Evidence of Life - By Barbara Taylor Sissel Page 0,60

come to help her then, too. He’d scooped Jake up, carried him swiftly to his truck, Abby jostling alongside, holding the towel to Jake’s mouth, and he’d driven them into town to the emergency room with such an economy of motion. He had talked the whole way. Abby hadn’t heard the words, but the quiet rumble of his voice had comforted her just the same. She followed him inside now. Nothing appeared disturbed in the kitchen or in any of the rooms downstairs.

Charlie started up the stairs.

Abby was behind him when the sound of scuffling and then a tiny cry pierced the silence.

Charlie turned to her. “Why don’t you wait here?”

She nodded, watching him go the rest of the way, thinking he should have a weapon, a baseball bat, a gun. She might be able to find a bat somewhere, but she and Nick had never owned a gun. Her heart whisked lightly against her ribs. She had her cell phone still, and she was thinking she would call 911 now when he reappeared holding a furry, squirming bundle of orange fur.

“One of the kittens,” he said. “Her mama had a litter of six in the barn a few weeks back. This one must have found the door open before we did and decided to go exploring.”

Abby laughed in relief. At least that explained the noises they’d heard. “Spooked by a kitten,” she said, making fun of herself. She took the fussing, little bundle into her hands, holding it aloft inches from her face, noting the tawny eyes, the white blaze that led to a pale pink nose. “She’s adorable. Aren’t you adorable?”

Abby walked with Charlie back outside, and handing over the kitten, she thanked him for checking things out. Her gaze lingered on the tiny furry face, and the kitten looked back at Abby, then promptly climbed Charlie’s shirt to his shoulder, where he grasped her. She dug her nails into his flesh, and he grimaced.

“I don’t think the wind blew the door open, Abby. I’d call the police, let them come and have a look around. And I’d have the locks changed, too, if I were you,” he said. “I can do it for you, if you want.”

Abby looked off into the distance, remembering a car she’d seen parked not far from the house when she’d turned onto her street just now, a dark blue sedan. She told Charlie about it. “It was pulled pretty far off the road, near the north end of the pasture by the utility easement. Why would anyone stop there?” Although there were probably any of a half dozen reasons, it struck Abby as odd, now that she thought of it.

“Do you know the make and model?”

“Ford Taurus, maybe? I don’t know cars very well.” Abby thought it was the same car Nadine Betts drove, though she couldn’t be sure. She hadn’t really paid attention, but now she was spooked. There was something about seeing that car, then finding the door unlocked...and those times when Nadine had followed her around, followed Jake around, when she’d called Louise, pestering them with her endless questions. And there had been the night, at the Riverbend Lodge, Abby had seen a dark blue sedan then, too, leaving the parking lot. She supposed it could all be a coincidence, but somehow she didn’t think so.

Charlie said he didn’t know of anyone local who drove a Taurus. “You have someone in mind? Who’s giving you trouble, I mean?”

“Maybe. I don’t know.” Abby made a dismissive gesture with her hand. “Never mind. I’m sure it’s nothing.” She wondered what she was thinking, to bring up the reporter as if Nadine was—what? Stalking her? So desperate for a story she would break into Abby’s house to hunt for clues? Abby met Charlie’s gaze. “I’ll get locks when I go to the hardware store, if you’re sure you don’t mind installing them.”

He nodded. “Just call me. Anytime.”

She thanked him and squeezed his forearm and said she didn’t know what she’d do without him. Her gratitude was so deep she felt the pull of tears.

“It’s what neighbors are for,” he said.

“You need to let me pay you.”

He grinned. “All right. I’d love a slice of your coconut cream pie then.”

That made her laugh, made her happy. “It’s a deal,” she said and watched him go before turning back to the house. She stood outside the backdoor a moment, studying it. It worried her, finding the door open, the idea that some stranger had