When Silence Falls

“Then maybe you can tell me what’s going on. A friend of mine called to say you were on the seven o’clock news. Something about a kidnapping.”

“I was at a weight-loss meeting—”

“You don’t need to lose weight,” Gray cut in, the impatience in his voice obvious.

“Gabby—”

“Why am I not surprised? She’s been pulling you into her schemes for…”

“Grayson, can I get a word in, here?”

“Sorry. Go ahead.”

Piper took a deep breath, forcing back frustration. “Gabby and I were at a weight-loss seminar and some maniac decided to kidnap one of the women. She escaped, but during the scuffle, candles fell into a curtain and set the place on fire.”

“Nice condensed version, sis. Now, why don’t you tell me the rest?”

“This isn’t my phone. I don’t want to run up a stranger’s bill.”

“I don’t mind.” How the stranger had heard her when he seemed completely engrossed in photographing the scene, Piper didn’t know.

She flashed a smile, then turned away, facing the back of the ambulance she’d been leaning against and lowering her voice. “Look, Gray, we’ll talk more later. I’ve got to go.”

“Is Jake there?”

“He’s talking to one of the officers.”

“Can you ask him to call me when he’s done?”

“Gray—”

“Piper, Mom and Dad are enjoying the first vacation they’ve had in years. I’d hate to ruin it by telling them you’re in some kind of trouble.”

“That’s blackmail.”

“Whatever works.”

“Fine. I’ll tell him.” She hung up and thrust the phone back at its owner. “Here you go. Thanks again for letting me use it.”

He nodded, his gaze too knowing to be comfortable. “I guess Grayson hasn’t changed.”

“You know Gray?” No wonder his eyes had seemed familiar.

“Knew. But not as well as I knew Seth. He and I were too young to hang with Grayson and his buddies.”

He grinned and held out a hand. “Cade Macalister.”

“Cade? Cade who used to tie my shoelaces together and laugh when I tripped?” Piper squinted, trying to see the scrawny kid with glasses in the scruffily attractive man who stood before her.

“I guess you remember.”

“How could I forget? You and my brother spent hours coming up with ways to torture me.”

“Self-defense. You followed us around everywhere. It’s hard to look cool when you’ve got a little girl hanging out with you.”

Piper laughed, relaxing for the first time in what seemed like hours. “I guess that’s true.”

“It’s definitely true. How is Seth?”

“Good. He’s out of the country. We should hear from him early next month. Aren’t you a military guy, too?”

“I was. Dad had a stroke a year and a half ago, and I’m helping him out for a while.”

“I’d heard about his stroke. How’s he doing?”

“Better.” Cade’s grimace made a lie of the words.

“Ms. Sinclair?” A short, balding man hurried toward Piper, Jake close behind him, their arrival cutting off the questions she wanted to ask.

“Yes?” She turned toward them, her tension suddenly back.

“I’m Chief Russell. Lieutenant Bradley said you gave him your statement. We’ll need you to come by the station tomorrow morning and sign it. Other than that, we’re all set. You can stop by at your convenience.”

“Thanks.”

He nodded, gave her a brief smile and moved away.

“I guess I’m free to go. Thanks, Jake. Nice seeing you again, Cade.”

“You, too.”

She hurried away, feeling the weight of both men’s stares as she slid into Gabby’s car.

“Finally! I thought they’d never let you go.” Gabby’s eyes were dark and filled with worry as she put the car in gear and pulled out of the lot. “Are you okay?”

“I haven’t decided yet. How about you?”

“Still shaking.”

“Me, too.”

“I can’t believe I talked you into coming tonight. We both could have been killed.”

“But we weren’t.”

“Thanks to you.” Gabby turned into the university’s parking lot and pulled up next to Piper’s GTO. Then turned to face her. “You’re a hero. You know that, don’t you?”

Piper laughed and pushed the door open. “The only twenty-nine-year-old hero whose brother sends the cavalry to save her.”