Love Inspired Suspense December 2013 Bundle: Christmas Cover-Up\Force of Nature\Yuletide Jeopardy\Wilderness Peril (50 page)

No one spoke again as they continued walking along the pathway. After about a mile Grace stopped and pointed to the trees alongside the paved walkway. “It's in there.”

Alex's gaze drifted over the densely covered area. “I'm glad the leaves are off. Maybe it won't be too difficult to find whatever's been left. Let's see what it is.”

The police fanned out in a circle, and they all walked into the woods. They'd only been searching for a few minutes when Grace spotted a manila envelope. It stuck out from underneath a large rock that had been placed at the base of a tree. “I think I have something.”

The officers formed a protective ring around Grace and continued scanning the forest as Alex trudged through the undergrowth, stopped beside her and glanced down. “He didn't hide this very well, did he?”

“No. He wanted to make sure we found it. Since there aren't any other rocks that size around, he must have moved this one from down near the river.” She took a deep breath. “Let's see what it is.”

She picked up the bubble-cushioned mailer that looked to be about six by nine inches and ripped the seal open. Then she stuck her hand inside and pulled out an object wrapped in a piece of paper.

“What's that?” Alex asked.

“I don't know.” Grace frowned and unwrapped the object. A carved wooden wolf lay inside. She picked up the carving and turned it over and over as she studied it. Suddenly she winced. “Ouch!”

Alex stepped closer. “What's the matter?”

She shook her head. “I'm okay. There's a sharp edge on the wolf, and it pricked my finger.”

He frowned. “Does it hurt?”

“No, but it startled me.” She turned the carving around in her hand again, careful not to touch the edge, and then glanced at the paper it had been wrapped in. She swallowed hard at the words on the page. “He's left me another note. It says, ‘Some ancient people thought the wolf represented danger. Landon found out it did. Are you next?'”

Alex raked his hand through his hair. “Okay, that's it. This guy is getting too vocal in his threats. You are getting out of this investigation right now before it gets more dangerous.”

Grace glanced down at the wolf and the note again. “Don't be ridiculous. We must be getting closer, or he wouldn't feel the need to voice these threats.”

Alex shook his head and glanced around the area. “We don't know if he's out there in the trees watching us or not. He could have you in the sights of a rifle right now.” He grabbed her by the arm and pulled her toward the pathway as he called out to the officers. “We're leaving. Let's get out of here now.”

Propelled by Alex's grip on her arm, Grace stumbled forward as she stuck the note and the wolf in her coat pocket. Once on the pathway, Alex didn't slow down but kept a tight hold on her arm as they strode back toward the entrance. She glanced over her shoulder, and the officers hurried along the path behind them.

After about half a mile Grace winced at the numbing pain radiating through her trembling legs. What was Alex's hurry? Her chest heaved, and she panted for breath. “Alex, please slow down. You're walking too fast for me.”

His gaze swept the pathway and the trees beside it. “We need to get out of here, Grace. There are too many places someone could be hiding. We'll slow down when we get to the parking lot.”

She nodded and allowed him to pull her forward. By the time they'd gone five hundred feet farther her heart pounded so hard, she thought her chest might explode any minute. Her rubbery legs wanted to collapse, but she pushed on.

A sudden crushing pain gripped her chest, and she gasped for breath. A sound from somewhere in her head filled her, and she glanced toward the trees. She shook her head to clear away the dizziness and squinted at the image staring at her from between two trees. With every ounce of strength she could muster she pulled free of Alex. “Look who's here,” she mumbled.

Alex jerked to a stop, whirled to face the trees, and pointed his gun in that direction. “Who is it?”

The other officers surrounded them within seconds. “What's going on?” she heard one say.

“Something's wrong with Grace,” Alex said, but his voice seemed to be coming from far away.

She frowned at the gun in Alex's hand. There was no need for that. She glanced back at the familiar face in the trees staring at her, held out her hand and wiggled her fingers. “It's all right. You can come to me.”

Alex turned back to her. “I don't see...” His eyebrows drew together as he scanned her face. “Grace, are you all right?”

“I'm fine.” She looked up at Alex. “Why won't he come here?” She closed her eyes as another wave of dizziness swept over her. She reached for Alex, and he caught her in his arms when she toppled toward him.

“Grace, what's the matter?” He knelt down and cradled her in his arms. “You're not making any sense. Who did you see?”

She raised a shaking finger and pointed to the trees. “Snowball. I'll ride him home.”

“The pony you had when you were a child?” Alex turned his head to stare in the direction she pointed, then back to her. “Where is he?”

“Right there,” she gasped. “Don't you see him?”

“There's nothing there, Grace.”

What was the matter with Alex? Didn't he recognize the pony they'd ridden together when they were children? She struggled to push to her feet, but Alex's strong arms held her still. “He's there. I want to ride him.”

Her eyesight blurred, and she blinked to clear her vision. When she reopened her eyes, the pony had disappeared. She frowned and glanced up at a strange man who hovered over her. Several other faces looked down at her. “Wh-who are you?” she stammered.

“Grace, it's Alex. Don't you recognize me?”

She shook her head and tried to pull from this stranger's grasp. “Don't touch me,” she screamed. “Alex, where are you?” she yelled.

“I'm right here, Grace.”

She looked up into the face of the man who spoke, but she didn't know him. “Do you know Alex?”

“Grace, I'm Alex.”

She saw his lips move, but the ringing in her ears drowned out his words. He leaned closer, and she tried to speak. Her breath hitched in her throat, and her words died on her lips.

The man moved slightly, and she saw a cell phone in his hand. With a sigh she surrendered to the darkness that crept over her.

* * *

Alex started to punch in 911 on his cell phone, but one of the other officers was already calling on his phone. Alex cradled Grace's limp body in his arms as another officer helped him to his feet. He glanced at the man on the phone. “Tell them to meet us at the parking lot. We're almost there.”

He held her close as he ran down the path that led back to where he'd left his car. He heard the sirens just before he and the officers reached the entrance to the greenway and stumbled into the parking lot at the same moment the ambulance pulled to a stop.

The EMTs were out of the ambulance almost before they'd come to a stop, and Alex laid Grace on the gurney they pulled out. Alex stepped back and watched Grace's pale face as the two men began to check her vitals.

One of them glanced around at him. “Are you the officer who called this in?”

The man who'd called stepped forward. “No, I did.”

The EMT turned his attention back to Alex. “Did anything unusual happen to cause her to faint?”

“No. We were on our way back to the parking lot when she collapsed. She started breathing heavily, and she became disoriented. She didn't recognize me and thought she saw a pony she had when she was a child.”

The second EMT pulled the stethoscope he'd been using to check her heartbeat from his ears and glanced at his partner. “Heartbeat is weak and breathing is shallow. Let's get her on some oxygen and put her in the ambulance. We need to get to the E.R. right away.”

Alex nodded. “I'll follow in my car.” He turned to the officers who'd accompanied them on the greenway. “Thanks, guys. I appreciate all your help today. I need to go to the hospital.”

The officer in charge nodded. “You go on. I've never seen anything like what happened to her out there. Let us know how she gets along.”

“I will.”

He cast one last look at Grace before he ran back to his car. Within minutes he was headed up the street. The ambulance's siren and the wail of the one on his unmarked police car split the afternoon air. Traffic pulled out of their way and allowed them to speed unchecked along the street.

Alex roared into the hospital parking lot and jumped from his car as soon as it came to a stop. He knew from experience he wouldn't be allowed through the bay where the EMTs took Grace, so he paused in the parking lot long enough to call his office and alert his partners, Brad and Seth, to what had happened before he ran toward the doors of the emergency room waiting area.

He rushed inside, came to a stop at the desk and held up his badge. “The EMTs just brought my friend Grace Kincaid in. I followed the ambulance here.”

The receptionist peered over the rim of her glasses, which sat propped on her nose. “I'll let you know when there's any news.”

He opened his mouth to protest, but he realized it would do no good. As difficult as it was going to be, he had to wait until the doctor had determined what had happened to Grace. He groaned and slunk off to find a seat in the crowded room.

He'd barely settled in his chair before he thought of Grace's parents. He'd promised them he would keep their daughter safe and he hadn't. The bad thing was that he had no idea what had happened to her. Had their mysterious caller with his GPS puzzles been able to cause Grace's collapse?

“Alex.” The sound of his name being call jerked him from his thoughts, and he found Laura Austin, his partner Brad's wife and Grace's best friend, standing in front of him. He jumped to his feet, and she threw her arms around him. “I just finished a counseling session upstairs, and Brad called to tell me Grace has been brought in.”

He released her, and they sat down together on the couch. “I'm glad he did. I didn't know if you were working here or at Cornerstone Clinic today. Thank you for coming down.”

Laura smiled. “Where else would I be? I've always been there when Grace has gotten into scrapes. But tell me what's happened. Brad said she's unconscious.”

She listened as Alex related the events earlier on the greenway. When he got to the part about how she had become delusional and passed out, his voice grew husky. He swallowed before finishing his story. “I've been over everything that happened on the greenway, but I can't figure out what caused her attack. It was like some allergic reaction.”

Laura pursed her mouth and frowned. “Could it have been something in the environment? A tree or plant?”

“I thought of that, but it's December. There's very little vegetation out there.”

Laura thought for a moment. “Then did she touch anything?”

Alex shook his head. “Nothing but the...” He stopped in midsentence, and his eyes widened. “The wood carving!”

His loud words startled Laura, and she jumped. “What are you talking about?”

“The envelope contained a carving of a wolf and a note. She touched those. The carving had a sharp edge on it, and she pricked her finger with it. That has to be it!” He sprang from his seat. “They're still in her pocket. I need to tell the doctor to test them.”

He took a step to go to the desk, but Laura grabbed his arm to stop him. “Wait, Alex. You can't go back there, but as a nurse, I can. I'll go tell the doctor. You sit tight, and I'll let you know what he says.”

He nodded. “All right, but tell the doctor to be careful. He needs to wear gloves before handling those items.”

“I'll tell him and be right back.” Laura strode across the room, stopped at the desk and spoke with the receptionist. She nodded and pushed a button, and the entrance to the treatment area opened.

Alex sat down and waited for Laura to return. It seemed like hours before he saw the door open again and Laura emerge. He was on his feet before she reached him. “How is she?”

“She's still unconscious.”

“What did the doctor say when you told him about the note and the carving?”

“The doctor found both of them in Grace's pocket. He's sent them to the lab for testing. They should know something in a little while. In the meantime, we just have to wait.”

He sank back on the couch and raised a shaking hand to wipe his forehead. “Waiting has always been hard for me to do, but I'm glad you're here.”

She sighed, glanced at her watch and rose to her feet. “I wish I could stay, but I need to get back to work. I'll check with you later to see how Grace is doing. When she wakes up, tell her I was here.”

He stood and gave her a kiss on the cheek. “Thanks for coming, Laura.”

She smiled before she turned and walked down the hallway that led into the hospital proper. He stared after her for a moment and then stepped to the side of the room and pulled out his cell phone. There was no putting off the inevitable any longer. He had to call Grace's parents and tell them he hadn't been able to protect their daughter the way he'd promised.

SIX

G
race opened her eyes and frowned as she tried to determine where she was. She lay in a bed, but this wasn't the comfortable mattress she was so used to. She squinted at a small light shining through a cracked door that led into another room, a bathroom perhaps. A soft snore alerted her she wasn't alone, and she turned her head to look to her right.

In the darkened room she could make out the form of her mother in the chair next to the bed. She tried to raise her head, but it was no use. She slumped back, her head against the pillow and moaned.

Her mother jerked upright and was on her feet in one swift move. She leaned over the bed and gazed down at her. “Grace, are you awake?”

She licked at her dry lips and struggled to speak. “Wh-where am I?”

“You're in the hospital.”

Grace closed her eyes and tried to remember what had happened. The greenway popped into her mind, and her eyes blinked open. “Alex?”

Her mother patted her arm. “Alex is fine. You collapsed while the two of you were with the police officers at the greenway. They called 911 and got you here in time. You're going to be fine.”

A memory of running along the path returned, but nothing else. “Wh-where is Alex?”

“He called us after you were brought in, and your father and I came right away. When the doctors told us you were going to be all right, Alex took your father home so I could stay. He'll be by in the morning to see you.”

She nodded and closed her eyes. She wanted to talk more, but she couldn't concentrate. Right now she wanted to go back to sleep. There would be time later to find out why she was in the hospital.

The next time Grace opened her eyes, the sun streamed through the windows. She turned her head toward where her mother had sat the last time she awoke and saw instead Alex reading a newspaper in a chair next to her bed.

He glanced up and saw her looking at him. “Good morning. So you're finally awake. I thought you were going to sleep all day.”

She frowned. “What time is it?”

“It's nearly ten o'clock.”

“Why aren't you at work?”

“I'll go in after lunch. I wanted to be with you when you woke up.”

She looked around the room. “Where's my mother? She was here when I woke up before.”

“I sent her home when I got here. She hadn't slept any, and I told her I'd stay with you.”

“What about my father? Mother told me you took him home last night.”

Alex nodded. “He didn't want to leave, but he was really tired. I took him home and got him settled in bed.”

Grace's eyes grew wide. “You helped my father to bed?”

Alex's face flushed, and he nodded. “I was glad to do it. Your mother wanted to stay here, and I told her I'd make sure your father got to bed.”

“Thank you for doing that.” A sudden thought struck her. “But it was the maid's night off. Did he stay in the house alone?”

Alex shook his head. “No. I couldn't leave him alone. I stayed in the guest room and put the phone by his bed so he could call my cell phone during the night if he needed me.”

Grace's mouth gaped open. “You stayed at our house with my father?”

“I did.”

Tears filled Grace's eyes. “Thank you, Alex. That was very kind of you. Especially since you and my father haven't had a good relationship in the past.”

Alex smiled at her. “When your father apologized, I knew I had to meet him halfway if we were ever to overcome the memories of the past. The more I'm around him, the more I can see his good qualities. I think we may end up being friends.”

Grace smiled, too, and wiped at the corner of her eye. “Nothing would make me happier.”

Alex cleared his throat and folded the newspaper he'd been holding when she woke up. “Laura's been here several times. She came in yesterday after we got here, and she dropped by this morning on her way to work.”

“I hope she wasn't worried about me.”

His eyes darkened, and his gaze lingered on her face. “We were all worried about you, Grace.”

She tried to pull her gaze away from him, but she couldn't. “I'll call her later.” Alex stared at her without speaking, and after a moment Grace cleared her throat and started to rise. “I need to get up.”

Alex jumped to his feet and shook his head. “You can't get up until a nurse comes to help you. I'll call for one.”

He grabbed the cord for the call button and punched it. “She's awake,” he responded when the nurse's station answered.

Within seconds a nurse entered the room, stopped beside the bed and smiled. “It's good to see you awake. How are you feeling?”

Grace hesitated before she answered. “I'm not sure yet.”

“Do you think you're strong enough to walk to the bathroom?”

“I think so.”

The nurse turned to Alex. “If you'll excuse us for a moment, I'll help Miss Kincaid get freshened up a bit. I'll call you back in when we have her ready for breakfast.”

Alex nodded. “I'll be outside.”

When he'd exited the room, the nurse released the side rails of the bed and supported Grace as she sat up on the side of the bed. “How's that?”

A wave of dizziness swept over her, and she swayed. “I'll be okay in a moment.”

“Take it easy. You've been through a lot.”

Grace looked up at her and frowned. “What happened to me?”

“We can talk about that after you're feeling stronger. First, let's get you ready to visit with that handsome police detective. From what the other nurses tell me, he was a nervous wreck when you were brought in. He paced the waiting room floor for hours. It's plain to see how he feels about you.”

Grace smiled and shook her head. “We're really good friends. We have been since we were children.”

The nurse arched her eyebrows. “All I can say is I wish I had a friend who cared about me so much.”

Grace laughed and allowed herself to be helped to her feet. Thirty minutes later with a clean hospital gown on and her breakfast tray in front of her Grace sat up in bed and smiled as Alex walked back into the room.

“I was beginning to wonder where you'd gone.”

He grinned and slipped his cell phone in his pocket. “I was on the phone with Brad. He said Laura is worried sick about you.”

Grace laid her fork on the tray and looked at Alex as he sat down in the chair next to the bed. “I've been trying to remember what happened. The last thing I remember is you pulling me along the path. I thought my lungs were going to explode. What happened?”

“You collapsed, and we called 911.”

“I know that, but why did I faint?”

Alex shifted to the edge of his chair and stared at her. “Do you remember the wolf and the note?”

“Yes.”

“And do you remember pricking your finger on a sharp edge?”

“Yes.”

Alex inhaled a deep breath. “When the lab tested the wolf and the note, they found both of them were covered with cyanide. The poison was able to enter your system through the small nick on your finger, and your mysterious puzzle maker knew that's what would happen. If we hadn't gotten here in time, you might be dead now.”

“Cyanide?” A shiver ran up her spine, and Grace flinched. “But I thought cyanide killed you right away.”

“From what the doctor said, that only happens in the movies. It actually works much slower than chomping down on a capsule and dying instantly.”

“Was I really in danger of dying?”

“You could have. The doctor told us cyanide poisoning can occur in different ways—by eating cyanide-laced food, inhaling cyanide gas or absorbing it through the skin. I wrote down what they gave you as an antidote.” He pulled a piece of paper out of his pocket and glanced down at it. “They gave you sodium nitrite and sodium thiosulfate. You'll be fine in a few days. You just need to rest.”

Grace rubbed her hand over her forehead. “I wish I could remember. I recall trying to keep up with you on the pathway, and I remember falling down. But nothing else.” She glanced up at Alex. “Did I just faint?”

He fidgeted in his chair. “I thought you were conscious, but you were talking out of your head.”

“What did I say?”

“You said you saw Snowball standing in the forest.”

Her eyes grew wide. “Snowball? I thought I saw my pony?”

He chuckled. “Yeah. You said you wanted to ride him home.”

“Did I say anything else?”

He hesitated a moment, then took a deep breath. “No, you lost consciousness. None of us could figure out what happened to you. It was really scary, Grace. Thank goodness we got you here in time.”

“I remember being dizzy, and then I felt really frightened.” She swallowed the fear that rose in her throat. “Alex, he's tried to kill me twice.”

He looked at her without blinking. “I know. This has gotten out of hand, Grace. We can't let this happen again. He might be successful the next time.”

“But what are we going to do? We can't let him scare us off.”

He shook his head. “I don't know. I haven't figured it out yet, but I will. I've promised your parents I'll keep you safe, and I intend to keep that promise. For now, though, you need to rest and get well.”

“You're right. I should have listened to you all along. Right now I'm so grateful to be alive, and I have you to thank for that. You've done what you promised.”

He leaned over and covered her hand with his. “Don't worry, Grace. We're going to get this guy. We just have to go about it in a different way now.”

She nodded and lay back on her pillow. Her heartbeat quickened at the thought of what might have happened if Alex and the other officers hadn't been with her yesterday. For some reason the person who had killed Landon had set his sights on her. She'd been fortunate to escape him twice, but she might not be able to a third time.

Perhaps she'd been wrong to push Alex into including her in this investigation. Now she had put him in the position of not only finding a killer but protecting her at the same time. Her stubborn determination to have her way in this investigation had put him in danger also, and she regretted that. She should have realized he was the trained police officer and listened to him, but she had pushed him into including her. And he had given in, just like he always had when they were children.

She glanced over at him sitting beside the bed. “I'm sorry, Alex.”

He lowered the newspaper he was reading. “For what?”

“For insisting on being included in this investigation. I have put you in danger, and I'm truly sorry for that.”

His Adam's apple bobbed up and down, and after a moment he spoke. “It's something I face every day, Grace. It's not your fault that somebody wants to kill you. I just want to keep you safe.”

Tears filled her eyes, and she blinked. “Thank you. I know you'll do that.”

She looked down at her hand on top of the blanket and stared at Landon's ring on her finger. Whoever had tried to kill her had kept that ring for twelve years. How she wished it could talk and tell her where it had been, but that was impossible. After a moment she turned over, pulled the covers up to her chin and closed her eyes. She needed to sleep. Maybe when she woke she wouldn't be haunted by the thought of someone lurking in the shadows and planning his next attempt on her life.

* * *

Alex drank the last drops out of the soda can, tossed it into the waiting room trash can and glanced at his watch. The doctor had been in Grace's room for about fifteen minutes. What could be taking him so long?

Alex walked to the door and peered down the hall toward Grace's room. A nurse stepped out and walked back toward the nurse's station. He stopped her when she drew even with him. “Excuse me, but is the doctor still in Miss Kincaid's room?”

She nodded. “He is, but he'll be out in a few minutes.”

“Thank you.” He smiled at her and watched as she continued to her destination. He was about to go back and sit down when his cell phone rang. Brad's number flashed on caller ID. He raised the phone to his ear. “Hey, Brad. What's up?”

“I thought you were coming to the office this afternoon.”

Alex sighed and rubbed the back of his neck. “I had intended to, but I kept waiting for the doctor. I wanted to hear what he would say about Grace's condition.”

“Has he come yet?”

“Yeah, he's in with her now. I'm waiting for him to leave. Then I'll probably come in.”

“No need to, buddy. Everything's under control here. Stay with Grace as long as she needs you. I know it's hard for her parents to be there with her father's condition.”

“He was here for a while last night, but I took him home.”

Brad's startled gasp vibrated in Alex's ear. “Since when did you and Harrison Kincaid get so friendly? I thought the guy hated you.”

Alex chuckled. “Not anymore. It seems the shooting has made a changed man out of him. He's turned his life over to God. In fact, he asked me to forgive him for the way he treated me when I was growing up.”

“I never thought I'd hear that, but I'm glad he's changed. It's too bad it took him being shot to open his eyes to God's love for him.”

“I guess you're right.”

“When you see Grace, tell her Laura is coming back to the hospital when she gets off work. She wanted to stay this morning, but she had to get to work because they were short staffed at the clinic. She has some counseling sessions later at the hospital, so she's going to see Grace before her patients get there.”

“I told her Laura had come by, so she's looking forward to seeing her.”

“Well, they have been best friends since elementary school.” Brad hesitated a moment. “Are things getting better between you and Grace?”

Alex sighed. “I think we're getting there. It's better than it has been.”