When Silence Falls

“I hear you’re back in uniform. Working in Lakeview.”

“Part-time. Just for the summer.”

“Part-time. Full-time. Doesn’t matter. A cop’s a cop.”

“Maybe so. You know what’s going on?”

“Attempted kidnapping. Fire started during the woman’s escape.”

“Did you get the perp?”

“Not yet. We’ve got witnesses, though, so who knows? You can go on through. Must be five news trucks there already.”

“Thanks.” Cade worked his way toward the scene, scanning the crowds that lined the street, shooting pictures as he went. Just a few would have captured the essence of the moment—the fear and excitement of the crowd, the smoke pouring from the building, ambulances and fire trucks with lights still flashing, news crews pressing toward the scene. Cade was more interested in capturing something else.

“You think he’s here?” The voice was familiar, and Cade turned to face Jake Reed, sheriff of Lakeview and Cade’s boss as of a week ago.

“Statistically, the chances are good.”

“True, but I’m not asking about statistics, I’m asking what you think. Is the perp hanging out in the crowd, or has he already flown?”

“He’s here.” Cade lifted the camera again, his attention on the people milling about.

“I’m thinking the same. Keep shooting while we walk.”

Cade did as he was asked, snapping a shot of Jake and the crowd behind him. “You’re a long way from home, sheriff. Did Lynchburg PD call you in?”

“A friend’s sister was on the evening news and he asked me to come check on her. What about you? I thought you were at the hospital.”

“A false alarm. It only took three hours to figure it out.”

“Glad to hear it wasn’t anything serious.”

“Me, too. And since it wasn’t, I’d be happy to report in tonight.” Desperate to report in was more apt, but Cade doubted Jake needed to know that.

“We could use another officer.” Jake gestured to a group of women standing near an ambulance. “Can you get a couple of pictures of those ladies?”

“Sure.”

“And the crowd behind them.”

Cade lifted the camera and took several pictures as he moved closer, the lens bringing the group into stark focus. A few women huddled together, soot and tears streaking their faces. Others stared hollow-eyed at the burning building. Shock. He’d seen it too many times not to know what it was. Only one of the women looked animated—a short blonde whose hands danced as she spoke to a uniformed police officer.

She glanced Cade’s way as he and Jake approached, her gray eyes wide and thickly lashed, the band of black around her irises giving her an otherworldly look. Cade knew those eyes. Memories flashed through his mind—Seth Sinclair and his three brothers, two of them with the same wide, gray eyes. Their sister—small, always talking, always moving. Always in trouble. Piper. An odd name for an odd kid. Only she wasn’t a kid anymore.

Dressed in faded sweatpants and a bright pink T-shirt, her blond hair pulled back in a ponytail, she looked calm, despite the chaos around her. The police officer said something to her and she nodded, lifting thick, straight bangs away from her forehead and revealing a deep blue bruise. Then she gestured to the livid welts along her arm.

Piper Sinclair might not be a kid anymore, but apparently she hadn’t outgrown her penchant for finding trouble. Cade could only hope the Lynchburg police would have an easier time of protecting her than her brothers had had while she was growing up.

TWO

Piper was in the middle of explaining for the fifth time the roundhouse kick she’d used to disarm the kidnapper, when Jake Reed stepped up beside her. Sheriff of the small town where she lived, and a friend of Piper’s brother Grayson, he was here for one reason and one reason only—to check up on her. Obviously, Grayson had put him up to it.

She might have been annoyed if she hadn’t been so glad to see a familiar face.

“Everything okay here, Piper?” Jake’s voice was smooth and firm.

“Fine. I was just telling Lieutenant Bradley that it really is possible for a woman my size to disarm a man.”

“He’s having trouble believing you?” Jake speared Bradley with a look meant to intimidate. It might not have worked on Bradley, but Piper was tempted to take a step away.

Bradley just snapped the gum he was chewing and shrugged. “I’m just trying to get an accurate picture of how Miss Sinclair managed it.”

“I think I’ve already explained. I used a roundhouse kick. If you don’t know what that is, I can demonstrate.”

“Not necessary.”

“Then I’m free to go?”

“Let me check with Chief Russell. He might want to ask a few more questions before you leave.”

“But—”

Jake put a hand on Piper’s shoulder and gave it a light squeeze. “I’ll go with him. See if I can speed things along a little.”

“I appreciate it.” And she did. Her head ached, her throat was parched and all she wanted was to catch a ride back to the college with Gabby, get in her car and go home.

“No problem. You might want to call Grayson while you wait. He’s been trying to reach you and he’s worried.”

“I would, but my cell phone battery died.”

“You can use mine.” The man standing beside Jake held out a phone. He was tall and rangy, his well-worn jeans and black T-shirt a perfect match for the shaggy, overgrown haircut he sported. A camera, cradled in his hand, seemed as much a part of who he was as his brown hair and green eyes.

Something about those eyes sparked a memory, but it flitted away too quickly for Piper to grasp. “Thank you.”

“Not a problem.” He turned away, taking some shots of the women who were waiting to be questioned.

Jake left, too, following Lieutenant Bradley across the parking lot to a short, balding man.

Which meant it was time to call Grayson. Piper braced herself and dialed his number.

He picked up on the first ring. “Sinclair, here.”

“Gray. It’s me.”

“Piper! Are you all right? I’ve been worried sick.”

“I’m fine.”