The right call, p.10
The Right Call, page 10
Was he the kind of man she could spend the rest of her life with? Perhaps it was presumptuous to ponder it at this stage of their relationship. But wasn’t it wise to consider it now—before things got more serious?
Ethan had character. Hadn’t he proven himself to be a trustworthy friend—unselfish, truthful, reliable? Wasn’t he consistently patient and tender with Carter? Was there anyone more tenacious about studying or more willing to work to pay his tuition? Ethan set a goal for his career. He honored his parents. And he put God first.
It wasn’t hard at all to imagine him as her husband, her lover, her best friend. A daddy to Carter. A spiritual leader. A beloved member of her family. In every way, Ethan was the type of Christian man she wanted to marry.
If there was anything that gave her pause, it was that Ethan had been true to his commitment to save sex for marriage, and she hadn’t. Would he be able to forget about Ty Nicholson when he shared her bed? When he saw her stretch marks and all they represented? Would she?
Neither her repentance nor God’s forgiveness could undo the fact that she had already experienced the carnal pleasures that God had reserved for marriage—and that she had gotten pregnant. What if Ethan thought it didn’t bother him and found out after they were married that it did?
Or what if he wasn’t the lover Ty was? Would it matter to her? Was she awful for thinking of such things? If only she had stuck to her moral values, this wouldn’t even be an issue.
Lord, I want whatever You want for me. That’s what really matters.
Vanessa turned into the driveway of the familiar two-story red-brick house and carried Carter’s stroller up the steps and onto the porch. She rang the bell and waited several seconds before hearing footsteps inside.
The door opened, and Drew Langley stood smiling at her. “Hey. I didn’t expect to see you today.”
“I hope we’re not interrupting you.”
“I was studying for my English lit final, but I need a break.”
“Carter and I were out for a stroll and wanted to bring you some brownies. They’re in my backpack. If you’ll open the big flap, you’ll see the plastic bag, right on top.”
Drew stepped outside and squeezed past the stroller, then slipped in behind her. “Wow, I love brownies. Great timing. Thanks.”
“You’re welcome.” She waited as he opened the flap and removed the bag. “I enjoy baking but sure don’t need the calories.”
“Since when do you have to worry about calories? There’s not an ounce of fat on you; isn’t that right, Carter?”
She smiled. “I’d like to keep it that way.”
Drew came back around and stood just to the left of the front door. “You want to come in?”
“Thanks, but we’re really just out for a—”
BANG!
Terror seized her, and she froze.
BANG!
Drew fell backward against the house, his hands clutching his neck and dripping with blood.
Tires squealed.
Vanessa screamed in horror. She fumbled to get the door open, then pushed the stroller into the house and down the hall to Ethan’s room and slammed the door shut. She grabbed a chair and wedged the back of it under the doorknob, then turned and covered Carter with her body, the baby clutching her blouse and squalling. She held him close, her heart seeming to pound out of her chest. Or was it his?
Seconds passed. Her ears hurt from Carter’s screams. Was it safe to move? Was the shooter gone?
Vanessa removed the chair, cracked the door, and shouted, “Drew …? Drew, can you hear me?”
She pulled Carter out of the stroller and into her arms and realized she was sobbing and shaking. “Shh, it’s okay, baby. It’s okay.”
She stroked his back until they both quieted down, then tiptoed into the living room. The front door was still wide open. She hid behind the fold of the drapes so she could see outside.
“Drew, can you hear me …? Drew …?”
Vanessa looked up the street one way and then the other. She darted out onto the porch where Drew lay next to the blood-spattered bag of brownies, his neck oozing blood, his head lying in a red pool. She felt his pulse. Nothing.
Vanessa sat on the couch in Drew’s living room, her face in her hands. Why hadn’t she seen something? Heard something useful? Drew was killed right in front of her, and she couldn’t even help the police.
“Would you like me to repeat the question?” Trent Norris said.
“Uh, yes. I’m sorry. It’s hard to stay focused at the moment.”
“How many shots did you hear?”
“Two.” Vanessa lifted her eyes. “I’m sure. The second shot hit Drew.”
“Then what happened?”
“It’s kind of a blur. I heard tires squealing, and I pushed Carter into the house and into a bedroom and closed the door and put in chair in front of it. I wanted to run out the back door”—she started to cry—“but I was so scared the shooter would turn around and come back. I felt less vulnerable in the house.”
“Did you see the vehicle drive off?”
“No, I just heard the tires squeal. I didn’t see the car or the driver. I was facing Drew with my back to the street.”
“You didn’t hear other shots in the distance?”
“No, but Carter was screaming.”
“When you walked down Spring Creek, you approached Drew’s house from the east. Do you remember seeing a vehicle parked in the vicinity with someone sitting in the driver’s seat?”
Vanessa shook her head. “I really don’t. But I was deep in thought and enjoying the walk. I’m no help at all. It happened so fast. One minute he was alive, and the next minute he was dead. It doesn’t seem real.” Tears streamed down her face.
Brill walked over to the couch and sat next to her. “Trent, I think we’ve got all we need from Vanessa. We can bring her in later and try to help her remember details.”
Vanessa rested in her mother’s embrace, her gaze falling on her own bloody footprints that led to the couch. “I wonder if whoever killed Drew thought he knew something about Tal’s murder.”
“Why would you think that? Did Drew say something?”
“No, but I was uneasy that the shooter might’ve thought Drew saw something. I even brought it up to Ethan. He said you would’ve told us if you were concerned.”
“Of course I would. Drew was in bed at the time of the shooting, honey. The lights were out in the apartment. There was no reason to assume the shooter thought Drew saw anything more than the other witnesses who spotted the truck.” Brill held her tighter. “I would never have put you or your friends at risk.”
Vanessa nodded and sat up straight. “I know, Mom. Can I go now?”
“Sure. Give me a few minutes and I’ll take you home. Your dad just called. Emily put Carter down for a nap. He’s fine.”
“How can he be fine? That poor child saw and heard everything. What if it scars him for life?”
“It won’t, honey. He’s too little to process what happened. He was more than likely reacting to your fear.”
Vanessa looked around the living room. “Where’s Ethan?”
“Two of my officers are in the kitchen talking with him. We’re just trying to determine if he’s noticed anything strange since he moved in here. Did he mention seeing or hearing anything odd?”
“No, and I’m sure he would have. Mom, I need to be with him.”
“We’re almost finished questioning him.” Brill took her thumb and wiped a tear off Vanessa’s cheek. “Ethan’s taking it hard. It’s obvious he and Drew were really close.”
“Like brothers. I can’t imagine how his aunt and uncle are going to cope with getting a phone call that their only child was shot and killed. What a disastrous ending to their twenty-fifth anniversary cruise.”
Tessa Masino sat next to Antonio at the counter at Nick’s Grill, sipping her coffee, waiting for her order.
“Four people dead and we’re not even shocked anymore,” Gus said. “We’re gettin’ to be too much like the big city folks, if you ask me.”
We didn’t ask you, Tessa thought. But for once, you’re right.
“I’m not blamin’ the police chief,” Gus added, “but y’all can’t dispute that we’ve had nothin’ but trouble since she got here. Some of it followed her from Memphis. That ex-con she helped put away sure shook things up.”
“None of it’s her fault,” Antonio said.
“I know.” Gus tipped his glass and crunched a piece of ice. “Just statin’ the obvious.”
“Most of the violence here is the result of gangs and drugs,” Tessa said. “Same as everywhere else.”
“So they say.” Gus raised his white eyebrows up and down. “I’m not going to tell you again what I think.”
That’ll be the day, Tessa thought.
“Regardless of who’s doin’ it, crime’s out of control.” Gus crunched another piece of ice. “Chief Jessup needs to get the sheriff involved. Sam Parker … now he’s a force to be reckoned with.”
Tessa bit her lip, then looked down the counter at Gus. “The crime situation hasn’t improved under Sheriff Parker’s watch either. Times are changing. Sophie Trace isn’t the safe little haven it once was. That’s just the world we live in.”
“Yeah, well, the police chief’s family is involved again. Like I said, I’m not blamin’ her, but it’s weird.”
“I’m sure she’s not happy about it either,” Antonio said. “That sweet daughter of hers didn’t deserve to witness a murder.”
Tessa shook her head. “Those bullets were just inches away from Vanessa and Carter. Makes my skin crawl.”
“At least this time the shooter only struck on Spring Creek Boulevard,” Maggie said. “I heard on the news they think he fired at least a dozen times. It’s amazing no one else was hit.”
“It’s downright frightening this person can strike anywhere in town,” Tessa said. “And in broad daylight.”
Gus arched his eyebrows. “Yep.”
“The police will find out who is doing this, Gus.” Tessa waved her hand dismissively. “And it’ll be a flesh-and-blood person, not some mythical red shadow.”
“That’s the spin the cops will put on it.”
“Whoever it is,” Antonio said, “he sure is bold to strike in broad daylight. It’s like he wants to be caught.”
“There has to be more to it than that.” Tessa held out her cup as Jo Beth came by with the coffeepot. “I trust Brill to get to the bottom of it.”
Brill stood at the window in her office and looked down at the empty parking spaces. She heard a knock on the door.
“Why are you still here, Chief?” Trent said.
“I need time to think before I go home.”
“I’m sure glad Vanessa and Carter weren’t hurt.”
“So am I, but what about the four that were?” She paused and fought back the emotion that was just below the surface. “It’s unacceptable that four young people have been shot dead on my watch.”
“There was nothing you could’ve done. No one saw this coming. It doesn’t make sense.”
“I won’t rest until it does.”
“We’re spread thin on the investigations.”
“I know.” She turned around and leaned on the glass, her arms folded across her chest. “I’ve asked Sam Parker to help us. He’s got the manpower. And he’s thorough.”
“I guess beggars can’t be choosers, but I could go the rest of my life without rubbing elbows with Sheriff Parker again.”
“I want this shooter badly enough that I don’t care who I have to get to help us. And the Natalie Benchfield case is complicated. We need to know who shot her, but we also want to find this Vincent character and find out if she hooked up with him.”
Trent nodded. “We’ve contacted the state police to help us find him from his email address. We’ll get him.”
“In the meantime, we need to follow every lead to help us nail down the shooter.” She looked out the window at the last vestiges of light in the western sky. “I want you and your detectives to meet with the sheriff and me in the morning at nine.”
“Where?”
“My office. Come prepared to give a solid overview of where we are with each of the four victims.”
“Yes, ma’am. Not a problem. Are you geared up to endure the sheriff’s patronizing attitude?”
“As ready as I’ll ever be.” Brill smiled wryly. “I loathe inviting his big boots onto my turf, but the truth is we need him.”
“And he’ll be only too glad to remind you of it.”
Brill arched her eyebrow. “So be it. But even he doesn’t have the resources the state police do. That might keep him just humble enough to be tolerable.”
Trent laughed. “Oh, I doubt that. I’ll see you in the morning. Don’t stay too late.”
“I won’t. I just need to get quiet and deal with the feelings I’ve stuffed all day. My daughter came this close to dying.” She held up her thumb and forefinger, an inch between them. “My grandson, too. How many times can my family get that close to death and manage to escape it?”
“I guess as long as the Lord allows it, ma’am.”
“I thought you were going to stop calling me ma’am.” She locked gazes with Trent. “You’re right. But it’s my job to do everything in my power to keep them safe.”
Chapter 13
Vanessa nestled with Ethan on the glider on the Jessups’ screened-in porch, her head on his shoulder, her arm linked in his. He hadn’t said ten words in the past half hour. Not that she needed him to talk. She didn’t feel like it either. Every time she closed her eyes she saw Drew’s pallid face and vacant eyes—and the bag of brownies spattered with his blood.
How was she supposed to reconcile that one second Drew was standing there, full of life—and the next he was dead? Or shake the bone-chilling reality that she and Carter were so close to the bullets?
She had only recently stopped having nightmares after being accosted by the ex-con who stalked her mother. But this? Would she ever close her eyes again without looking into the face of death?
Ethan breathed in and let out a long sigh. “Drew’s parents get in from London at ten thirty in the morning.”
“Did you decide to drive to Knoxville to meet their plane?”
“Yes. But I have no idea what to say to them.”
“They probably just want to throw their arms around you. You’re like a second son to them.” Vanessa stroked Ethan’s arm. “I imagine that will be a source of comfort.”
“I don’t know if I can be strong for them.”
“You’ll help each other.”
Ethan was quiet for a moment, then tightened his hold on her. “I can’t believe how close I came to losing you.”
“But you didn’t. We’ll get through this together.”
Ethan took off his glasses and set them on the side table, then rubbed his eyes. “I’m overwhelmed. It’s just too much to process.”
“Why don’t you get some rest?”
“It was nice of your parents to offer me your brother’s room tonight. I’m not sure what to do. If I move back in with Uncle Ralph and Aunt Gwen, Drew’s parents might get their feelings hurt. You know my uncles are at odds.”
“Maybe this will bring them together.”
“I wouldn’t count on it. Both are proud and stubborn.”
Vanessa looked up at Ethan, seeing the angst pooling in his eyes. “What started the whole thing in the first place?”
“Uncle Richard went off on Uncle Ralph after Drew’s baby sister died. Richard apologized later and said it was just his grief talking. Ralph wouldn’t accept his apology.”
“Do you know why?”
“Just that Ralph didn’t think he was sincere.”
“Then why doesn’t Richard try again?”
Ethan shrugged. “Who knows? They’re both stubborn. Sometimes I think they keep the conflict going because it’s all they have still holding them together.”
“How sad. It seems like twins should be close.” Vanessa brushed her fingers through Ethan’s fine curls. “You think Drew’s parents will be able to go back home after what happened?”
“I hope so. It’s still home. That’s where the good memories are. But my parents will invite them to stay at their house as long as they want.”
“The trek back and forth from Maryville is going to get old when they’re arranging their son’s funeral.”
“My parents will help. I don’t want to talk about them.” Ethan stroked her cheek and looked into her eyes. “I want to talk about us. There’s so much I want to say to you.”
“Like what?”
His eyes welled and his chin quivered. “I’m so sorry you had to see what happened to Drew. But I’m thankful you’re all right …” His voice trailed off.
“At least Drew didn’t suffer. I doubt he knew what hit him.”
“I can only imagine what was going through your mind.”
“All I could think about was protecting my son.” Vanessa relived the moment, emotion tightening her throat. “I was terrified the shooter might come back looking for us. I’ve never been that scared, not even when that guy who was stalking Mom grabbed me.”
“I wish I’d have been there for you. It kills me to think of you and Carter hiding in my room with the back of a chair wedged under the doorknob.”
Vanessa held more tightly to his arm. “Your being there wouldn’t have softened the horror of seeing Drew shot to death. Be glad you didn’t see it.” A tear spilled down her cheek.
“I’m sorry, honey. I really am.”
Ethan pulled her into his embrace, and Vanessa began to cry, and then cry harder, not sure which weighed more heavily on her, what had happened or what almost did.
Brill stood at the bathroom sink, dressed in her ivory silk pajamas, and rubbed cleanser on her face. She rinsed it off and patted her face dry, the raw truth staring back at her in the mirror. She couldn’t miss the fine lines that fanned out from her eyes or the accordion creases around her mouth—or that the expensive night cream she got duped into buying hadn’t “reduced the appearance of wrinkles” to her satisfaction.
