock the door. I’ll let myself in when we’re finished.” With that, he was gone, too.

Which left Piper alone, wondering how she’d allowed herself to be railroaded into a trip to the SPCA.

“Men. Can’t live with ’em. The end.”

She grumbled the words to herself as she snagged a cookie and marched to the linen closet. She was half tempted to make Grayson sleep on the sofa, but since it was only a little longer than a love seat and he was just over six feet tall, Piper thought that would be cruel and unusual punishment.

The curtains in her room were open and she hurried over to close them, her gaze drawn to the branches that swayed in the breeze outside the window. If someone was outside watching the house, watching her, she’d never know it. Not until it was too late.

Maybe a dog wasn’t such a bad idea.

She shook her head. No way. Dogs were messy and they stunk. She did not want a dog. Then again, she wasn’t sure she liked the idea of being alone in the house with a snake-tattooed kidnapper holding a grudge against her. She knew she didn’t like the idea of Gray sacking out in her house every night. She loved her brother, but he was overprotective and bossy. One night was about all she could take of him.

She tugged fresh sheets onto her bed, her mind racing with a million thoughts, a million worries. She had a lot to do in the next few months. A book to write. Piano lessons to teach. Finals needed to be administered and graded. She had to plan and practice the music for church. Make sure the collection of musical antiques she’d inherited were catalogued, appraised and ready to go on loan to the Lynchburg Museum of Fine Arts. And she’d offered to help Miriam plan the exhibit’s grand opening to coincide with Music Maker’s twenty-fifth anniversary.

What had she been thinking?

She hadn’t been thinking. That was the problem. She’d been asked and she’d said yes. At the time, she’d really thought she could do it. Now, she wondered if what she’d thought she could do was a little more than what she was capable of.

A few weeks ago Gray had accused her of having superwoman syndrome. Had he been right? Did she think she could do everything? Accomplish everything? Did she jump into things without thinking them through? Maybe sometimes. But not now. Now she was thinking. And what she was thinking was that she definitely didn’t need a dog complicating her life. She’d call Cade tomorrow and tell him she wasn’t going to the SPCA. That would take care of at least one of the problems. Everything else would work out in its time. She hoped.

As Piper finished making the bed, she had the sinking feeling that that wouldn’t be the case, that maybe tonight’s troubles were only the beginning. She shivered, grabbed the quilt off the end of her bed and walked back out into the living room. Huddled on the sofa, gaze fixed on the door, she could only pray that she was wrong.

A night spent tossing and turning on her hand-me-down sofa left Piper feeling groggy and irritable. Fighting Grayson for time in the house’s sole bathroom only worsened her mood. By the time she ran out to the car, already five minutes late, a bagel clutched in one hand and a diet soda in the other, her briefcase and purse under her arm, Piper felt like she’d already put in a full day’s work.

Grayson looked just as tired as he pulled open the door to his car. “You’re meeting Cade here at two. Don’t forget.”

He didn’t ask, and she decided to save an argument and not mention that she planned to cancel. “And you’re sleeping at your own place tonight.”

“We’ll see.”

“Gray—”

“We’re both running late. Let’s discuss it later.”

“Why is it that you always say that when we don’t agree on something?”

But Grayson was already in his car, waving as he drove away.

Piper shook her head, shoved a last bite of bagel in her mouth and yanked open the door to the GTO. There was no sense being irritated. Grayson was Grayson, determined to have his way in everything. They’d talk. She’d present her view of things. He’d disagree. In the end, he’d do exactly what he wanted.

And tonight he’d be sleeping on the couch.

Classical music was playing on the radio, but Piper needed something different this morning. Contemporary Christian music seemed just the thing to lift her dark mood and she hummed along with familiar tunes as she drove. The sun peeked over the trees, bright orange against the azure sky. It would be a beautiful day. Perfect for hiking near Smith Mountain Lake.

Too bad Piper wouldn’t have time for it. She had two classes to teach this morning. Then she’d stop at the police station to sign her statement, call Cade, practice for Sunday’s service and then teach piano from five to nine. A full day, but if she kept on schedule, everything should work out fine.

Of course, things never quite turned out the way Piper planned and she wasn’t surprised when it took her double the time she’d expected it would to sign her statement at the police station. Nor was she surprised when she arrived home and found an unfamiliar SUV parked in front of her house.

She glanced at the dashboard clock, saw that it was a few minutes after two, and knew exactly who was waiting. “Perfect.”

Piper shoved open the car door and climbed out, her breath catching as Cade stepped out of the SUV. Dark aviator glasses, too-long hair, an easy, comfortable way of moving. A smile that should be outlawed.