The Right Call (26 page)

Tessa, dressed in the pink cotton robe Antonio bought her for Mother’s Day, hobbled to the end of the driveway and picked up the newspaper. She looked out past the houses across the street. A huge billowy cloud hung above the Great Smoky Mountains, its rim glowing with the morning sun that had slipped behind it, a handful of white rays fanning out across the expanse.

Her heart leapt. It was a poor soul who believed this painting had no artist but Mother Nature.

She heard a familiar meow and looked down at Abby rubbing against her legs. “Did you think I was talking to you, sweet girl?”

A car approached, and she recognized it as Ethan’s. She waved, but he didn’t wave back and drove past the Jessups’ house. How odd.

Tessa opened the newspaper and read the headline: Shooter Still at Large.

“I can’t bear to read another word about it,” she mumbled. “I’m sure Gus will give us an earful.”

She folded the paper in half and walked back into the house, where Antonio sat on the living room couch, watching the activity at the birdbath on the other side of the sliding glass door.

Tessa handed him the newspaper, and he handed her a cup of coffee.

“Is it hot out yet?” he asked.

“No, it’s glorious. I have half a mind to walk down to the park and take a stroll before the throngs of picnickers arrive.”

“If you’ll wait until I’ve had my fill of coffee, I’ll go with you.” Antonio shot her a playful grin. “I can use you for a cane.”

Tessa waved her hand. “We can use each other. Before we go to Nick’s, I want to make lemon bars to take to the Jessups’ this evening when we go back to play Monopoly.”

“We could just stop by the dairy and pick up some banana-split ice cream. That’d save you from being on your feet.”

“What else have I got to do?” Tessa said. “By the way, I just saw Ethan drive down the street. He didn’t wave at me, and he drove right past the Jessups’ house. Very strange.”

“You sure it was him?”

“Yes, quite sure. It’s not like him to be rude. He must’ve had his mind on something else.”

Chapter 31

Ethan
drove up the winding road to the Stanton Valley Overlook, certain that he hadn’t been followed. He pulled down the rearview mirror and examined his neck. His skin was still red and blotchy where the guy had choked him. Would the marks turn to bruises tomorrow? How would he explain them? He was glad he wore a golf shirt. At least the collar would hide the worst of it for now.

His attacker’s words played over and over in his head with terrifying realism.
Whatever you think you heard … whatever you think you know … forget it. Or I’ll deliver your girlfriend and her baby to you piece by piece.

Ethan quickly blinked away the gruesome images that popped into his head. What choice did he have but to keep silent? The conspirators would have made sure all the evidence was destroyed. They had killed before, and they would do it again. There was nothing he could do to help Stedman now. He had to do whatever it took to protect Vanessa and Carter.

He picked up his cell phone and hit Redial, distraught when the voice mail message came on.

“This is Stedman. Sorry I can’t take your call. Leave your number, and I’ll call you back.”
Beep …

“Stedman, it’s Ethan. I’ve left five phone messages, man. Why aren’t you calling me back? I really need to hear from you as soon as you get this message.”

Ethan’s hand shook so hard that he had difficulty getting his phone back on the belt clip. What if Stedman didn’t get his messages? What if they killed him? What if Ethan was the only one left besides the conspirators who knew Win Davison was behind the shootings? What if Drew’s killers were going to get away with it?

You can’t win this hand, kid. Take my advice and fold before you lose everything.

Ethan’s heart hammered, fear holding him as tightly as the man with the knife.

A couple of chipmunks scurried across the hood of his car, one in pursuit of the other. For a split second he wished he had Carter with him and wondered if the child had even seen a chipmunk yet.

How could this be happening? How could he be put in the position of letting Drew’s killer go free to save Vanessa and Carter? Why should he have to cheat one to save another?

Lord, there has to be a better way. You don’t want me to give in to fear.

But he had given in. He was consumed with it.

Vanessa, wondering why she hadn’t heard back from Ethan, sent him another text message. He planned to come over around noon and it was ten after. Had she ever been so eager to see anyone in her life? Now that they had declared their love for each other, it was as though all of her pent-up feelings had come to the surface and were bubbling over.

“What’s taking Ethan so long?” Emily flopped on the glider next to Vanessa.

“He’s probably taking things nice and slow today. It is a holiday, after all. It’s a time to relax, not rush. Where’s Carter?”

“Dad took him in the stroller and went over to the Masinos’. Mom is making that yummy Mexican casserole I love for dinner. And we get to have chips and salsa. Mom made it mild so Antonio won’t get heartburn.” Emily leaned her head against the back of the glider and sighed. “I love being out of school for the summer, but I’m already missing Jasmine, Angeline, Amy, and Madison—James Lee, too, but he is
not
my boyfriend. We’re both good at math, that’s all. Why are you smiling?”

Vanessa hadn’t been aware that she was. She picked up Emily’s hand and squeezed it. “I just get a kick out of your chattiness. You remind me of me at eleven.”

“Well, I hope I’m like you when I’m twenty-one.”

“Thank you, Emily. What a sweet thing to say.”

“You’re nice. Madison’s sister yells at her all the time.”

Vanessa’s phone chimed, and she looked at the text that had come in from Ethan:
Something came up concerning Drew. Can’t be with you today. Forgive me. I love you.

“What?”
Vanessa said, staring at the phone.

“What’s wrong?”

“Ethan’s not coming.”

“How come?”

“Something came up about his cousin. I’m not really sure what, but he said he can’t make it.”

“Are you going to cry?” Emily said.

“Of course not.”
I sure feel like it, though. Couldn’t he have at least called to tell me?
“I’m just disappointed, Shortcake. I was so looking forward to it. Tomorrow he goes back to working six days a week.”

“Yesterday was fun.”

Vanessa smiled to cover her sadness. “Yes, it was. I was just hoping for an encore.”

Ethan left his car in a grocery-store parking lot a block from Stedman’s and jogged to the alley behind his duplex. He slowly opened the chain-link gate, looking all around for any sign of life. He heard the TV next door and remembered that Stedman’s grandmother lived there.

He walked stealthily to the side door where the attacker had caught him off guard. Stedman’s truck was still not in the driveway. Where was he? Why didn’t he return his phone messages?

Ethan rang the doorbell and listened. He didn’t hear footsteps. He rang the bell again. Nothing.

He turned the handle, shocked when the door opened. He stuck his head inside.

“Stedman, it’s Ethan. Are you there?”

He stepped inside, the floor creaking beneath his feet, and shut the door behind him.

“Stedman!”

Ethan walked slowly through the kitchen and into the living room, and then down the hall to the bedrooms. The bed was unmade in the master bedroom and the bathroom was trashed out, but there was nothing to indicate whether or not Stedman had come home last night.

Ethan slipped out the front door and rang the bell next door. He saw a light flash on and off when he rang the bell and figured Stedman’s grandmother had it rigged so the light would alert her when someone was at the door. He rang the bell again. The TV went off.

A tiny old woman with tight silver curls and stern eyes opened the door. “Whatever you’re selling, I can’t afford. Whatever you’re preaching, I’ve heard before.”

“Ma’am, I’m a friend of your grandson Sted—”

“What’s that you say? Speak up.”

Ethan raised his voice to just under a shout and spoke slowly. “I’m a friend of your grandson Stedman. I need to get ahold of him. He’s not home. And he’s not answering his phone. Do you know where I might reach him?”

The old woman folded her arms across her chest, her wiry gray eyebrows coming together. “He’s probably over at the Indian reservation,” she hollered, “throwing his money away at the casino. Or out playing poker with those high-roller friends of his. I stopped keeping track of Stedman a long time ago after he stole my grocery money. Are you one of his gambling buddies?”

“No, ma’am. We work together. I really need to talk to him. Do you know if he came home last night?”

“Aren’t you the nosy one?” She pursed her lips, her eyes turning to slits, and seemed to study him.

“Sorry if I’m bothering you. I’m a little worried about him. He’s waiting to hear from me. About an important matter. He’s not answering his cell phone. I just wanted to be sure he’s okay.”

“My grandson is certainly
not
okay. If you know him at all, you know he’s addicted to gambling. He’ll lie, steal, or cheat to get money. Please don’t give him any. Tell him to call Gamblers Anonymous.” She started to shut the door, and Ethan stuck his foot in it.

“Wait. Please! This is really important. Do you know where he might go—if he just needed to get away and think? I
have
to find him.”

She softened her tone. “Do you think Stedman’s in some kind of trouble? I worry every day the police are going to come knocking on my door.”

Should he tell her anything? How could he put her at risk? The less she knew the better.

“I don’t know that he’s in trouble, ma’am. I just want to speak with him.”

“What’d you say your name was?”

“Ethan Langley.”

“I’m Audrey Reeves.” She offered him her hand. “Nice to make your acquaintance. Stedman’s my only grandchild, you know. He was a good boy until the gambling got ahold of him. He used to come stay with me part of every summer. Our favorite thing we did together was to go for nature walks. When he got older, we found a trail in the foothills that led up to a stream and a pretty waterfall. We used to take a picnic lunch and go up there. Never saw another soul.”

“And you think he might’ve gone there?”

The woman’s gray eyes grew wide. “If I could walk worth a hoot, that’s where I’d go. You want to go look for him?”

“I’d like to, ma’am. Can you tell me how to find it?”

Brill stood at the kitchen counter and sprinkled grated cheddar over the chicken enchilada casserole. She placed foil over the top just as she heard Kurt’s footsteps approaching.

“What’s this about Ethan not coming over today?” he said.

Brill licked the salsa off her finger. “Something came up related to Drew, and he’s not going to be able to make it. He didn’t say
what
—just that it had to do with his cousin. Vanessa is so disappointed. After last night, she could hardly wait to see him.”

Kurt put his arms around Brill, his cheek next to hers. “
I’m
disappointed. I admit it was fun having Ethan here yesterday. He adds a new dimension to our Monopoly games.”

“He really does.” She closed her eyes and relished Kurt’s closeness and the manly scent of Polo that drew her in. “I can’t imagine what came up on Memorial Day that was so important he couldn’t make it over here, but I’m guessing he’s as disappointed as we are. Vanessa is upstairs sulking. Why don’t you go give her a pep talk?”

“Thanks, but I don’t need a pep talk.” Vanessa stood in the doorway, Carter resting on her hip. “I’m sure whatever Ethan had to do was important. I’d just feel better if he called and filled me in on the details.” Vanessa stuck her finger in the salsa. “Mmm. No one makes it like you do, Mom.”

Carter giggled and reached out for Brill to hold him.

“You really know how to melt Grandma, don’t you?” Brill lifted him into her arms and spun around a couple times until he laughed out loud.

“Hey, what’s for lunch?” Emily came into the kitchen, her hair pulled back in a ponytail, her bathing suit on.

“There’re cold cuts for sandwiches,” Brill said. “And a fruit salad.”

Vanessa opened the refrigerator. “I’ll make lunch if someone will watch Carter.”

“I’ll take him,” Emily said.

Brill laughed. “
My
turn. I’m going to go put my bathing suit on and get in the pool with him.”

Emily pressed her lips together and stifled a laugh. “Mom, it’s a
kiddie
pool.”

“It’s plenty big enough for two. In fact, why don’t you join us?” Brill tugged her ponytail.

“Oh brother, I think Dad ought to get a picture of this.”

Kurt winked at Brill. “Why not? We could submit a picture for the community page of the newspaper. People would love to see our sassy redheaded police chief playing in a kiddie pool with her daughter and grandson.”

“If you want to live to be forty-six,” Brill said, “I suggest you put that idea back where it came from.”

“You’re cute when you’re paranoid.”

Brill locked gazes with him and smiled in spite of herself. “Kurt, I’m serious.”