Stranger in the Shadows

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“And I would have introduced the two of you if you’d been there.”

“I’m almost sorry I missed it.”

“Almost?”

“Tiffany isn’t ready to take the baby out or leave him with a sitter yet. I’m not ready to spend my Saturday away from her.”

“Who’d have thought marriage would make you into such a romantic?” Ben grinned and got out of the car. “I’d better head home. I’ve got to work tomorrow.”

“Good avoidance technique, but I still want to know about you and Chloe.”

“You’ve been living small-town life for too long. You’re getting nosy.”

“Only when it comes to my friends.”

“Sorry to disappoint, but you know as much about Chloe as I do.”

“I’m not interested in what you know about her. I’m wondering what you think of her.”

“Right now? I think she’s a nice lady who’s been hurt a lot.”

“Look, Ben, if you were anyone else, I’d keep my nose out of it, but you’re not, so I’m going to say what’s on my mind.”

“Go ahead.”

“Chloe does seem like a nice lady, but I know trouble when I see it. I see it when I look at her.”

“And?”

“And be careful. I don’t want that trouble coming after you.”

“Thanks for the worry, but I’m pretty good at taking care of myself. I’ll be fine.”

Jake nodded, but his jaw was tight, his expression grim. “I’ve got a bad feeling about this. Really bad. Watch your back.”

With that he walked away, stepping into his well-lit house, into the warmth of family and home, and leaving Ben to himself and his thoughts.

Thoughts that were similar to Jake’s.

Trouble did seem to be closing in on Chloe. If Ben were smart, he’d keep his distance from it and from her. Unfortunately, he didn’t think that was going to be possible. Something told him that Chloe was about to become a big part of his life. He might not want the complication, might not like it, but that seemed to be where God was leading him. If that were the case, Ben would just have to hold on tight and pray the ride wasn’t nearly as bumpy as he thought it was going to be.

Apparently, Chloe’s intruder was big news in Lakeview, and at least half a dozen customers converged on the flower shop minutes after it opened Monday morning. Opal seemed happy about all the business, but by noon Chloe was tired of the sometimes blatant, sometimes subtle questions. How many times and how many ways could a person say “I don’t know” before she went absolutely insane?

Not many more than Chloe had already said.

She pulled a dozen red carnations from the refrigerated display case, grabbed some filler and headed back to the shop’s front counter, doing her best to tamp down irritation as she listened to two elderly women discuss the “incident” in loud whispers.

“Here they are, Opal.” She spoke a little more forcefully than necessary, hoping to interrupt the women’s conversation.

It only seemed to make them think she wanted to be part of it.

The taller of the two smiled at Chloe. “Those are absolutely lovely, dear. I’m impressed that you could focus on picking the perfect flowers after such a harrowing experience.”

“Thank you.” What else could she say? “I try to keep my mind on the job.”

“But aren’t you terrified?” The shorter, more rotund woman shuddered, her owl-eyed gaze filled with both fear and anticipation, as if she were hoping for a juicy tidbit of information to pass along.

“Not really.” At least no more than she’d been before she’d come to Lakeview. “The sheriff assured me he’d do everything he could to find the person responsible.”

Though Chloe wondered if he’d be saying the same after he talked to the police in D.C. She wasn’t looking forward to the conversation they were going to have when he found out about her recent hospitalization and its supposed cause.

She refused to worry about it and tried to focus on her job instead, shoving the carnations into a vase and scowling when two stems broke.

“Keep it up and I’ll be out of business in no time.” Opal took the flowers and vase from her hands, smiling at the women who were watching wide-eyed and interested. “I’ll finish this up. Aren’t you supposed to go to the police station today?”

“Yes, but it can wait.”

“You know how I feel about procrastination. It only makes more work for everyone. Go punch out and head over there. Since we don’t know how long it’s going to take, I think you should just take the rest of the day off.”

“We’ve had a lot of business so far, Opal. Are you sure you want to handle the rest of the afternoon alone?”

“I handled it alone for two years before I hired help. Besides, I’ve hired a kid from church to come in after school until Jenna gets back. Laura’s her name. She’s a senior trying to save money for college. It should work out well for all of us. Now, go ahead and do what needs doing. Then go have some fun.”

“Fun?” Fun was puppies and kittens, laughter and friendship. Relaxation. Fun was something Chloe wasn’t even sure she knew how to do anymore.

“Yes, fun. Go shopping. Get your nails done. Better yet, go to Becky’s Diner and have a slice of warm apple pie with a scoop of ice cream on it. That’s fun.”

“It does sound good.” But being at home sounded better. Safe behind closed doors and locked in tight.

“But you won’t do it.”

“I might.”

“Hmph. We’ll see, I guess. Now, get out of here. I’ve got work to do and you’re distracting me.”

“Destroying flowers and distracting you. I don’t know why you keep me on.”

“Because you bring in so much business. Now, shoo.”

Chloe laughed as she stepped through the doorway that led to the back of the shop.

It didn’t take long to punch out and gather her jacket and purse. Outside, the day was misty and cold, the thick clouds and steely sky ominous. Several cars were parked in the employee parking lot behind the building, but Chloe was the only person there. In the watery afternoon light, the stillness seemed unnatural, the quiet, sinister, and she was sure she felt the weight of someone’s stare as she hurried toward her car.

She shivered, fumbling for her keys, the feeling that she was being watched so real, so powerful, that she was sure she’d be attacked at any moment. Finally, the key slid into the lock, the door opened and she scrambled in, slamming the door shut, locking it.

Against nothing. The parking lot was still empty of life. The day still and silent.

“You’re being silly and paranoid.” She muttered the words as she put the car into gear. “Being afraid because an intruder is in the house is one thing. Being afraid to cross a parking lot in the middle of the day is ridiculous.”

But she was afraid.

No amount of self-talk, no amount of rationalization could change that.

She sighed, steering her vintage Mustang toward the parking lot exit. Opal was right. She needed to do something fun, something to get her mind off the tension and anxiety she’d been feeling since Saturday night, but she hadn’t had time to make friends since she’d come to Lakeview and she had no intention of going anywhere or doing anything by herself. The fact was, despite what the D.C. police had told her, despite what her friends, doctors and psychologist had said, she couldn’t shake the feeling that danger was following her. That the accident hadn’t been the end of the violence against her. That eventually the past would catch up to her. And when it did, she just might not survive.

No, she definitely didn’t want to go anywhere by herself, but she didn’t want to go with someone, either. Look what had happened to Adam because he was with her when a murderer struck.

Hot tears stung her eyes, but she forced them away. Tears wouldn’t help. Only answers could do that and Chloe didn’t have any. She’d been living her life, doing what she thought was right, trying her best to be the person God wanted her to be. Then the rug had been pulled out from under her, the stability she’d worked so hard for destroyed. All her childhood fears had come to pass—death, heartache, pain, faceless monsters stalking her through the darkness. Now, it seemed that God was far away, that her life had taken a taken a path that He wasn’t on and that no matter how hard she tried to get back on course, she couldn’t. As much as she wanted to believe differently, as much as she knew that God would never abandon His children, abandoned was exactly how she felt.

Abandoned and alone, her mind filled with nightmare images and dark shadows that reflected the hollow ache of her soul.

SEVEN

By the time she finished at the police station and returned home, it had started to rain. First a quick patter of drops, then a torrential downpour that pinged against the house’s tin roof and seemed to echo Chloe’s mood. Outside, the clouds had turned charcoal, bubbling up from the horizon with barely contained violence.

Chloe put her mail on the kitchen table, grabbed a glass of water and opened sliding glass doors that led to the balcony off her living room. From there she could see the stark beauty of the lake as it reflected gray clouds and bare trees. Winter would arrive soon, bringing with it colder air and a starker landscape. It would be good to capture those changes on film, to hang a few new photos on the wall. The thought brightened her mood.

It had been a long time since she’d photographed anything. In the aftermath of the accident, she hadn’t had the time or the inclination. Now, with surgeries and physical therapy behind her, she did. She just hadn’t had any desire to.

Except once.

An image flashed through her mind—sandy hair, vivid blue eyes, a half smile designed to melt hearts.

“Enough!” She grabbed her digital camera from the top drawer of her dresser, refusing to think about Ben and determined to do what she should have months ago—regain her life. Get back into her routines. Enjoy the hobbies she’d found so much pleasure in before the accident. Maybe she couldn’t go rock climbing anymore, but she could shoot pictures. And she would.

A soft tap sounded at the front door and Chloe jumped, her heart racing. She wasn’t expecting company. Anyone could be out there, waiting to finish what was started almost a year ago.

She sidled along the wall, imagining bullets piercing the door and knowing just how ridiculous she was being. “Who’s there?”

“Ben Avery.”

“Ben?” Surprised, relieved, Chloe pulled open the door and stepped aside so he could walk in. “What are you doing here?”

“Carrying out my orders.” He smiled, rain glistening in his sandy hair and beaded on his leather jacket, the scent of fall drifting into the room with him. Fall and something else. Something masculine and strong.

Chloe took a step back. “Orders?”

“Opal and I ran into each other at the diner. She asked me to bring you this.” He held out a brown paper bag, and Chloe took it, catching a whiff of apples and cinnamon.

“Apple pie?”

“And ice cream. She had Doris put that in a separate container.”

“Fun in a bag?”

“I guess you could call it that.”

“Those are Opal’s words. Not mine. She said I should have a little fun today. I guess she wanted to make sure I did.” Chloe smiled, touched by her friend’s thoughtfulness, though she wasn’t sure she was happy with her methods. “Thanks for bringing this over. I’m sure you had better things to do with your time.”

“It seems like we had this conversation before. And I’m going to tell you the same thing now that I did then—I can’t think of any.” He leaned his shoulder against the wall, his vivid blue gaze steady. “Of course, bringing it here was only part of my job.”

“What was the other part?”

“I’m supposed to make sure you eat it.”

“Tell me you’re kidding.”

“I’m afraid not. She said that if you faded away to nothing she wouldn’t have any reliable help at the shop.”

“She’s conveniently forgetting Mary Alice and the new girl she hired.”

“Laura. She mentioned that she’d left her to watch the store for a few minutes and had to hurry back.”

“You and Opal must have had a long conversation.”

“Not too long.” He didn’t seem inclined to say more, and Chloe decided not to press for details. Knowing Opal, she’d said more than she should have. Eventually, she and Chloe would have to talk about that. For now, the pie smelled too good to ignore.

“Since you’ve been ordered to make sure I eat this, maybe we can share.” She moved into the small kitchen and set her camera down, grabbing two plates from the cupboard.

“I was hoping you’d say that. I brought enough for both of us.” Ben moved toward her, an easy grin curving his lips and deepening the lines near his eyes. Was he thirty? Thirty-five? Older?

She shouldn’t be wondering, but was.

And that didn’t make her happy.

“You knew I was going to invite you?”

“No, but I was hoping.” He pulled a large plastic container from the bag, opened it up to reveal two slices of apple pie. “It’s my day off. Apple pie, ice cream and interesting company seemed like a good way to spend part of it.”