Love Inspired Suspense June 2014 Bundle 1 of 2: Undercover Marriage\Collateral Damage\Forgotten Past (27 page)

She also, suddenly, inexplicably, wanted Nick to spend more time with his daughter without the birth mother running interference. Give him a chance to warm up to her before discovering she was his. Now that Sarah had decided to tell everyone the truth, she wanted it to be a happy truth, one Nick might even welcome in time.

Edward pulled out of the hospital parking lot and drove down Euclid. A glance in the rearview mirror showed that, indeed, Gerard was following them, and several cars also trailed his SUV. Unless the killer wanted a dozen witnesses, he would not be attacking anyone with a car on this trip.

“She's going to be okay, you know,” Edward said.

Sarah swallowed, thinking about those scrapbooks and old-fashioned picture albums Mom had so lovingly used to frame the adorable antics and accomplishments throughout Emma's life, from birth to three weeks ago.

John wouldn't be here until later this evening, and Sarah needed those books now. She wanted to share them with Edward, enjoy them with him, and she desperately needed him to forgive her for the tragedy she'd caused—for his loss, for Aunt Peg's loss. Would he ever forgive her or her parents for robbing them of the opportunity of watching their granddaughter grow up?

She needed to turn each page for Edward, tell Emma's story, explain everything. Selfish? Yes. How badly she needed him standing beside her when she broke the news to Nick, and especially to Emma. Would they be devastated? Would they be shocked? Angry? Shouldn't she wait until all this danger was ended before sharing this secret? How could she place this distraction in their way?

And yet, in the midst of his grief, Edward could receive such hope. New life. A fresh outlook.

“I mean it, Sarah Fey,” Edward said. “She's one of our own. We protect our own, no matter what.”

Sarah swallowed, thinking of Aunt Peg. No one had been able to protect her. “Only God can do that for sure, Edward.”

“But I believe God brought you here for a reason.” He eased his foot against the brake at a stop sign and turned right, then almost immediately left again.

Sarah glanced at him. He was a strong man with powerful arms, a strong jawline and a piercing stare that telegraphed well from the pulpit. Nick looked so much like his father. “I think you're right.” She swallowed hard through a dry throat. “My cousin John is coming. He should be here long before dark—I couldn't stop him this time. I think he plans to try establishing a homegrown police force.”

“I'd join that force it if meant protecting those I love.”

“I know you would.” She stared down at the train tracks as they drove over the bridge. “He's also bringing some old-fashioned photo albums and scrapbooks.”

Edward glanced at her, his thick eyebrows raised. “That'll be nice to see, but any specific reason he's going out of his way for family pictures right now?”

“I asked him to. I thought you might enjoy them.”

“Since you're staying with Carmen, why don't we let John stay at my place?”

“Thanks. I'm sure he'd appreciate it. He wants to be close, and he'll probably want to take a turn on guard duty.”

Edward had his signal on and was turning right onto the highway when a low-slung gray car raced through the intersection, ignoring the red light. It cut in front of them closely enough Sarah squeezed her eyes shut, expecting the screech of metal against metal. Edward slammed the brake and instinctively slung his right arm in front of her, despite the seat belt. She held her breath to keep from crying out.

They most definitely were still on edge.

“Okay, honey?”

She opened her eyes, took note of the car's license plate number, took a breath. “Fine. You?”

“Just hot under the collar.”

“Where are the police when you need them?”

He chuckled. “At least Monett
has
a police force.”

Her cell phone beeped. She pulled it from her pocket and answered to the background sound of Emma's raised, angry voice and Gerard's deep, soothing tones.

“Did you catch the license plate?” Nick asked.

She recited the letters and numbers she'd automatically memorized.

“Good girl. You haven't lost your touch.”

“Calm Emma down.”

“Will do, but first I need to call that license plate into the city police so we can get the number on record.”

“Just in case, huh? You know they'll be out of city limits before anyone could catch them.”

“Doesn't matter. A record's a record. Might come in handy later. You and Dad okay?”

“We're fine. The world is filled with rotten drivers, but not every one of them is a killer. Let's try not to freak out again before we make it home. Sounds like Emma's reached her limit for the day.”

“I can't wait for her to meet Carmen's Nina. That'll calm her right down.”

“Good, then start talking about her right now. And tell her our cousin John will be here tonight.”

“He doesn't think we can protect her?”

“He likes to be in the middle of all the action. He's driving from Sikeston. See you in a few.” She disconnected.

Edward pulled onto the lane behind the crazy driver and picked up speed, taking obvious care not to get too close, even though the car had slowed down considerably. It turned at the next traffic signal, and Sarah noted that Edward's hands relaxed their grip on the steering wheel.

“We're definitely all too overwhelmed,” he said. “This killer obviously doesn't use the same M.O. every time, which has Gerard concerned.”

“I don't mind a little hyper-alertness right now, but it doesn't feel too great, does it?”

Edward gave a long, tired sigh. His whole body seemed to slump. “Not a lot feels too great right now, sweetheart. For either of us.”

She glanced at him. Could he handle more? When she was growing up, she used to believe Edward Tyler, like her own father, could shoulder all the world's problems with a gentle smile and a calm word for anyone who needed it. He lived to help others. He lived to serve God. Right now, looking at him, she saw only hollowed-out eyes and a sagging face. Losing Aunt Peg had destroyed the outward joy that had always been a part of his personality. Would learning he had a grandchild bring him some new life, or would knowing he'd missed out on sixteen years place a fresh break in his heart?

TEN

T
he beauty of southern Missouri's green forest and golden pastures on rolling hills raced past the perimeter of Nick's vision as he focused on the pickup ahead of them, on Sarah's profile. It appeared as if she and Dad were deep in conversation. Unlike in this SUV, where Emma had stolen the show and most of the oxygen in her efforts to wind down from the excitement of the day, Dad seemed to be allowed a chance to contribute to the conversation.

“...never even dated in high school, unlike Shelby, according to Mom, who practically had a date every night. Sarah still doesn't date much. She even lived at home with us while she was in college. She had a lot of friends, and some of them were guys, but I never noticed her spending more time with one than any other.”

“She doesn't seem shy.” Gerard was obviously drawing Emma out, encouraging her to talk about her sister—probably to calm her down, although he'd picked up on Nick's interest in Sarah almost immediately at the hospital. Maybe he was trying to give Nick a chance to be filled in on the past few years of her life.

“Mom called her self-possessed,” Emma said.

Nick smiled. That was Sarah. Calm, a good conversationalist when circumstances called for it, but unlike Emma, who used her hands as much as her mouth and facial expression to communicate, Sarah thought before she spoke. Serenity was part of her nature. It didn't appear as if there were any silences in the cab of Dad's truck right now, however. It was obvious from the nodding and frequent presentation of Sarah's side profile that they weren't lacking subjects to discuss.

“I mean, really, Mom and Dad and John and practically all our cousins in Sikeston have tried to set her up with one guy or another, but she's so particular. One guy lived too far away, and one was too hung up on his car, and the one guy she actually did date in college who asked her to marry him? She flat turned him down. He wanted to move to St. Louis after graduation, and she hates St. Louis. I mean, really? If you love a guy, don't you want to be where he is? I don't think she loved him.” With a slightly wobbly voice, Emma crossed her arms over her chest and stared out the side window. “Mom and Dad always worried about her.” Her voice had softened considerably. “She's always been, like, my best friend? And all my friends at school think it's kind of great? But I know our parents worried about her. And now she's stuck with me. They would be so upset by that.”

“Stuck?” Nick chuckled. “Does she behave as if she feels she's stuck with you?”

“Well, no, but—”

“And she's always been this way? Spent a lot of time with you?”

“Yeah, but—”

“How long did it take her to come after you when she found out you left Sikeston?”

“I know what you're saying, but—”

“What's changed?”

Emma sighed and fell silent for a precious few seconds, staring out the side window. “Besides Mom and Dad being gone forever?”

“I mean between Sarah and you. You behave as if you're being forced into her life.”

“I am.”

“Doesn't look that way to me. Can't you see how crazy she is about you?”

“But now we can't be best friends anymore. She has to be my guardian.”

“I know how you could help her out with that,” Gerard said. “Don't act out, so she doesn't have anything to guard. You could be more like roommates.”

Nick suppressed a snort. “Oh, sure, like that's a possibility.”

Emma shot Nick a glare over her shoulder, then winced when she turned too quickly. “Hey, I'm not... I mean, I don't... It isn't as if I make a habit of acting out, you know. I go to church, I'm not into drugs, I don't smoke. I had a taste of beer once—but don't tell Sarah—and I nearly barfed, so that's out. I—”

“You sound like a poster child for good behavior,” Nick said. “I guess that means you're not going to fly into another snit and come racing across the state again without telling your sister.”

“But that's different—”

“Nothing different about it, sweetheart,” Gerard said. “That's the kind of behavior that'll shorten your sister's life and place an unbearable burden on her shoulders, so if you care at all about her, you'll start behaving like a godly young woman who honors her parents. Now, in the eyes of the law, that means Sarah.”

“And as soon as your cousin John arrives from Sikeston this evening,” Nick said, “you can honor him the same way.”

Emma gasped and would have done a 180 if her seat belt hadn't jerked her up short. She winced again and grabbed at her bandaged head. “John's coming?”

“After today's excitement? He doesn't want Sarah to have to deal with this alone, and he has to see for himself you're okay.”

“Cool!”

Nick deflated. What he wanted was for her to realize how much danger her policeman cousin thought she could be in.

“Carmen told me Kirstie Marshal's daughter, Lynley, is coming to town tonight,” Emma said. “She's single, too, and so wants a man. John's a perfect guy to get married and treat a lady like she deserves to be treated. He's always been so good to Sarah, trying to set her up with his friends, and then trying again when she keeps turning down all second dates. John could put up with any woman; he's used to Sarah, who ignores his help. We need to make sure they meet.”

“John and Sarah?” Gerard's voice was as dry as the dirt roads that led from Highway 60.

“No, silly, John and Lynley.”

Nick sighed and met Gerard's gaze in the rearview mirror. “I don't think you're grasping the seriousness of the situation you're in, little girl.”

“I'm not a little girl. And I've learned a valuable lesson. If I'm going to be eligible for sports next fall, I have to take it easy all summer.”

“That's it?” Gerard asked.

“And if I give Sarah another scare like the one I did coming here, I'll be grounded for life.”

“I'll see to it, but even that's not good enough,” Nick said. “The point you need to grasp is that there's a killer who might well believe you can identify him.”

“Well, would you please spread the word that I can't remember? Maybe he'll take the hint and go away.”

“If you'd recognized him, he'd be in jail, and even the stupidest of killers would realize that already,” Gerard said. “His goal is to stop you from remembering.”

“You could get your memory back at any time.” Nick leaned forward until he caught Emma's attention. “Most people are smart enough to know that.”

“You're a target, kiddo,” Gerard said.

Some of the color left her cheeks. “But why would a killer hang around Jolly Mill? Why not just disappear?”

“Because leaving now—especially if he's a longtime resident—would only draw attention to him.”

“Now you see why Sarah's so frightened?” Gerard caught Nick's gaze again and nodded.

Emma slumped in her seat and covered her face with her hands. “My poor sister. If not for me, she wouldn't be here. She'd be hiding out in her house working on her latest novel when she's not swamped with lesson plans.”

Nick smiled to himself. “She started writing articles for the school paper our freshman year. I know she loves to write, but you're more important to her than writing or being famous or traveling the world.”

Emma blinked. “She said that?”

“Sure did. I can't see Sarah seeking fame, anyway. She's not that type.”

“But I'm stopping her from her dream.”

“Nothing's stopping her. In fact, having you with her might even inspire her.”

“Sure thing,” Gerard said. “Especially if you're willing to help out around the house so she'll have time to write after work.”

“I could totally do that, but do you know how hard it is to work a full-time job, then come home and—”

“And see the house cleaned by her mature younger sister, who has dinner waiting?” Gerard asked. “Then you could ace your homework to get a scholarship to college while Sarah writes. You're not a baby in diapers.”

Something caught Emma's attention past the fence to their right. She jerked forward in her seat, once again catching herself in the seat belt. She pointed out the window. “Pine!” she shrieked.

To his credit, Gerard didn't swerve. Nick had learned enough after less than twenty-four hours with Emma to realize their subject had once more changed, and in her overly excited state, one had to be prepared for anything. He waited.

She turned around, her mouth a round O, her white teeth peeping out. “There was a piney scent, too. I remember now. Citrus-pine and cinnamon.”

“The aroma at the hospital?” Gerard asked. “You just now remembered that?”

“I caught the scent at the conference center. The cinnamon could've been from Parker's Diner, sure, but why did I smell it in the hospital?”

“Maybe because Billy came to the hospital to see how you were?” Nick asked. “And Gerard was trimming trees this morning, weren't you, Gerard? Alec said he couldn't find you, and you had sawdust on your clothes when you came to give us a ride to the hospital.”

The big man groaned. “Juniper trees. That would contribute the pine scent.”

“You didn't take time to change.”

Gerard leaned over for Emma to catch a whiff of his shirt. “Ignore the sweat. Familiar?”

She giggled, then sniffed his shirt. “Maybe, if you were trimming juniper trees. But the berries are used in soaps and stuff, and they have a citrus-pine scent, too. What if I was smelling somebody's soap?”

Nick frowned. “Maybe. Or the scent clue could be a dead end.”

“I'm not ruling it out yet,” Gerard said. “Emma, any more memories?”

“You mean since you asked me ten minutes ago? No.”

“Why didn't you enter the building?” Nick asked.

Emma fell silent and sat back in her seat. “How do you know I didn't?”

“There was mud all around the building from recent rains. Sarah and I tracked it into the building, but ours were the only footprints.”

Emma covered her face with her hands and released a heavy sigh. “I wish I could remember something. Anything.”

Nick grimaced. Someone else was likely wishing just as heartily that she never would.

* * *

“You change your name to Atlas lately?” Edward's voice broke into Sarah's internal debate. “You look like someone who's trying to carry the world on your shoulders.”

“Would the responsibility for one sixteen-year-old count? One who never sits still, never thinks before she acts, who thinks she's on her own now that Mom and Dad are gone?” How badly she wanted to dump all her pent-up frustrations on Edward. And how badly he needed to be protected from those frustrations.

But really? Did Edward need protection? Maybe he was in need of hope.

It was far past time to tell him everything. He deserved to know he had a granddaughter. That he was family. Sarah's heart rate crept up, and the cab of the truck began to feel a little too warm. “You and Aunt Peg and Mom and Dad were the best of friends before we left here.”

“That we were.”

“It's my fault your friendship was damaged after we moved.”

He shot her a quick look of surprise. “First of all, what makes you think our friendship was damaged? Second, how could anything like that have been your fault?”

Sarah hesitated. “We only moved across the state, not the other side of the world. I know you and Aunt Peg must have been shocked when you found out about Emma nine months after we left Jolly Mill.”

“Shocked? No way. Lives get complicated. We knew Mark and Lydia wanted another child and were thrilled when we heard about Emma.”

“I remember when you visited. But weren't you disappointed they didn't tell you before she was born?”

For a moment, he was silent. “Adoptions aren't the same as carrying a baby to term.” He glanced at her, appearing confused. “We knew that, and we understood their wish to keep the adoption quiet. No one heard it from our lips. Not even Nick. He was buried in preparations for scholarships and premed studies then, anyway.”

Adoption. “They told you.”

“Um, Sarah, there's a fly buzzing around in this cab somewhere. You probably should close your mouth. What's the big deal?”

Surprise held her speechless for a moment as they drove past a pond filled with cattle. Obviously, the afternoon had turned out hotter than a typical day in May. Taking note of the weather was on the bottom of her priority list.

“There's something else on your mind,” Edward said. “Your eyes are about to bug out of their sockets, and you're trying to tie a knot in some of your fingers.”

She glanced down at her hands and flattened them on her knees. “Oh, Edward, you don't know how much we missed you and Aunt Peg and Nick when we went to St. Louis. At one point I begged Dad to let us move back.” And that was before Emma was born, when the whole truth would have come out. She hadn't cared.

“Things changed for everyone then, sweetheart, but your dad couldn't keep working a full-time job at the hospital plus pastor the church. It got to be too much for him. He thought giving up nursing and becoming a hospital chaplain would give him the break he needed to spend more time with his family.”

“It didn't work out. He missed church work.”

“I knew he would. All they wanted was for you and Shelby to have the best life had to offer. What was the desire of your heart, Sarah Fey?”

“I always wanted to return to Jolly Mill.”

“And yet you stayed in Sikeston and took a job after college.”

“I couldn't leave Emma.” The words were out before she considered them, and she felt Edward's sudden interest. Siblings didn't hang around home just to be close to their younger brothers or sisters, especially after graduating from college.