Valley of Shadows and Stranger in the Shadows: Valley of ShadowsStranger in the Shadows

by Shirlee McCoy

  Had it? It seemed that what had happened after the accident was crystal clear, the threat she felt like a waking nightmare she couldn’t escape from. What had come before was less clear and Chloe couldn’t say for sure that she hadn’t felt the same way. She couldn’t say she had, either. “I don’t know.”

  “The man who was convicted of murder—”

  “Matthew Jackson.” His pale face and coal-black eyes were tattooed into her memory, his skeletal frame standing outside the burning car, something she would never forget.

  “According to the news reports I heard, Jackson never admitted to sabotaging your car. It’s possible he didn’t.”

  “He was there, Ben. Standing outside the car while it burned around us. He had a gun.” The police speculated that he’d been planning to kill Chloe if she got out of the car. The fire that had scarred her, had saved her life. The bent metal that had held her inside the burning wreck had kept her from certain death.

  The thought made her shudder and she wrapped her arms around her waist. “Jackson wanted me dead. He was at the scene of the accident. It seems pretty obvious he had something to do with it.”

  “Maybe he did, but maybe the accident has nothing to do with what’s happening now.” Ben turned into the parking lot of a well-lit building and turned to face her. “What if the D.C. police were heading in the wrong direction? What if they couldn’t find evidence that you were being stalked because they were looking for a connection to Jackson and couldn’t find it?”

  She rubbed the ache in her thigh, wincing a little as bunched muscles contracted even more. “They looked in every direction. My old caseload, my personal relationships. They investigated thoroughly but couldn’t find anyone else who had a grudge against me.”

  “Did you?”

  “Did I what?”

  “Investigate.” His eyes were liquid fire in the dim light, his face carved from stone, but his hand was gentle as it wrapped around hers, his fingers skimming across her palm and settling there. “It’s what you do. It would seem natural for you to check things out yourself.”

  “I was too sick at first. By the time I was healthy enough to think about investigating, Jackson was in jail and it seemed the police had covered all the bases.”

  “If it were my life on the line, I don’t think I’d rely solely on the police to investigate.” His hand dropped away from hers and he opened his door. “This is it. Tori’s clinic. Let’s head in and see what those puppies are like.”

  Chloe grabbed his arm before he could get out, scowling as he turned to face her. “You’re good, Ben Avery. Really good. But I know exactly what you’re up to and…” She planned on saying it wasn’t going to work, that she had no intention of digging into her old caseloads, no intention of searching for someone who might want her dead. But he’d planted a seed and it was already growing in the fallow soil of her heart.

  “And what?” His gaze touched her hair, her cheeks, her lips, lingering there for a second before he met her eyes.

  Her skin heated, but she ignored it and the wild beating of her heart. “And it’s working. But I use computer forensics to investigate crime. If someone is really coming after me, that won’t be hidden in a computer file or found in a deleted e-mail.”

  “But his reason might be.”

  He had a good point and Chloe mulled it over as she got out of the car. “I’ll have to look through my open cases. Maybe I’ll find something there.”

  “If you do, go to Jake with it. Don’t try to confront the person yourself.”

  “I’m not that crazy. One near-death experience in a lifetime is more than enough.”

  He chuckled and pressed a hand to Chloe’s lower spine. “Come on. Tori is probably pacing the floor wondering what’s taking so long.”

  “Maybe she’s left.” Which might be a good thing.

  “Maybe, but it’s doubtful. She’s got to find homes for these puppies before her grandfather finds another litter.”

  “Her grandfather brought her the puppies?”

  “Yeah. That was this week. Last week, he found an abandoned potbellied pig. The week before he found a goat.”

  “What’s he do? Ride around looking for strays?”

  “When he’s not riding around looking for Opal.”

  “Opal?”

  “Yeah. Sam’s got a thing for her. You probably remember meeting him the night of the wedding. Tall, gray hair, smitten look on his face.”

  “I remember. I tried to find out what’s going on with them, but Opal is keeping mum.”

  “That’s probably for the best.”

  “Why’s that?”

  “It’ll give you an excuse to keep mum about what’s going on with us.” He shouldered open the clinic door, gesturing for Chloe to precede him into the brightly lit reception area.

  “Nothing is going on with us.”

  “I’m not so sure you’re right about that, Chloe.” He smiled, the gentle curve of his lips spearing into Chloe’s heart.

  She blinked, took a step back, denying what she was feeling. Refusing it. She didn’t need to add a man to her already complicated life. She wouldn’t add a man to it. “Ben—”

  “You’re finally here. I was beginning to wonder if you were coming at all.” A woman strode toward them, her movements brisk despite what looked like an advanced pregnancy. Tall and striking with bright red hair and green eyes, she exuded confidence and warmth as she offered a hand to Chloe. “You must be Chloe. I’m Tori Stone. You met my grandfather the other night.”

  “I remember.”

  “Yeah, well, Sam is hard to forget. The puppies are this way. I’ve only got two left. This litter has been pretty easy to place. The last one…” She paused, shuddered. “Not so much.”

  “Was something wrong with them?”

  “Wrong? No. They were just homely. Poor little guys. Eventually we found some people who were willing to overlook that.” She smiled, led them to a closed door. “Here we are. I’ve got a few patients to check on. I’ll let you two take a look. Then come back in a few minutes to see what you think.”

  She pushed open the door and motioned for Chloe to go in. “Feel free to take them out of the crate, but close the door if you do or they’ll be down the hall and into trouble before you know it. See you in a few.”

  Chloe stepped into the room. It housed an exam table, cabinets, a counter. The crate sat on the floor near the far wall, the wiggling, squirming balls of fur inside it looking more like overgrown dust bunnies than dogs.

  “Those are puppies? They look more like miniature mops or giant dust bunnies to me.” Ben’s comment neatly mimicked what Chloe was thinking, and she smiled.

  “Except for the tails.”

  “There is that.” Ben knelt down. “Which do you want to see? The fuzzy one or the fuzzier one.”

  “Either.”

  Ben reached in and pulled out a handful of wiggling cream-colored puppy. “Try this one.”

  She lifted it to her chest, stroking silky fur and feeling the vibrating excitement of the puppy surge through her. It strained against her hold, licking her hands and neck and rolling sideways for a belly rub. “It’s awfully cute.”

  “So’s this one.” Ben lifted out the second pup and set it on the floor. Its paws were black, its torso dark brown, its tail wagging so fast, Chloe thought it might knock itself over.

  “If I were to decide to bring one home I wouldn’t know which to choose.” Chloe set the one she was holding down, and watched as it scampered across the floor, rushing from wall to wall, skidding on the tile floor and slamming into the door.

  Chloe laughed, kneeling down, her bad leg protesting the move. She ignored it, picking up the brown puppy and holding it up so she could look in its eyes. �
�This one is quieter.”

  “Definitely.”

  She put it back down, smiling as it climbed up her legs and settled down for a nap. “I don’t know, Ben. They’re both adorable, but I’m not sure I’m ready for a pet.”

  “Ever have one before?”

  “Not even a fish. The closest I came to it was Speedy.”

  “The stuffed turtle.”

  “Exactly.”

  Ben lifted the cream-colored puppy and rubbed it under its chin as he settled down beside Chloe. “Like I said before, there’s a first time for everything.”

  “I’m just not sure now is the right time for this particular first.”

  “It’s your decision to make.” He placed the puppy down on the floor, watching as it raced away. “But it might be fun to have a quirky little guy like that racing around the apartment.”

  A soft knock sounded on the door and Tori strode in. “I see you’ve met Cain and Abel.”

  She knelt down next to Chloe, smoothing the fur on the dark puppy’s back. “They’re brothers, but the similarity ends there. Cain is full of energy and life. Lovable but constantly in trouble.”

  “Then this one must be Abel.” Chloe stroked the puppy’s head.

  “Yes. Sweet as pie. Cute as a button. Smart as a whip.” She grinned. “But lazy.”

  “They’re both sweet as pie.”

  “You’re right about that, Chloe, but their personalities are very different. If you decide you want to take one, you need to think about which will fit better with your lifestyle.”

  Chloe nodded, watching Cain as he chased his tail. His energy level high, his exuberance appealing. A year or two ago, he would have been her choice. Now, though, she wasn’t sure she could keep up with the wiggling ball of energy. The quieter puppy, on the other hand, was more her speed, his slow movements as he finally roused himself to join his brother’s play made her smile.

  “You don’t have to make up your mind tonight, of course. I can hold them both for a few days while you decide.” Tori started to rise and Ben hurried to offer a hand up. “Thanks, Ben. Why don’t I give you a couple more minutes with the puppies? Then we’ll call it a night.”

  The door closed behind Tori’s retreating figure.

  “What do you think?” Ben lifted Cain and rubbed his belly.

  “I think you should take that one home with you.”

  “We didn’t come here to pick a puppy for me. We came for you. You need some company, remember?”

  “And you don’t?”

  “My life is busy. I don’t have time for a puppy.”

  “Mine is, too, and neither do I.”

  “So, I guess we leave them here.”

  “I guess we do.” She lifted the brown puppy who’d come to sit in her lap again, surprised by the disappointment she felt. “Sorry, guy.”

  “Of course, there’s another option.” Ben knelt down in front of Chloe, lifting Abel from her arms and setting him on the floor.

  “What’s that?”

  “We could make time for them.” He grabbed Chloe’s hand and tugged her to her feet, his hands wrapping around her waist to hold her steady.

  “Come on, Chloe. You know you want to.” His grin was just the right side of wicked, his eyes flashing with amusement and a challenge Chloe knew she should ignore, but couldn’t.

  “So you’re saying if I take Abel, you’ll take Cain?”

  “I’m saying if you take one I’ll take the other. Which one of us gets the hyperactive guy is up for debate.”

  “Debate? I think it’s pretty obvious that the more active puppy should go to the more able-bodied person. My bum leg won’t let me chase after anything much faster than Abel.”

  “You may have a point. One way or another, we’ll have to work out visitation. A couple of walks a week. Maybe a playdate or two.” He leaned a shoulder against the wall. “Just because you and I aren’t together, doesn’t mean the boys shouldn’t be able to spend time with each other.”

  He looked serious, his face set in somber lines, sandy hair falling over his forehead, but laughter danced in his eyes.

  Chloe’s own laughter bubbled out, spilling into the room, the feeling of it new and fresh. Life, hope, joy. So many things she’d thought she’d never have again, but that suddenly seemed possible. Here, in the brightly lit room, two puppies scampering near her feet, Ben’s amused eyes staring into hers, she could almost forget the darkness that waited outside, the shadows that seemed determined to follow her wherever she went.

  Almost.

  “Don’t stop.” He brushed strands of hair from Chloe’s cheeks, his fingers lingering for a moment before dropping away.

  “Stop what?”

  “Laughing. It’s good for the soul.”

  “I guess I need to find more things to laugh about, then.”

  “You will. Sorrow fades in time.”

  “Sorrow I can handle. It’s the guilt that’s eating me alive.”

  “You’ve got nothing to feel guilty about.”

  “Don’t I?” She leaned down and scooped Abel into her arms, the fuzzy warmth of the puppy comforting. “My investigation caused Adam’s death.”

  “The person who sabotaged your car caused his death.”

  “No matter which way you try to paint the picture, it’ll always be the same. I found information that I passed on to the FBI. Because of that The Strangers dismantled. Because of that, Matthew Jackson tried to kill me and killed Adam instead.”

  “It seems to me you’re taking a lot of responsibility for something you couldn’t know would happen.”

  “I’m not taking responsibility. I’m just…”

  “What?”

  “Wishing I’d made different choices. Wishing that Adam hadn’t died in my place.”

  Ben’s hands framed her face, the rough calluses on his palms rasping against her skin. “He didn’t die in your place, Chloe. He was killed in a tragic accident that had nothing to do with you and everything to do with someone else’s sin.”

  “The words sound good, Ben, but they don’t feel like the truth.”

  “Then it’s good that how we feel doesn’t actually determine the facts.” His hands slid to her neck, his thumbs brushing against the tender flesh under her jaw and spreading warmth in their wake.

  Chloe’s heart jumped, and she stepped back, refusing to put a name to what she’d promised herself she’d never feel again. “We should find Tori and tell her we’ve decided to take the puppies.”

  For a moment, she didn’t think Ben was going to acknowledge her comment. His vivid eyes stared into hers, secrets and shadows hidden in their depth.

  Finally, he nodded. “Let me corral Cain first.”

  Chloe waited at the door, Abel sleeping in her arms, his fuzzy head pressed into the crook of her elbow, her heartbeat slowing, the places where Ben’s hands had rested cooling. She shouldn’t be letting him affect her so much, shouldn’t be having this kind of reaction to him.

  Shouldn’t be, but it didn’t seem she had much of a choice. No matter how much she might want to tell herself differently, Ben was becoming a fixture in her life. She wasn’t sure she liked it and was even less sure she could change it. All she could do was pray that Ben wouldn’t eventually suffer for being her friend and that she wouldn’t eventually be left heartbroken again.

  Chapter Twelve

  Having a puppy in the apartment proved to be as much of a distraction as Ben had said it would be. The cozy rooms Chloe loved so much were even more inviting with a ball of fur keeping her company in them.

  And company was definitely something she needed at three in the morning when nightmares woke her and fear kept her from returning to sleep.

&
nbsp; She shifted in the easy chair, hoping a change in position would alleviate the ache in her leg. Abel whined, moving into a more comfortable spot, his body heat seeping through the flannel pajamas Chloe wore and easing the knotted muscles of her thigh.

  “You’re a living heating pad, puppy.” His tail thumped, his eyes opened briefly before he went back to sleep again.

  Chloe wished she could do the same, but the dream she’d woken from refused to release its hold and her heart hammered in response, the quick, sickening thud enough to convince her she was having a heart attack. She wasn’t. Despite the pressure in her chest, the too-rapid throb of her pulse and the cold sweat that beaded her brow, she knew she was suffering from nothing more than panic.

  She wanted to get up and move, pace the floor, run a mile, talk to someone. She lifted the phone, realized what she was doing and set it down again. She couldn’t call Opal at this time of the morning. Not when Opal was already so worried about Chloe’s mental health. She wouldn’t call Ben. All she could do was sit and wait while seconds became minutes and minutes hours.

  Or she could use the time to do what Ben had suggested. She could pull her laptop from the closet where she’d shoved it when she’d moved in and revisit the cases she’d been working on around the time of the accident. As much as she wanted to believe that Matthew Jackson had been convicted of a crime he had committed, Ben had planted a seed of doubt and Chloe couldn’t ignore it no matter how much she wanted to.

  And the fact was, she really didn’t want to.

  It was a surprising change to the head-in-the-sand attitude she’d taken for so long; Chloe’s mood lifted as a small spark of the person she’d once been took hold, urging her to face the situation, sort out the facts and find out for herself what was what, who was who and just how she could keep herself alive.

  Maybe coming to Lakeview had given her back some of her old confidence and enthusiasm. Maybe talking to Ben had. Or maybe as her physical health and strength returned, her will to survive was kicking in stronger than ever. Whatever the case, Chloe was an investigator. She’d spent almost a decade of her life seeking evidence and answers. She’d found them for the FBI, for private investigators, for the police. Now she was going to find them for herself.