Threat of Darkness

by Valerie Hansen

  Thankfully, she saw a barely discernible nod so she continued. “Good. I want to help you. Besides being a nurse, I sometimes help kids who need me for other reasons.” Pausing, she tenderly touched his hand. This was a perfect opportunity to learn more about his home life without asking directly so she said, “You can think of me as your extra mama.”

  Danny blinked rapidly, studying her face as if struggling to believe her. The most telling aspect of his glance was the fact that he’d shown no additional fear when she’d mentioned his mother.

  “Where’s my mama?” came out so quietly Sam might have missed it if she hadn’t been watching his lips move.

  “She’s not here now, but I’m sure she’ll come to visit you later.” Sam counted to ten silently. “I imagine your daddy will come, too.”

  The unspoken proof she’d been seeking appeared instantly. Danny not only cringed at the mention of his father, he pulled the sheet higher and tucked it beneath his chin as if it were a shield.

  Samantha gathered herself, as well. It would be counterproductive to let any anger toward his parents show. She knew that. She also knew that if Ben Southerland had been standing there at that moment, she might have given him a piece of her mind. Of course she didn’t dare break protocol that way. An emotional outburst could cost her this CASA assignment and perhaps also disqualify her from others in the future.

  Therefore, she took a deep, settling breath and forced a smile for the boy’s sake. “Tell you what, Danny. I’m about to go get myself an ice cream bar. Would you like me to bring you one?”

  His eyes never left the empty doorway and she could tell he was visualizing his father there so she rose and blocked his view. His medical records had already told her his injuries were minor and that he was ambulatory, so she held out her hand.

  “How about coming with me to get the ice creams? I’ll help you put on a robe and slippers if you want.”

  “Okay…”

  The reply was softly spoken yet clearly a positive sign. Since Dr. Weiss was still out to lunch, he wouldn’t be checking on Danny for a while longer and, truth to tell, she didn’t see why the boy had been admitted in the first place—unless Weiss had finally seen the light and started to believe his so-called buddy had been abusing his son, as Alice had inferred. There was always that hope.

  With Danny’s hand grasping hers and his trust growing, she led him quietly out of the room and down the hallway to the vending-machine niche. A little ice cream wouldn’t hurt him and sharing a treat would help strengthen their emotional bond.

  This was the first step toward learning the truth from a child who was too frightened of further abuse to speak honestly. It was hard to listen without comment when children finally opened up to her, but it was also a blessing to be there for them.

  She was their literal guide to health and well-being. It was her recommendations to a judge that could save innocent lives and set these kinds of youngsters on the path to normalcy. Any personal angst, any depth of emotional suffering, was worth it to Samantha if the end result was a happy little boy or girl.

  One who was no longer afraid.

  * * *

  The ice cream adventure completed, she had escorted Danny back to bed and left him there after showing him how to find the cartoon channel on the television.

  John was entering through the E.R. door when she returned to her regular post. Judging by his determined expression, he was on a mission.

  Sam assumed he had come to see her. She started to smile in greeting, then noticed how morose he seemed. “Hi. What’s up? You look terrible.”

  “I feel terrible,” he said, taking her arm and guiding her off to the side of the room. “It’s about your car.”

  “I thought you might have come to tell me you were done with it. Guess not, huh?”

  “Oh, we’re done with it, all right. Only not for the reasons I wish.”

  Studying his face and scowling, Sam was struck by how much he seemed to be struggling. Surely he wasn’t still blaming himself for not watching her house more closely.

  “Well, are you going to tell me or make me drag it out of you? What’s wrong?”

  “Somebody set your car on fire while it was parked behind the station. It’s a total loss.”

  “What? How can that be?”

  “Let’s sit down and talk, Sam.”

  “I don’t need to sit anywhere. Just spit it out. What’s going on? What happened?”

  “Okay.” He shrugged. “We know the car was searched again, for starters. Apparently, whoever was responsible decided to burn it to remove any possible traces of their identity.”

  “In broad daylight? In downtown Serenity? Surely somebody saw something.”

  “Not as far as we can tell. We’ve canvassed the nearby businesses. Nobody noticed anything odd—until we saw the smoke.”

  “You called the fire department?”

  John grimaced. “Of course. By the time they arrived there was no saving the car. I spoke to one of the firefighters who knows you. Mitch Andrews?”

  “Right. He and Jill are adopting the Pearson orphans. I told you about helping them when we were talking about my CASA cases. Which reminds me…”

  John interrupted. “Yeah, that’s what Mitch said, too. He told me it was obvious there was accelerant poured into the car. Once it was lit, nothing could have put it out. I’m sorry.”

  “You’re sorry? I’m devastated. Now what will I do for wheels?”

  “What about the old barge Elvina used to drive? I thought I noticed it parked in your barn.”

  “That thing hasn’t been started in years. I imagine the mice have eaten all the wiring.”

  “I’ll check it for you tonight.”

  “Tonight?” She could tell he was highly stressed. His posture was stiff and his demeanor uneasy. “You look as if you’re cooking up some kind of devious plan and you’re afraid I won’t like it.”

  “You probably aren’t going to like it. That can’t be helped. Levi, Harlan and I have talked the situation over and they’re going to loan me the little travel trailer they use once in a while for an on-site operations headquarters. I’ll tow it out to your farm tonight when I drive you home and camp there.”

  “You will not.”

  “I told them you’d pitch a fit but they were both firm about it. Harlan says he can’t spare Adelaide, and Levi doesn’t want me sleeping in my car and losing my edge, so they worked out a way where I’ll be handy most of the time you’re home. There’s no other choice—unless you intend to invite me in and consider me a houseguest.”

  “I could refuse to be watched at all,” she said, realizing almost immediately that that was not going to suit anyone, herself included. She had been frightened out of her wits lately, more than once, and was not looking forward to spending dark, spooky nights alone so far out in the country.

  The way she saw the situation, she’d have to allow someone to stay close by in order to feel safe. Since she knew John better than any of the other deputies or police officers, assigning him to the job did make perfect sense.

  Samantha could tell he was searching her expression, waiting for her to capitulate once logic kicked in.

  “All right,” she finally said, letting herself begin to smile as she formulated her full reply. “I’ll let you camp on my property, but only because I don’t want anything bad to happen to Brutus, and you and he are buddies.”

  “Right.” The shadow of humor twitched at the corner of John’s mouth. “For Brutus.”

  “Yes. That way, if you end up prowling around outside, he won’t attack you and you won’t get scared and accidentally shoot him. It’s a great plan.”

  “Okay. Do you have any preference as to where I park?”

  “I guess
not. If you pull straight through the carport you can disconnect there, although you’ll have to check that the crossbeams are high enough to miss the vents on the top of the trailer.”

  “You want me that close?” He was beginning to smile and look terribly confident.

  “Well, you won’t be much use to me parked way out in the field or stuck inside the barn,” Samantha said, certain she sounded reasonable rather than overly eager.

  When John’s grin spread she added, “Just don’t get the idea that having you there will make me careless. I fully intend to bolt my doors.”

  “Good. Are those new locks I installed working okay for you?”

  “Fine, although I don’t know how much use they’d be if some really big guy decided he wanted to kick the door in.”

  “Which is exactly why the chief assigned me to stay at your place temporarily,” John countered. “I’m glad you approve.”

  She was about to amend his statement when he laughed softly and added, “For Brutus’s sake, of course.”

  EIGHT

  John was already towing the small, white trailer when he returned to the medical center to pick up Samantha that evening, just after five. She came out the door and jogged toward him before he had a chance to park and go inside to fetch her.

  He leaned across to open the truck’s door but she was already climbing in. “Next time, wait for me to walk you out,” he ordered.

  “Don’t be silly. I looked around first. There’s nobody sinister lurking out here. Besides, it’s always broad daylight when I get through with the day shift. I wouldn’t have been out here so late a few nights ago if I hadn’t been subbing for a nurse who had a family emergency.”

  “Yeah, well, day or night, we didn’t see anyone in the store parking lot in Ash Flat when you were almost run over, either. Next time, wait for me, Sam. Promise.”

  “Okay, okay. I will.” Sobering, she fastened her seat belt. “This is hard for me, you know. I’ve been totally independent for years. It feels funny having to ask for permission to do things.”

  “I don’t mean it that way,” John insisted.

  “Then what do you mean?” She waved her hands rapidly as if to erase her statement. “Oh, never mind. I get the general idea. So, have you made any progress with Bobby Joe’s case?”

  “No. But I did mention your interest in Ben Southerland when I was talking to the chief. He says the guy is squeaky-clean.”

  “Hah! Then why is Danny in the hospital?”

  John’s grip tightened on the steering wheel and his head whipped around. “What? Is he okay?”

  “Yes. More bruises, mostly. I started to fill you in earlier but after you told me about my car burning up it totally slipped my mind.”

  “Did you report abuse again?”

  “Sure did. I called Child Protective Services. And this time the right authorities listened.”

  “Good. What about the boy’s safety? Are they going to take him away from his parents?”

  “I don’t know. He’s safe enough while he’s still with us. The doctor has promised to delay his release until a judge has heard the case.”

  “Is that enough?”

  “It’s a start,” Samantha said. “I have other good news, too. I’ve been assigned as Danny’s official CASA representative. That means I’ll be able to intervene to help him. And it will also give me access to any other records there may be from the past.”

  “Hmm. The Southerlands can’t have always lived here or I’d know them. Where are they from?”

  “Georgia, I think. At least that’s their most recent former address. If I find out they’ve moved around a lot it will be an even bigger red flag.”

  “Because they might have a record of abusing Danny in other states?”

  “Yes.” She pressed her lips into a thin line and shook her head. “It’s a good thing for his father that I’m a woman. If I were a man I might be tempted to give him a taste of the punishment his son has had to endure.”

  “No, you wouldn’t,” John said tenderly. “But I do understand how you feel. There were plenty of times when I wanted to do that to your dad.”

  Had he spoken too boldly? John wondered. Revealing the unvarnished truth was not always wise, especially since he wasn’t positive how Sam was currently relating to her parents.

  When she turned her face to him, however, and softly said, “Thank you,” he knew it was going to be all right.

  “You went through a lot back in those days. I wish I could have done more for you.”

  “You were my friend. You stood by me when I wanted to move in with Elvina, and my folks pitched a fit. That was plenty.”

  “But they still needled you about coming back to live with them, especially until you were out of high school.” Pausing, he wondered if it was necessary to say more, to tell her that his efforts to get her to leave Serenity with him had been an attempt to distance her more from her familial trials.

  “Yes, they did,” Sam said, “but by that time, Elvina and I had grown very close. Once I’d experienced life under her roof, it felt as if I was living with my real grandmother.”

  “It still would have been easier on you if you’d married me and let me take you away from here,” John said with a brief but telling sigh.

  Samantha shook her head. “No. It would have been idiotic. You’d have eventually realized that in trying to rescue me you’d imprisoned yourself—for life. I couldn’t let you make that kind of sacrifice, John. I know you meant well, but neither of us was ready for marriage.”

  No mention of love or the blissful contentment he’d expected them to find together, he noted. And not a single indication she’d understood a word he’d said when he’d tried to explain how he’d felt, then or now. It was as if they had each participated in the same encounters, the same conversations, yet had viewed them in a completely different light.

  That was how it often was with eyewitnesses to a tragedy or a heinous crime, he reminded himself. A person related an incident based on what their personal background happened to be, which was why such reports were often so contradictory.

  He and Sam had done the same thing with respect to their past. He had seen them as being madly in love and she had seen only that he was trying to liberate her. Her view was correct, as far as it went. What she had missed was the deep, unconditional way he had loved her.

  The way, if he allowed himself to admit it, he still did.

  * * *

  Gaze searching the passing countryside, Samantha had to stop herself from actually holding her breath. It was almost as if she were standing outside during a thunderstorm and waiting for a bolt of lightning to strike right at her feet. Thankfully, they were almost home and nothing else strange or threatening had happened. Yet.

  “You okay?” John asked.

  She wished he wouldn’t stare at her that way. It would be a lot easier to reassure him that she was fine if she didn’t have to do it to his face. Not that a positive response would be a lie, she reasoned for the sake of her conscience. It was simply harder to say and do anything in a calm manner when he was sitting this close.

  “I’m great,” Sam finally replied. “I just want to get home, check on Brutus and chill with my best bud.”

  “Well, okay,” John drawled, “but the dog won’t like it if we don’t include him.”

  “I meant the dog,” Sam shot back, realizing belatedly that John had been baiting her and she’d fallen for one of his silly ruses exactly the way she used to.

  She folded her arms across her chest and tried her best to work up a show of displeasure. That would have been a lot easier if she hadn’t heard her companion start to chuckle softly.

  Frowning and smiling at the same time, she glanced over at him. “You are
hopeless, Waltham. You know that?”

  “Yup. So you’ve told me often enough.” He laughed a little more before sobering. “Seriously, Sam, we need to talk about a plan of defense so we’re ready for anything.”

  “Like what?”

  “Like keeping each other on speed dial and making sure neither of us goes anywhere without informing the other.”

  “What you really mean is, you don’t want me to make a move unless I tell you first. Right?”

  “Well…”

  “Then say it. I might as well be the one under arrest instead of Bobby Joe. I have very little more freedom than he does.”

  Instead of agreeing or arguing or reacting in any of the ways Samantha had expected, John merely nodded.

  When he said, “Believe me, I’d prefer you were in jail where every cop in town could keep an eye on you,” she felt the urge to deliver a scathing rebuttal.

  Instead, she smiled sweetly and said, “I’m really sorry you got stuck babysitting me. I guess we’ll just have to make the best of a bad situation and get through it as fast as possible. Right?”

  “Right.”

  Sam noticed how firmly his hands were gripping the steering wheel and saw his jaw muscles clenching. He was really uptight. Well, too bad. This police protection assignment hadn’t been her idea in the first place. It wasn’t her fault that he was stuck with her. And she certainly wasn’t going to continue to apologize for their awkward situation when none of it was her doing.

  John eased the truck and trailer into her driveway and started to slowly approach the house while Samantha sat there and fumed. Okay, so he didn’t want to be with her and had made no bones about his feelings. She could take that. It wasn’t the first time she’d been rejected and it certainly wouldn’t be the last.

  But, in the back of her mind, she’d hoped…

  No, she insisted, steeling herself for whatever was to come. She would not start wishing for things that were beyond impossible. She’d learned the hard way that that was futile. John Waltham was only there beside her, protecting her, because he’d been ordered to. And he would do his job to the best of his ability, as always.