Stranger in the Shadows

But she was afraid.

No amount of self-talk, no amount of rationalization could change that.

She sighed, steering her vintage Mustang toward the parking lot exit. Opal was right. She needed to do something fun, something to get her mind off the tension and anxiety she’d been feeling since Saturday night, but she hadn’t had time to make friends since she’d come to Lakeview and she had no intention of going anywhere or doing anything by herself. The fact was, despite what the D.C. police had told her, despite what her friends, doctors and psychologist had said, she couldn’t shake the feeling that danger was following her. That the accident hadn’t been the end of the violence against her. That eventually the past would catch up to her. And when it did, she just might not survive.

No, she definitely didn’t want to go anywhere by herself, but she didn’t want to go with someone, either. Look what had happened to Adam because he was with her when a murderer struck.

Hot tears stung her eyes, but she forced them away. Tears wouldn’t help. Only answers could do that and Chloe didn’t have any. She’d been living her life, doing what she thought was right, trying her best to be the person God wanted her to be. Then the rug had been pulled out from under her, the stability she’d worked so hard for destroyed. All her childhood fears had come to pass—death, heartache, pain, faceless monsters stalking her through the darkness. Now, it seemed that God was far away, that her life had taken a taken a path that He wasn’t on and that no matter how hard she tried to get back on course, she couldn’t. As much as she wanted to believe differently, as much as she knew that God would never abandon His children, abandoned was exactly how she felt.

Abandoned and alone, her mind filled with nightmare images and dark shadows that reflected the hollow ache of her soul.

SEVEN

By the time she finished at the police station and returned home, it had started to rain. First a quick patter of drops, then a torrential downpour that pinged against the house’s tin roof and seemed to echo Chloe’s mood. Outside, the clouds had turned charcoal, bubbling up from the horizon with barely contained violence.

Chloe put her mail on the kitchen table, grabbed a glass of water and opened sliding glass doors that led to the balcony off her living room. From there she could see the stark beauty of the lake as it reflected gray clouds and bare trees. Winter would arrive soon, bringing with it colder air and a starker landscape. It would be good to capture those changes on film, to hang a few new photos on the wall. The thought brightened her mood.

It had been a long time since she’d photographed anything. In the aftermath of the accident, she hadn’t had the time or the inclination. Now, with surgeries and physical therapy behind her, she did. She just hadn’t had any desire to.

Except once.

An image flashed through her mind—sandy hair, vivid blue eyes, a half smile designed to melt hearts.

“Enough!” She grabbed her digital camera from the top drawer of her dresser, refusing to think about Ben and determined to do what she should have months ago—regain her life. Get back into her routines. Enjoy the hobbies she’d found so much pleasure in before the accident. Maybe she couldn’t go rock climbing anymore, but she could shoot pictures. And she would.

A soft tap sounded at the front door and Chloe jumped, her heart racing. She wasn’t expecting company. Anyone could be out there, waiting to finish what was started almost a year ago.

She sidled along the wall, imagining bullets piercing the door and knowing just how ridiculous she was being. “Who’s there?”

“Ben Avery.”

“Ben?” Surprised, relieved, Chloe pulled open the door and stepped aside so he could walk in. “What are you doing here?”

“Carrying out my orders.” He smiled, rain glistening in his sandy hair and beaded on his leather jacket, the scent of fall drifting into the room with him. Fall and something else. Something masculine and strong.

Chloe took a step back. “Orders?”

“Opal and I ran into each other at the diner. She asked me to bring you this.” He held out a brown paper bag, and Chloe took it, catching a whiff of apples and cinnamon.

“Apple pie?”

“And ice cream. She had Doris put that in a separate container.”

“Fun in a bag?”

“I guess you could call it that.”

“Those are Opal’s words. Not mine. She said I should have a little fun today. I guess she wanted to make sure I did.” Chloe smiled, touched by her friend’s thoughtfulness, though she wasn’t sure she was happy with her methods. “Thanks for bringing this over. I’m sure you had better things to do with your time.”

“It seems like we had this conversation before. And I’m going to tell you the same thing now that I did then—I can’t think of any.” He leaned his shoulder against the wall, his vivid blue gaze steady. “Of course, bringing it here was only part of my job.”

“What was the other part?”

“I’m supposed to make sure you eat it.”

“Tell me you’re kidding.”

“I’m afraid not. She said that if you faded away to nothing she wouldn’t have any reliable help at the shop.”

“She’s conveniently forgetting Mary Alice and the new girl she hired.”

“Laura. She mentioned that she’d left her to watch the store for a few minutes and had to hurry back.”

“You and Opal must have had a long conversation.”

“Not too long.” He didn’t seem inclined to say more, and Chloe decided not to press for details. Knowing Opal, she’d said more than she should have. Eventually, she and Chloe would have to talk about that. For now, the pie smelled too good to ignore.

“Since you’ve been ordered to make sure I eat this, maybe we can share.” She moved into the small kitchen and set her camera down, grabbing two plates from the cupboard.

“I was hoping you’d say that. I brought enough for both of us.” Ben moved toward her, an easy grin curving his lips and deepening the lines near his eyes. Was he thirty? Thirty-five? Older?

She shouldn’t be wondering, but was.

And that didn’t make her happy.

“You knew I was going to invite you?”

“No, but I was hoping.” He pulled a large plastic container from the bag, opened it up to reveal two slices of apple pie. “It’s my day off. Apple pie, ice cream and interesting company seemed like a good way to spend part of it.”