Dangerous Inheritance

by Barbara Warren

Macy squinted at her, wondering where this was going. “And what was your purpose?”

  “Finding that diary, of course. I couldn’t let anyone else find it. And now you’ve got it.”

  Oh. “You were the one trying to break in?”

  Anger glinted in Neva’s eyes. “I shouldn’t have had to ‘break in,’ as you put it. I had a right to come in. I cleaned this place, while those two acted like they were too good to do any work. And then Megan destroyed my daughter’s life—destroyed me. Megan asked for everything that happened to her. It was her own fault.”

  Macy’s eyes were drawn back to the book. What was there in the diary implicating Neva? She glanced at the next entry.

  Neva came into the store today. She jerked things off the hangers, threw them on the floor and stomped on them. I’m halfway afraid of her. She doesn’t act like she’s sane. She blames me because Lindy went to prison, and now that her daughter’s out and back in town, no one will hire her. That’s not my fault. Who would want to hire someone who did time for stealing from her employer?

  Macy stared at the entry, playing for time. Of course. Lindy was Neva’s daughter. And Lindy had worked for Macy’s mother.

  A new memory kicked in. That blonde in the group picture—that was Lindy. And Lindy hadn’t liked her, had teased her. More important, her mother was afraid of Neva. Macy stared at Neva, seeing her differently—seeing her the way she’d seen her that night. As a heartless killer.

  She remembered now. Remembered Neva standing over her mother’s body, the poker in her hand. Remembered running from this woman. She’d reached the foot of the stairs before the poker must have caused her to black out.

  Her expression must have given her away because Neva’s eyes sharpened. She strode from the room, returning with the fireplace poker—the very same poker she had used that night.

  Now she bounced it against her hand, eyes narrowed, her lips tight. “You won’t let it alone, will you? I gave you chance after chance to leave, but no, you wouldn’t go, you were on a mission.”

  The word mission held a wealth of sarcasm.

  Macy licked her lips, trying to think of what to do. “I owed it to them to find out what really happened.”

  “You owed them nothing. It was just you, full of yourself, trying to succeed where the police had failed. You always were a brat. Spoiled rotten. You had to come downstairs that night, didn’t you? Couldn’t stay up in your room where you belonged. Then you tried to get away from me. I should have hit you harder back then. I’ll do a better job this time.”

  Macy’s heart was pounding so hard it made her dizzy. She wanted to do something—anything, but her legs felt like rubber, unable to hold her. Just like all those years ago.

  She tried to sound as though she was in control, but her voice shook. “You killed her. Why? What did she ever do to you?”

  “What did she do? She fired my daughter. Claimed she was stealing. Had her arrested, even got her sent to prison. How do you think that made me feel? My only child in prison—and there wasn’t a thing I could do about it.”

  “Lindy was a thief.”

  Neva shook the poker at her. “Don’t you dare call her that. Lindy never took anything she didn’t need. Megan had it all. She could have shared, but she thought she was better than my daughter—better than me. Just like Opal. She thought she was something special, too.”

  Macy couldn’t believe it. Her chest felt so tight she had trouble breathing. How she had been fooled so completely? She had accepted Neva, felt sorry for her. There had been signs, but she’d ignored them. She could see now that it was too late.

  She forced out the words past lips gone numb with shock. “You killed her, too.”

  Neva nodded, smiling widely, eyes overly bright, as if extremely proud of what she had done. “She’d found that diary. I knew something was wrong. She was acting funny. Then she called me that night. Told me not to come back to this house. She was going to tell the police, have me arrested.

  “She was old and asleep. No match for me. All it took was a pillow. I guess she forgot I had a key. I should have hung on to it. Then I wouldn’t have had such a hard time getting in.”

  Her expression changed from triumph to a cold anger. “But you. You couldn’t let it rest. Everyone had forgot about it until you came along, getting them all riled up again. Well, you’re not as important as you think you are. You’re just a problem I have to take care of, the way I took care of Megan and Opal. They were no match for me, and you won’t be, either.”

  If only Nick would show up right now. She needed him. Needed help. God? Are You there? Help me defend myself against this woman.

  “Don’t do this, Neva. You won’t get away with it—your car’s out front. You’ll get caught.”

  Neva’s lips curved back in a wide smile, looking weirdly excited, as if she couldn’t wait to use the poker again. Macy shivered, trying to swallow her fear. Gone was the pleasant-faced woman who just seemed a little odd. Neva’s eyes had a wild look. It wouldn’t take much to send her spinning out of control. Her mother’s written words came back to her. She doesn’t act sane. Macy took a deep breath, her mind racing. Somehow she had to get out of here. Get outside and call for help. Father, help me! Please...don’t let her kill me, too.

  She glanced around, searching for a weapon. All she had was a glass of ice water, which wouldn’t be much against a poker. Neva strode toward her, poker held with both hands, the way a ball player would hold a bat. Macy picked up the glass and stepped away from the table. Neva was almost in striking range. She had to do something...fast. She threw the glass of water, hitting Neva in the face. Ice cubes bounced off her head, striking the floor. She howled with rage, but kept coming.

  Macy grabbed a chair, swinging it around between them. The poker connected with the chair in a resounding whack. A leg splintered. Neva swung again and Macy jumped back out of range. She glanced frantically around the room, searching for another weapon, but finding nothing.

  Macy threw the chair at Neva, catching her midstride. She staggered from the force of the blow. Her foot came down on an ice cube. She slipped, dropping the poker and grabbing the edge of the table for support.

  Macy whirled, running for the front door. Neva recovered and was coming after her. She fumbled with the lock, her hands numb with fear. Desperate, she yanked the door open and scrambled out onto the porch. She had an impression of a car pulling into the driveway, heard a voice calling her name, but she didn’t have time to look. Not with Neva bursting out of the door right behind her, poker raised high.

  * * *

  Nick ran up the driveway, pulse pounding. Neva. Holding a poker, the type of weapon that had been used to kill Megan Douglas. Holding it as if she meant business. Macy had plunged out the door, apparently trying to get away, but Neva was too close behind her. She’d never make it down the porch steps. He had to get there in time.

  Macy turned to face Neva and Nick tried to run faster. Neva lifted the poker, poised to strike. He yelled at her. “Stop! Police!”

  Neva paused, giving him a hasty glance. Nick put on a burst of speed. He was almost to the porch steps. Please, God! Let me get there in time.

  Neva had the poker drawn back again, ready to swing it, her expression so wild she looked almost inhuman. For a moment she seemed startled, glancing toward the driveway. Macy leaped at her, grabbing for the poker. Neva shoved her away. Nick reached the porch steps as Macy grabbed a clay flowerpot holding a ruffled pink begonia.

  He dashed up the steps as she drew her arm back and seemed to throw the pot with all the force she could summon. It crashed against the door frame, but not before grazing Neva’s head.

  Nick dashed past Macy to tackle a disoriented Neva. They crashed to the porch floor and he surged to his feet, reaching for his handcuffs.

  As soon as Neva was subdued, he turned his attention to Macy, pulling her into his arms, thanking God she was all right. He’d gotten here just in time.

  She looked up a
nd he lowered his head, his lips warm against hers, gentle at first then more demanding. She was safe. Nothing could hurt her now. He’d make sure of that.

  When their lips parted, Macy twisted around to look at Neva, lying in a heap on the porch floor. “She killed my mother and my grandmother. Murdered them both.”

  Nick bent over to pick up the poker, careful not touch it where Neva had gripped. He leaned it against the railing. “She’s not going anywhere. I’ll call Sam and get some help.”

  Macy sank into one of the wicker chairs, as if she were unable to stand any longer. Nick watched her as she stared at the woman who had destroyed her family. A woman she had trusted. Neva could have attacked her at any moment when she was working here, catching her completely off guard. Macy had been in danger all this time, and he’d been too slow to realize it. There were others who had seemed more promising. He’d come close to losing Macy, and it would have been his own fault.

  Macy glanced at Nick. “I want to hate her, but I’m too numb, too drained of emotion to feel anything.”

  “You’ve had a rough time, but it’s over now.”

  “I know, and I also know hating is wrong, but she killed my mother and my grandmother. How can I forgive her?”

  “Only with God’s help. And I’m here, too. I’ll be with you.”

  Nick sat down close to her, holding her hand until Sam arrived with a couple of other policemen. Then he got to his feet.

  Sam climbed the porch steps. “You two all right?”

  Macy nodded and attempted a smile, looking as though it took all the strength she had to just acknowledge him.

  “We’re doing all right,” Nick answered. “But it was close.”

  Sam patted Macy on the shoulder, looking down at her. “I’m sorry it came to this. We should have gotten onto her earlier, but it’s over now. You’re safe.”

  He hauled Neva to her feet, eyeing her with obvious contempt. “I’ve got a cell waiting for you. Let’s get going.”

  He took her by the shoulder, but she jerked away, spitting at him. Sam wiped the spittle off and glared at her. “There’ll be no more of that. Now you get down those porch steps and start walking.”

  He helped her down the steps and started leading her toward the car, but she jerked away again, whirling to face Macy. “You worthless brat! I should have killed you back when I had the chance.”

  Macy flinched and Nick put his arm around her. “It’s all right. She can’t hurt you. I won’t let her.”

  Sam propelled Neva down the walk and shoved her into the police car. Nick watched him drive away. What a trail of blood that woman had left behind her, and it wasn’t over. They’d still have the trial to get through.

  * * *

  Nick looked down at Macy. “Are you all right?”

  She nodded, knowing she wasn’t. The way she felt right now, she might never be all right again. “I think so. She tried to kill me.”

  “Yeah, I saw that. What happened?”

  Macy stopped to think, trying to clear her head. “I found my mother’s diary. In it she said she was afraid of Neva, that she wasn’t quite sane. Then Neva came in. I’d locked the door, but she had a copy of the key.”

  She stopped, struggling for control. “Oh, Nick, she said she should have hit me harder that night. I was just seven years old. And she killed my mother.”

  He pulled Macy to her feet, holding her close and kissing her forehead. “It’s over. You’re safe and she’ll never hurt anyone again.”

  A car door slammed and Hilda dashed toward the porch. “Macy, are you all right? I just saw the police leading Neva into the station. What happened?”

  Macy turned to face her. With Nick’s arm around her, holding her close against his side, she could say the words. “She killed my mother and grandmother, and she tried to kill me.”

  Hilda sagged, holding on to the porch railing. “Neva? It was Neva? I suspected Anita.”

  “I suspected several others,” Nick said, “but I finally realized she had to be the one.”

  He looked down at Macy. “I have to go, but I’ll be back later. Hilda, you stay with her, okay?”

  “Of course. I’ll stay as long as she needs me.”

  Macy watched as he hurried to his police car. He’d be back. He’d said he would be, and Nick Baldwin kept his promises. And when he returned, she’d have so much to tell him.

  Hilda took her arm. “Let’s go inside. It’s quieter there.”

  Macy looked around. Neighbors were standing on their porches, staring at her. She turned and walked inside, knowing she didn’t have to be afraid anymore. God had answered her prayers.

  An hour passed, Hilda had gone home, and Nick had returned. He and Macy were sitting in the wicker love seat on the porch. The police had found the device Neva had used to change her voice on the phone. The blonde in the group picture had been Lindy, and Neva had stolen the photo while Macy wasn’t looking.

  The night air was cool and fresh. Silence closed around them, a blessed relief from all that had happened. Macy took a deep breath, feeling free for the first time since arriving in Walnut Grove.

  Nick took her hand. “What are you going to do now?”

  Macy hesitated, searching for the words. “I don’t know. This house... I’ve been afraid of it ever since I moved in. Now, it’s like a shadow has lifted, as if it’s just a normal house, the way it once was.”

  “So are you planning on living here?

  Macy nodded. “I think so. I’d like to see it come alive again, filled with laughter and the sound of voices, and children playing. The way it used to be before all of this happened.”

  “Would you need any help with that?”

  She glanced at him, the corners of her lips quirking in the beginning of a smile. “I’m sure I would. It would take two to make that dream come true.”

  He brushed the hair off her forehead. “If you’re taking applications, I’d like to submit mine.”

  Macy let the smile blossom as she met his eyes. “I hoped you would. In fact, I was sort of planning on it.”

  “Oh, Macy.” He stood up, pulling her with him, his arms warm and comforting around her. “I love you so much I want to keep you beside me for the rest of my life.”

  She grinned up at him. “Is that a proposal?”

  “I meant it that way. Are you interested?”

  “I thought you’d never ask.”

  He drew her to him, and she saw the love glowing in his eyes. She’d come back to this house, searching for something that had been stolen from her. Now, she not only remembered her life here—remembered her family—but with God’s help she and Nick had cleared her father’s name and brought her mother’s killer to justice.

  She stood sheltered in Nick’s embrace, so close she could feel his heartbeat. His lips touched hers, tender, loving, and she yielded herself to his kiss. After all her searching for the truth, all the doubts and fears, she was safe, sheltered in the arms of the man she loved with all her heart. Even the house seemed to be smiling.

  Macy was home.

  * * * * *

  Keep reading for an excerpt from PROTECTION DETAIL by Shirlee McCoy.

  Dear Reader,

  Thank you for reading Dangerous Inheritance. After her grandmother died, Macy Douglas found a box of letters and newspaper clippings and was surprised to learn her mother had been brutally killed, her father had been convicted of the murder and he’d died in prison.

  Life is full of surprises, some good, some bad and some them change our lives forever. I’ve had several surprises, some I enjoyed, some I didn’t. I’m sure you have, too.

  Macy, with Nick’s help, learns to put her trust in God. It’s been a struggle, but over the years I’ve learned to put my problems in God’s hands and leave them there. He’s always quick to answer our prayers and help us through the most trying times—a never-ending source of peace and comfort.

  May God be with you always, through both the good times and the bad.
r />   Barbara Warren

  We hope you enjoyed this Harlequin Love Inspired Suspense story.

  You enjoy a dash of danger. Love Inspired Suspense stories feature strong heroes and heroines whose faith is central in solving mysteries and saving lives.

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  ONE

  Something pulled Cassie Danvers from the half sleep she’d fallen into and yanked her back into the world of foster children and fevers, of long nights with sick kids. She eased away from little David’s bed, standing on legs that ached from too many hours sitting in one position. Five days and six nights of dealing with the eight-year-old’s illness had taken its toll. She was exhausted.

  A soft thump sounded from somewhere below, and she cocked her head to the side, listening for whatever would come next. Something would. She was sure of that. She’d been house mom at All Our Kids foster home for enough years to know that kids didn’t always stay in bed. When it came to the kind of kids she dealt with, they often didn’t.

  Someone was up. Probably Destiny. The thirteen-year-old had been neglected for ten years before she’d arrived at the home. As a result, she had food issues. As in, she liked to take food, hide it, hoard it. If she was up raiding the kitchen, she’d have to be dealt with. Too bad, because Cassie was just tired enough to want to ignore the issue.

  She touched David’s forehead. Cool as a cucumber. Finally.

  That was good news and might mean they both got a good night’s sleep. After Cassie got Destiny back into bed.

  She hurried into the hall, tiptoeing past the boys’ room. The stairs creaked as she crept to the lower level of the house. A large foyer opened out into a living room area on one side and a formal dining room on the other. Unless they had special guests, the eat-in kitchen was always a better choice for meals. More relaxed and comfortable, it offered Cassie’s charges a chance to sit down and get a feel for what it meant to be part of a family. Or, in some cases, to remember what it felt like.