Love Inspired Suspense April 2015 #1 (50 page)

“I can't believe this,” he muttered. “He really let those girls go shopping?”

Urgent now, he tossed his phone down on the passenger seat and pulled out into traffic. It would be at least ninety minutes before he could get to the mall.

WHAM!

The car lurched forward as it was struck from behind. Jace just avoided slamming into the guardrail. He jerked the cruiser back just in time to see the car shift into the lane beside him and speed up. He could make out broad shoulders, but the driver's face was hidden behind a scarf and a baseball cap pulled low over his features. Remembering being shot at before, Jace risked a glance in the rearview mirror. No one was behind him. His lips a grim line, he slammed a foot down on the brakes and held tight to the steering wheel. Unprepared, the other car shot past him. Jace sped up and flipped on his siren. He caught sight of the license plate and radioed it in.

“That plate belongs to a vehicle reported stolen last week.”

Of course it does.

Jace continued to follow the other vehicle. The driver accelerated and swerved onto an exit ramp. Jace maneuvered onto the ramp, then lost the other car when a convoy of tractor trailers came between them.

He banged his hand on the steering wheel. He had been so close to catching this guy. At least he knew that he was being followed this time, which meant that Mel should be safe for the time being. He furrowed his brow. Something gnawed at him. Grabbing a piece of spearmint gum from his pocket, he chewed as he mulled over the events.

There was quite a difference between shooting at people and leaving threatening pictures. Even the mannequin and the rock incidents were only threats. And then there was the fire. That was more than a threat. So was the attempt to shoot at them while they were driving.

His mind latched on to the idea that had been brewing inside for the past couple days.

There had to be more than one attacker. Nothing else made sense. Now if he could only prove his theory.

The dispatcher came over the radio, reporting an incident at the mall. He held his breath, knowing there was no way he could get there to make sure Mel was safe.

“Officers on the scene. No injuries reported.”

Jace let out the breath he was holding on a prayer of thanksgiving. Mel was in God's hands. He had to trust. Although that did not mean he couldn't use his siren.

Flipping his siren back on, he moved into the right lane to pass the slowing traffic.

Hold on, Mel. I'm coming.

TWELVE

M
elanie sipped the Coke the store manager had brought her. The officer who had responded to the call closed his notebook as he finished his notes. Irene hovered like a mother hen, alternating flapping her hands and wringing them. Mel was touched by her concern, and bit her tongue to keep from asking Irene to please sit down.

“The pet store on the lower level reported they sold two black snakes to a kid about an hour ago,” the officer informed her. “Since you appear to have been targeted, I would guess she was paid to do it.”

Melanie remembered the young girl who had handed her the bag.. Before she could ask about her, Irene's cell phone rang. The manager and the officer both frowned at the redheaded woman, making her flush.

Irene grabbed the offending phone and took it outside to answer it.

“Hey, Mom. There's been a problem—” Mel heard before the door shut behind Irene. Great. One more thing Mrs. Tucker could blame her for, just when she thought she'd been making progress.

One person looked more miserable than she felt. Miles stood off to the side, his face pale. He held his hat in his hands, wringing it mercilessly. It would probably never look the same again. He had apologized to her at least a dozen times. If he tried again, she just might start pulling out her hair. She didn't see how he could have possibly stopped the incident. It's not as though he could have come into the dressing room with her.

Irene returned. “Sorry. I turned the phone off.”

The officer frowned at her, jerking his head to motion her all the way inside. She hurried back to Melanie's side.

“Madam, I'm so sorry that such a thing happened in my store.” The manager stood before Mel, his wide forehead slick and sweaty. “Please, allow me to make amends. What were you purchasing this afternoon?”

“I was buying a dress and shoes for my aunt's funeral.” She indicated the dress and shoes sitting beside her. Irene had still been holding them when they had been escorted to the back of the store.

His face grew another shade paler.

“Please, the dress is on the house. Accept it with our apologies.” He made a funny little bow as he spoke.

“Sam, do you know who this is?” a young clerk, no more than sixteen, interrupted. “I saw her on the news. She's the chick that killed that college kid. I think she probably killed her aunt, too.”

Melanie gasped as she took in the girl's smirk. Irene rounded on the girl like a mother tigress.

“How dare you! Is this the way you treat customers in this store? She was nowhere near her aunt when she passed away. What a horrible rumor to spread.” Unfortunately, Irene could not say she hadn't killed Sylvie, Mel thought, her lips twisting. She may believe Mel was innocent, but the law still held that Mel was guilty.

The horrified manager shushed the girl and sent her to work on inventory in the back room.

Red-faced, he apologized again. “Take the shoes, too.”

* * *

Irene plopped down on the living room couch and set her feet, ankles crossed, on the coffee table. A stack of magazines fell off the other side. Mel moved to pick them up, but Irene motioned her away. She pointed a stern manicured finger at Melanie.

“You. Sit,” she ordered. “You deserve to relax after a day like today. I nearly passed out when I saw that snake crawling around in that room with you.”

“
You
nearly passed out? How do you think I felt when I reached into the bag and actually felt the snake? I hate snakes with a passion. I can't believe I was dumb enough not to question someone handing me a bag. I should have looked inside it, not just reached in with my bare hand.” The memory of the dry, slithery coils had goose bumps breaking out on her arms. She shuddered.

“I couldn't believe that horrible girl. To say such a thing to a complete stranger!” Irene huffed.

Mel smiled at her new friend. “I was shocked, but you know she only said what others were thinking.” Irene started to protest. “Stop, Irene. You know I'm right. I think Jace believes I was set up because of the events in the past few days. You believe me because of Jace. But can you honestly say that if it weren't for your brother, you'd think I was innocent?”

“Of course I would!” Irene protested weakly. Her eyes caught Mel's before she flushed and looked down at her lap.

Melanie sighed, disappointed. Which was unreasonable, she knew. If everyone thought she was guilty, how could she expect a different response from Irene?

“But, Melanie, that doesn't matter!” Irene exclaimed. “I do believe you! Wondering whether or not I would have in different circumstances is pointless.”

Melanie shoved her bitterness aside. “You're right, of course.”

Irene gave her a relieved smile.

The front door slammed.

“Mel? Irene?”

Jace. Her heart sped up.

“In the living room,” Irene hollered.

Brisk footsteps pounded toward them. Jace stopped just inside the room, his gaze fused with Mel's. For a moment, they just stared at each other. Irene's chuckle broke through to Mel, and she dropped her eyes, feeling heat spread up her neck and into her face.

“I heard on the radio that there was an incident at the mall today. Please tell me you weren't there.”

Flustered, Mel exchanged a glance with Irene. Mel couldn't lie, though. Especially not to Jace. So she nodded. His eyes fixed on her in frustrated disbelief and he raked his hand through his hair. She rushed to explain.

“We had two officers with us, and Paul knew where we were going.”

“But why did you need to go? Particularly now?”

Mel stood and went to Jace. She put a hand on his arm, feeling the muscles jump beneath his shirt. He looked...what? Disappointed? She couldn't bear to think she had let him down.

Before she could say anything, Irene rushed in to defend their excursion.

“Honestly, Jace, we had to go! Melanie had no clothes that were appropriate for her aunt's funeral. And you know people will be watching. Please don't be mad.” Irene gave an exaggerated pleading look.

Jace rolled his eyes. “I will never understand women and their clothes. All I heard on the radio was that there was an incident. Fill me in, will you?”

Choosing her words with care, Mel told him what had happened, then waited. She wasn't sure what she expected. Anger, maybe. Or frustration. Maybe even a lecture.

What she didn't expect was gleam in his eyes.

* * *

Finally, a break in the case.

“Mel, first of all, are you all right?”

She nodded. “I'm fine. It shook me up, but I'm okay.”

“Good. I think you'd better sit down.”

She bit her lip and looked up at him anxiously. He had the urge to lean down and kiss her sweet lips. Not that he would, of course, because that would end any chance he had of protecting his battered heart from her. Instead, he focused on the matter at hand.

“Let me tell you what I found out today.” He told them about his conversation with Chief Garraway.

“I believe that Steven Scott was killed because he told someone he was planning to go to the cops. I don't think the killer knew he had already gone.”

“You weren't able to talk with the detective who had spoken with him?” Irene asked her brother.

“Couldn't. He's undercover, trying to find the person who sabotaged Scott's car. She wouldn't even give me his name. It would jeopardize his cover.”

He then related the events that occurred on his drive home. Both women gasped, their hands over their mouths, concern darkening their eyes. It warmed him to see the caring on their faces.

“It was a stolen car. I suspect the car that was used when we were shot at was stolen, too.”

“So you're no closer to catching this guy?” Dismay colored Mel's voice.

“Ladies, one good thing has come of this.” He laughed at their matching skeptical expressions. “I'm serious. I have been confused by the way this perp had no patterns. It struck me that maybe there were two perps, not one.”

“Two!” Mel jumped to her feet.

Jace came to his feet as well. He reached over and gathered her hands in his. “Mel, think of it. That's the only explanation that makes sense. How could someone corner you at a store and go after me at the same time? There have to be two different perps. My question now is whether they are working together or separately.”

Mel squeezed his fingers so hard, he wondered if she was cutting off the circulation. He doubted she was even aware of what she was doing.

“What's your gut instinct tell you?” she asked him.

“My gut says they are two people with separate agendas. That's why the one is intent on frightening you into leaving town. A bully, so to speak. The other one, though, is out for blood.”

“I'm so sorry, Jace.”

Jace was astonished to see the tears pooling in her eyes.

“Good grief, Melanie, why are you sorry? You've done nothing to deserve this.” He smoothed her hair back from her face.

She caught his hand in her free one. “Jace, the only reason you are in danger is because of me.”

He scoffed. “I would have become involved sooner or later. My conscience, if nothing else, would have driven me to act.”

“He's right, Mel.” Irene stepped up beside Mel and placed an arm around her shoulders. Jace was touched to see the affection blossoming between the two women. “Whoever these guys are, they're playing a sick game. They need to be stopped.”

“And Mel—” Jace placed his knuckle under Mel's chin to bring her face back to face him “—you don't deserve this.” The desire to kiss those lips was pulling at him. It was becoming harder to remember why he was resolved not to fall for her. But he had to. Especially now. Because her life depended on his ability to do his duty, and he couldn't do that if he let emotions cloud his thinking. With an effort, he stepped away from her and moved to the window.

Irene chuckled.

“Where's Mom?” he asked his sister, mostly to distract her.

Irene adopted an indifferent expression and shrugged her slim shoulders. “I don't know. She wasn't here when we got home.”

“She called you while we were at the store,” Melanie tilted her head.

“Yeah, but she just said she was running errands.”

“Well, before she gets home, let's go over what happened this afternoon again.” Jace gathered up paper and pencils and made a list of the events and their approximate times.

“See?” He pointed to an item on his list. “You were in the dressing room at two. I was in my car at two forty-five. It's a good two hours from Erie to Pittsburgh. There's no way—”

“Hey, kids, I'm home!”

Jace and Irene both rolled their eyes. “In here, Mom.”

The click of heels hitting the linoleum flooring echoed in the kitchen. They waited patiently for Mrs. Tucker to reach the living room. She took in the sight of the three people in the living room, her eyes lingering on Mel. For a moment, Jace worried that he might need to intervene between the two women again. Then, in the oddest turn of events, his mother grew flustered and patted her hair, a sure sign she was feeling uncomfortable.

“Melanie.” Her voice sounded strained, nervous.

“Mrs. Tucker?”

“Mom, are you okay?” Jace was starting to get just a little tense. Was she getting ready to try to kick Mel out again? He couldn't force his mother to accept Mel into her house, but he was running out options.

“I'm fine, dear.” Mrs. Tucker fixed her troubled gaze on her daughter. “Irene, would you mind giving us a moment? I would like to talk with Melanie alone.”

Irene looked surprised, but she kissed her family farewell and headed toward the front door. “Not a problem. I have to get home, anyway. Tony has a meeting tonight, so I need to get home in time to get him and the boys' dinner.”

“Give them a hug from their favorite uncle.” Jace adored the rambunctious one-and three-year-old boys.

“Only uncle,” Irene snorted as she shrugged into her coat and departed, leaving the scent of her perfume in the air.

Jace was slightly concerned. His mother had not been Mel's biggest fan. He folded his arms across his chest and waited. Mel would not be facing this conversation alone. He loved his mom, but he knew she could be a real harridan when the moment warranted it. He wasn't exactly sure what he expected her to do.

Nothing could have prepared him for what happened next.

Mrs. Tucker walked over to Melanie and took one of her hands in her own wrinkled one. Mel rocked slightly, almost like a deer preparing to flee. “Melanie, I need to ask for your forgiveness.”

“Wh-what?”

“Mom?”

She turned her sorrowful eyes on her son. “I have been thinking all day of what happened yesterday—how someone shot at you and Jace. And then when I called Irene, she told me about the incident at the mall. I don't know if you are guilty of the crime you went to jail for. Jace and Irene don't seem to think so. But regardless of your guilt or innocence, I know that in trying to force you from my home, I placed you and Jace in danger. I know my son well enough to know that he will protect you with his life if necessary. I only have two children left. I would never have forgiven myself if anything had happened to him because of me.” She looked down. “And I know he would suffer if anything happened to you on his watch. I can't let him go through that again.” Tears filled the woman's eyes.

Mel reached out her free hand and placed it over their joined hands. “Of course I forgive you, Mrs. Tucker. You were not at fault.”

His chest ached with tenderness for this woman.

He was in trouble. Epic trouble.

* * *

Mel felt as if she had been hit by truck. The sight of Mrs. Tucker begging for her forgiveness was surreal, to say the least. Only yesterday, this same woman had regarded her with open hostility. Even Jace appeared to be stunned by the change.