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The doorknob rattled but didn’t turn. He tried to twist it, to no avail. Ross stepped back, studied it, caught a glimmer of silver.
“Just a minute. I see something.” A metal rod had been shoved under the door, tilting it just enough to jam it closed. He grabbed a mop handle and inserted it in the space. At last the metal rod rolled out. “Try the door now, Kelly.”
The knob turned, she stepped out and stood there, tall, slim and more afraid than he’d ever seen her. Her brown eyes looked glazed, glossy with unshed tears, and her hand trembled as she lifted it to smooth her shoulder-length sun-kissed strands of hair.
“Someone locked me in,” she whispered.
He could have handled the weak trembly note in her voice. He might even have managed to ignore the teardrop clinging to her long spiky lashes. But as he watched her face, saw how she grappled for that mantle of self-possession and couldn’t find it, he couldn’t ignore that.
Ross reached out, gathered her into his arms.
“It’s okay, Kelly. You’re safe. You’re okay.”
“Yes. Thank you.” Her hands wrapped around him and she clung for timeless moments.
He held her until the fragile weight of her body stopped shaking, until the strong, capable Kelly returned, took control and stepped away.
“Okay now?” he asked quietly.
She nodded.
“I think so. It was just a little nerve-wracking when I started thinking I’d be locked in there for two days. I didn’t think anyone would come into the office on the weekend.”
So she’d come here to be alone.
“How did you get it open?” She listened carefully as he explained. “That couldn’t have been an accident,” she whispered when he’d stopped speaking. “Could it?”
“I doubt it.” He frowned as suspicion niggled at the back of his mind. “Who would have done something like that?”
“I don’t know. I thought I heard something, someone. But I guess it was just nerves.”
She wasn’t telling the truth. Ross had been reading people for a long time and he knew Kelly Young wasn’t telling him something. That was okay. She could tell him later. But right now he needed some questions answered.
“Kelly, when I arrived I saw someone leaving via the side exit. They drove away in a black car. I didn’t get the plate number.”
“From the side? The emergency exit?” She bit her lip. “But it’s always kept closed. How could they get in? The building was locked up when I arrived.”
Maybe not as tightly as she thought, Ross surmised.
“I don’t know who it was. They were dressed in black, a smallish person—maybe a kid who’s angry at you, a teenager?”
“Angry? At me?” She blinked, her eyes dark and confused. “It’s possible, I guess, but I don’t think so.”
“Then maybe—”
Kelly’s eyes widened. She reached over and flicked on the hall light, then she bent over to pick up something from the floor.
“What’s that?”
“A note.”
The shaky tone was back, threading through her soft voice. Ross glanced down, saw the sheet of paper in her hands.
Leave town. Or pay the consequences.
Kelly felt Detective Zach Fletcher’s intensive scrutiny even though she wasn’t looking at him. Ross had insisted on calling him away from the wedding reception and Zach had come immediately. Now, half an hour later, Tiny Blessings was swarming with police.
“You’re sure you can’t tell me anything more?”
“I didn’t see anything, Zach. I was working in the closet. I turned to leave but the door slammed closed. I couldn’t get it open.”
“But you heard a voice?”
She nodded.
“It said there was nothing in town for me anymore and that I should leave before it’s too late. I told you all this.”
“Yes, you did. And they left this.” He stared at the note for a moment, flicked a finger against the plastic covering it, then glanced at her, his blue eyes softening. “Are you sure I can’t call Pilar? She’d want to be here. For that matter, so would Meg and Rachel.”
“Please, no. Nobody else needs to know about this right now. I’ve already spoiled your evening. I don’t want to ruin anyone else’s. You should be with Pilar, celebrating Ben and Leah’s wedding.”
He smiled. “We’ll celebrate, don’t worry. But I’m concerned about you. I don’t want you to go home alone.”
“I’ll go with her,” Ross volunteered.
Kelly jumped at the sound of his voice from behind her. She’d almost forgotten he was still there.
“You don’t have to—”
“Thanks, Ross. I’d really appreciate that.” Zach overrode her weak objections. “I’ll get the lab working on things as soon as I can, but with holidays and everything, it might take a while to get any answers.”
“Doesn’t matter. I’ll be in town for a while longer.” Ross and Zach exchanged a funny look before Ross turned to her, raising one eyebrow. “Unless you object?”
Even the thought of being locked in that room again, with someone outside the door, whispering, it made Kelly shiver.
“I’d very much appreciate your help,” she murmured. “After the thing with the car and now this, I’m a little nervous.”
“What thing?” Zach was all ears while Ross explained the accident.
“I gave her a ride, then came back and watched while they towed the car. Vinnie should be able to tell you more when he gets back to work, but the way Kelly described her steering seemed odd for a simple malfunction.”
“Actually, Vinnie left a message on my machine.” She glanced from one ruggedly handsome face to the other. “I think he said the steering had been tampered with.”
Kelly watched the two men exchange a glance and wished she’d kept silent. Now they’d think she was paranoid. “It’s probably nothing, a mistake. In fact, I’m sure it’s a mistake.”
“I’ve never known Vinnie to make a mistake like that.” Zach scribbled something on a pad. “I’ll talk to him. In the meantime, why don’t you head home? We’ll finish here and lock up for you. I should be able to set the security system by myself, shouldn’t I?”
“Just press the set alarm button and leave within twenty seconds.” Kelly chewed her bottom lip. “Um, Zach? The system wasn’t on when I came in.”
“Wasn’t on?” More writing.
“I punched in my code, but I didn’t need it,” she explained. “It wasn’t on. I’m sure someone just forget to set it in the hectic rush before the wedding today.” She wasn’t going to blame Florence.
“Anybody ever forgotten that little detail before?” Zach’s blue eyes were dark as thunderclouds.
“No. Not that I know of.”
“Uh-huh.” He scribbled in his little book some more, then peered at her through his lashes. “Anything else you can think of?”
“I don’t think so.” He kept staring at her, his gaze narrowed. “Really, Zach. I think that’s it.”
“Okay.” He flipped the pad closed. “Go home, Kelly. I’ll get hold of you if I need you again.”
“Thanks.” She glanced at her watch, grimaced. Quarter to eleven. What a way to spend an evening.
“I’ll take you whenever you’re ready,” Ross murmured.
“Thanks. I just have to get my things.”
Moments later they were in his car, rumbling toward Kelly’s home. When they arrived, she was surprised to see a police cruiser sitting outside, waiting.
“If you’ll go inside and check things out, ma’am,” the officer asked. “Zach asked me to make sure.”
She stared at him, the implication hitting home.
“You think someone has been here, in my house?” She felt a pressure on her arm, turned to study Ross’s face. “Surely no one would break in here?”
“He’s not saying they would,” Ross reassured. “He just wants to make sure you’re all right. Come on, Kelly. I’ll go with you. We’ll check things out together.”
She responded to the tug on her arm, followed Ross to the door. He took her keys, opened it and stepped inside, glancing around first, then waved her in. “Everything look the same as you left it?”
Her white cashmere coat was lying across the arm of the sofa where she’d thrown it, black heels nearby.
“I think so.”
“We’ll go through each room down here, move upstairs, then check out the basement. Don’t worry, I’ll be right beside you.” His fingers grasped hers, squeezed. “You deserve some peace of mind after what just happened. Checking everything will ensure that.”
Kelly squeezed back, but kept her hand in his, drawing him along with her. She felt weak, silly, afraid—the emotions jumbled together as she took him from room to room, nodding each time he asked, “Okay?”
By the time they’d returned to the foyer she’d regained some of her equanimity. With an apologetic look, she slid her fingers from Ross’s.
“Thanks,” she whispered, feeling the heat rise into her cheeks.
“Anytime,” he growled, grinning at her blush. Then he opened the door and addressed the officer. “We’ve been through the house. Everything looks fine.”
“Good. We’ll be patrolling past here every little while. You need anything, you dial 911.” He stared straight at Kelly, waiting for her nod.
“Thanks.” Ross closed the door, twisted the dead bolt, then turned to face her. “Would it be too much to ask for a cup of hot chocolate?”
“Of course not. I should have offered. Come on into the kitchen and I’ll put on some water to warm.”
Kelly found her feet moving slowly, as if by rote, and wondered why she couldn’t snap out of this cocoon that weighed her down. She wanted to tell Ross she was fine, that she could manage on her own. She didn’t want him to see her here in this big empty house, looking like a pathetic figure with no one in all of Chestnut Grove to turn to.
But wasn’t that exactly what she was?
“Have a seat. Would you like something to eat with your cocoa?” she asked, hoping he’d say yes.
Kelly had baked a mountain of things before Christmas, thinking she’d have plenty on hand when she invited people over. But holidays were family times and, because she hesitated to break into that laughing closeness that existed between reunited families who got together only once or twice a year, Kelly had ended up asking only a few guests. That left her with a freezer full of fattening food. Oh well, the food bank might take it.
“You wouldn’t have any chocolate cake, would you?” Ross asked. “I love chocolate cake, but no matter how well I read the cake mix instructions, I just can’t make a decent cake.”
The very thought of him mixing and blending made her smile, but she hid it by opening the fridge.
“You certainly are the man of the moment. I happen to have two of them sitting here, but only one is waiting to go to the church outing tomorrow.” She held the door open so he could see. “Is that what you’d like?”
At the sight of her mile-high chocolate layer surprise, his eyes grew huge. He licked his lips.
“Perfect. But are you sure you want to cut into one? If you were supposed to bring two—”
“Just one. But I always make two because the filling is a double recipe. Somehow it doesn’t taste right if you cut it in half so I always make two cakes. There’s plenty for you. I’ll give Pilar’s dad Salvador a quarter, take some to work, maybe even sneak a piece or two to Rachel’s father Charles if I think her mother won’t catch me.”
“Why shouldn’t she catch you?”
“Beatrice is vegan, vegetarian in the extreme. This cake is worse than red meat to her.” She giggled at his squinched-up face. “If nothing else, I can always throw what’s left away.”
“In the garbage?” Ross looked scandalized.
“What else? If I had a dog, I’d feed it to him, but then he’d probably get sick. It’s pretty rich,” she warned as she set the cake on the counter in front of him.
Ross seemed content to sit there, staring at the cake, so Kelly busied herself making two big mugs of hot chocolate, adding water to the gourmet mix she’d purchased. Then she laced both drinks with some leftover whipped cream. She sprinkled some peppermint mint chips on top, then added a striped candy cane poking through the cream.
Kelly carried her favorite etched mugs to the counter, set one in front of him and one at her own place. She got a plate, a knife, a cake lifter, two forks and a couple of festive napkins. In minutes she had two place settings on each of the quilted placemats she’d made for the holidays. With a flick of a button, the radio began playing soft music that filled the room and helped drain away some of the emptiness she felt inside.
“Aren’t you going to taste it?” she asked when Ross made no effort to pick up his fork.
“Uh-huh.” But he remained transfixed, his eyes riveted on the dark chocolate layers that sat on regal layers of pure white cream.
The sound of her grandfather clock chimed twelve and sent the sound echoing from the living room throughout the house.
“I’m a bit late but I don’t think I ever wished you a happy New Year, Ross,” she murmured, holding up her mug.
His eyes met hers. He reached out, grasped his mug and lifted it, touching the rim against hers.
“Happy New Year, Kelly.”
The phone chose that precise moment to ring. Kelly set down her untouched mug and lifted the receiver.
“You’ve been warned,” a voice cackled. Then the line went dead.
