The Silent Witness

“Why?”

“He didn’t say. Are you going to wait for him?”

“If he comes before I have to get back and open the shop.” Three years older than Hope, Brent’s MBA had landed him a prestigious job at a firm in D.C. that kept him constantly busy. Both of Nicki’s younger brothers had turned into fine young men with solid careers.

She waited as long as she dared for Brent, occupying her time by preparing a casserole for supper and running a mop over the kitchen floor. Hope never complained, but Nicki knew taking care of the horses and their father left her younger sister little free time. There were times when Nicki felt guilty for finally walking away, even though she knew she had nothing to feel guilty about. Her father had basically forced her out once Hope was old enough not to need her constant support. He’d wanted Nicki to resume her own life and she suspected he’d felt guilty himself for needing her all those years.

She drove back through town, her thoughts more muddled than when she’d left. She hated that she couldn’t stop thinking about Alex. Or the past. Her lips still tingled from his kiss this morning. Why had he been so angry? If anyone should have been upset, it was her.

What had her father done?

As she drove through the sleepy little town of Fools Point, she tried to eye it from a stranger’s viewpoint. Small, quaint, almost picturesque with Sugarloaf Mountain for a backdrop. Still, this wasn’t exactly a tourist mecca. What would have drawn a stranger behind her store? Why her place? And why last night in particular?

Could the man have had something to do with Ilona?

No, Ilona said she’d never seen him before. But it suddenly occurred to Nicki to wonder what Ilona had been doing outside in the first place. She’d been too scared to venture out of Nicki’s apartment since she’d arrived. Had she tried to leave because she’d seen Alex loitering across the street? That could be why she’d described him so well. Maybe in the trauma of seeing the shooting, her mind had become confused. Her memory might have substituted Alex for the real killer.

Okay it was a stretch. Nicki was still trying to make excuses for Alex.

If only Ilona would call her again. She needed to know her friend was all right.

Nicki decided to concentrate on Hope’s skittish behavior. She and her sister sounded a lot alike. Alex could easily have mistaken Hope’s voice for her own. And Hope had been insistent about Nicki going out to look for that bracelet right away. But why would her sister try to set them up?

Nicki pulled into the alley to park in her usual spot behind her store. The lot was mostly empty. The only cars around at this hour belonged to the people living over the stores. She knew everyone, of course, but this was the first time she’d ever paid attention to the cars parked around her. Strangely uneasy, she decided the lot had a deserted, spooky feel to it this morning.

Small wonder. A man had died here. The knowledge seemed unreal. Everything looked so normal. The tall chain-link fence separated the parking spaces from the woods behind the alley that ran the length of the block. She’d always known this area was isolated, but it had never been scary before.

Her imagination was running wild, that was all. There was nothing to feel nervous about today. Now if she could just convince her heart to stop fluttering so wildly.

As she started toward the store, a sudden movement caught the corner of her eye. Nicki whirled. A figure stepped from behind the large trash bin.

“Ms. Michaels!”

The fear-charged adrenaline dissipated quickly, leaving her feeling spent and foolish. Matt Williams, a local boy, ran up to her.

“You scared me, Matt. What are you doing out here at this hour?”

The youth gazed around nervously. He was rumpled and dirty. In fact, he looked like he’d spent the night in the dumpster. There were circles under his young eyes and she saw several old and not-so-old scratches on his arms.

“Are you okay, Matt?”

His head bobbed agreement. Only then did she realize how tall he’d grown. He had to be close to six feet already, though he hadn’t yet grown into that gangly body. His features belonged to a youth. A trace of hair was barely visible across his upper lip. He was going to be a big, good-looking man one day. In fact, he reminded her of her oldest brother, Gavin.

“Can I talk to you, Ms. Michaels?”

“Of course, Matt. You want to come in and have something to eat?”

“No. Thank you.” His eyes slid back and forth, scanning the area. The very alertness of his stance was making her edgy all over again. Matt had a hunted look about him.

“Is something wrong, Matt?”

“It’s all over town that you saw the shooting.”

Nicki grimaced. Why had she let Ilona talk her into that foolish admission? She wasn’t surprised that gossip was all over town, but hearing a reference to it made her feel increasingly guilty. She should have stuck to her instincts and refused to let Ilona put her in such a vulnerable position.

“Is it true? Did you see what happened too?”

Her heart jumped into her throat. “Too? You mean you saw the shooting, Matt?”

The youth looked poised for flight. Fear lit eyes that were much too old for his fifteen years. “Yeah.”

“Why didn’t you tell the police?”

“No way! I’m not gonna end up like him.”

“Him who? You mean Thorton Biggs?”

Matt didn’t seem to hear her questions. “You were smart not to tell them everything. The cops can’t protect us, you know.”

She thought of Thad Osher and understood immediately. The man was a cop, but he was also a jerk. She laid a hand on Matt’s arm and he jumped like a startled deer.

“It’s okay, Matt.”

“No. That’s why I came to warn you. We aren’t safe anymore. You have to go away. Someplace safe.”

“Matt, it’s okay.” But his fear had communicated itself just fine. She felt suddenly exposed, standing in the middle of the alley like this. “Let’s go inside and—”

The crack of the gun was shockingly loud. The shot must have passed between her head and Matt’s because it shattered the corner brick right behind them.

“Run!”

The boy was already taking his own advice. He sprinted to the dumpster with impressive speed.

Nicki heard the second and third shots ricochet before she followed his example and ran. She headed for the steps leading up to her apartment. Her fingers fumbled with the keys in her hand, searching for the one that would open the door. Another shot. Louder. Closer.

She reached the steps. Running footsteps pounded toward her. Too scared to scream, she started to climb. The keys slipped through her fingers.

“Nicki!”

She whirled.

Alex stood behind her, a gun in his right hand. It was pointed directly at her chest.

Chapter Three

Her gaze riveted on the gun in his hand. Without taking time to explain, Alex spun around sweeping the alley with his eyes. Nothing and no one moved.

“Are you okay?” he asked.