So Dark the Night

by Margaret Daley

  Following Emma through the dining room into the living room, Colin came to a stop inside the doorway, looking for the bloodstain on the area rug near the foyer. Lord, please forgive me for what I had to do to protect the ones I love. But I will not let anyone harm Emma or Grace. Although he had told himself last night he wouldn’t feel guilty for shooting Roy, he hadn’t slept well, visions of the fight streaming across his consciousness and keeping him awake for hours. It would take some time, but he would deal with those feelings, with God’s help.

  “I’m not sure if that will come out.” Emma pointed to the red on the navy-and-tan area rug.

  “I doubt it, too. Let’s take it up. I’ll get Grace a new one.”

  “Good idea.” Emma picked up one end of the coffee table while Colin took the other.

  After setting it down out of the way, Colin rolled up the carpet and took it to the back porch. When he reentered the living room a few minutes later, he found Emma gone. Panic pounded his heart against his rib cage, and he started down the hall, searching for her.

  “Emma! Where are you?”

  “I’m changing. Be out in a sec,” she called from her bedroom.

  Relieved, he propped himself against the wall in the hall and waited for her to emerge. Crossing his arms over his chest, he tried to ignore the fear that gripped him from being back in this house after what had happened the night before. What if Linda hadn’t called him about Grace and Emma not showing up for the meeting? What if he hadn’t been successful in stopping those two men? What if Grace hadn’t knocked over the chair and alerted Emma? As the “what ifs” trailed across his mind like a flashing banner on a Web site, his breathing grew shallow and his pulse thundered in his ears. He had come so close to losing two people who were very important to him.

  When had his heart become so involved with Emma? Never before had he done anything without careful consideration. He didn’t have an impulsive bone in his body, and yet with Emma, he couldn’t seem to stop himself from falling in love with her—kind of like sky-diving without a parachute. This wasn’t going to end well, he thought as her door opened and he pushed himself away from the wall, mentally trying to prepare himself for the crash landing.

  “A washed face and a change of clothes can do wonders. I almost feel human again.”

  He took in her blue jeans and hot-pink shirt, then rested on her freshly scrubbed face, one that had haunted his dreams every night since he had met her. “Let’s finish straightening up, then get to the station. I bet Grace has called the house at least twice since we’ve been over here. I purposefully left my cell phone at home.”

  “Oh, you’re so devious. Probably comes from those years spent playing pranks on others.”

  Winking at her, he walked toward the stairs. “Probably.”

  Ten minutes later Emma finished closing the last closet door, completing the cleanup job. Thankfully, there hadn’t been too much of a mess. Grace could now come home, and except for the missing area rug, nothing seemed out of place.

  As they left Grace’s house, Emma said, “I need to return to New York. I can’t keep sponging off your aunt. There’s no reason for me to stay now that my vision’s back.”

  Colin halted. “No reason! How about there’s someone who hired those two thugs to kill your brother and you, too. Do you really think you’re safe now? I’d call that a good reason not to go to New York and stay in your apartment alone.”

  “I can’t put you and your family in any more danger. Look at what happened to Grace because of me. I need to leave just as soon as I know Grace is all right.”

  Colin’s eyes grew round, then narrowed, the intensity in them unnerving. “Then take your father up on his offer of a bodyguard. I don’t want you left unprotected. I—” He clamped his mouth shut and pivoted away, glaring off into space.

  Tension vibrated off Colin, hitting her in waves. “I can’t, Colin. I haven’t taken anything from my father in years. If I have to I can hire someone, but—”

  He spun around, gripped her arms and hauled her to him. “I will protect you. I started the job and I will finish it. The minute we find out who’s behind this, you can hightail it to New York as fast as you can.”

  “But—”

  He pressed his fingers across her mouth, stilling her flow of words. “Please, for me. If you left and something happened to you, I could never forgive myself for letting you walk away. For that matter, I know my aunt. She wouldn’t be able to, either. Do you really want to do that to us after all we’ve done for you?”

  “You’re playing dirty. That’s not fair. What about Amber and Tiffany? They could get caught up in all of this. I couldn’t forgive myself if something happened to either one of them.”

  His chest expanded in a deep breath. “Okay, I can have them go stay with friends.”

  “You can’t do that indefinitely.”

  He stepped back, plunging his hand through his hair. “I know, but something tells me this will be over soon. In less than two weeks you’ve regained your eyesight and remembered what happened at the cabin. We’ve got some solid leads and J.T. is a good investigator. He worked in homicide in Chicago before coming back home to Crystal Springs. Give it another week, then we’ll talk about you leaving.”

  His tension infused itself in her, winding around her own nerves and making her rigid. She thought of returning to New York and her large apartment off Fifth Avenue. The lonely emptiness of her existence stretched out before her in a bleakness that left her numb.

  “Please, Emma. We can renew our efforts to find out who is behind your brother’s murder. There’s always a chance one of those men will talk, cut a deal with J.T.”

  A tremor snaked down her spine when she thought of the tall man’s cold, cold eyes. “No, somehow I don’t think so.”

  Colin held out his hand. “Let’s go to the station and find out.”

  She stared at him for a long moment then fit her hand in his. “We can always pray one of them did.”

  Colin paused, looked at her and said, “What a marvelous idea.” He bowed his head and closed his eyes. “Dear Heavenly Father, please guide us to the one who had Derek murdered. Show us the way so justice can be done and our lives can return to normal. Amen.”

  “Amen,” Emma murmured, suddenly wondering what in the world was normal anymore. She had the funny feeling her life had changed forever.

  On the short drive to the sheriff’s office, Emma remained quiet, trying to imagine her life in New York after all this was over. How was she going to manage to go on without Derek—without Colin? And where did God fit into her life? Was she worthy of His love as Colin said? She hadn’t lived an exemplary life. She came to the Lord deeply flawed. Was it possible He could forgive her past sins?

  An hour later Emma finished giving her statement to J.T., relieved that everything she had remembered the night before was even clearer this morning. She wanted there to be no doubt that those two thugs were the ones who had killed her brother.

  “Are you ready, Emma?” J.T. asked, scraping his chair back and standing. “Roy Barnes is in the second interview room. You can observe from the other side of the two-way mirror. I doubt he’ll say much, but if you can remember anything, let me know.”

  She nodded, her throat swelling with the thought of seeing the man again. But she had to do it. She had to try to remember what had been nagging her for the past twelve hours.

  She waited on the other side of the mirror while J.T. and Madison went into the interview room. Colin came up beside her and faced forward as she did, watching. His hand fumbled for hers, and he held it tight between them.

  Roy Barnes—the name didn’t ring a bell with her—sat slouched over, studying his fingernails as if he was determining whether he needed a manicure. When J.T. switched on the tape recorder, Roy glanced toward the mirror, his eyes icy pinpoints. Emma sucked in a shallow breath. Suddenly she felt as though there was no glass between them and she and Roy were standing toe-to-toe.

 
“Okay?”

  Colin’s calm voice reassured her, easing some of the constriction about her chest. “Yes.”

  “Anything?”

  “No.”

  After J.T. said the necessary information for the tape recording, he continued, “We have you cold on the attempted murder of Grace Fitzpatrick and Emma St. James, as well as the murder of Derek St. James. Who hired you?”

  Roy laughed, a menacing sound that rocked Emma to her core. “I’m not saying a word until I’ve spoken to my lawyer. I know my rights.”

  “He’s on his way.” J.T. clicked off the tape recorder and rose. “We’re gonna make a deal with the first one of you that talks. The other will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law. So think about that while you wait for your lawyer.”

  As the sheriff turned to leave, Emma caught his look of disappointment. “I didn’t think it would be easy. Maybe the other guy will say something.”

  “While you were talking with J.T. earlier, Madison told me that Manny Stanovich lawyered up, too. You’d think they would want to make a deal.”

  Emma faced Colin. “Maybe they don’t know who hired them.”

  “Or maybe they’re too afraid to talk. Do you remember anything about him?” Colin nodded his head toward the mirror.

  Emma stared at Roy, now picking at his fingernails, his expression calm and in control, as if he was waiting for a table at a restaurant. She closed her eyes and replayed her brother’s murder, cringing when the gun went off in her mind. Tears crowded behind her eyelids.

  She swallowed hard. “Nothing. Just this vague feeling I’ve seen him before. That it’s important somehow.” She heard J.T. and Madison behind her and spun around. “You heard?”

  “Yes.” J.T. looked at the state investigator and added, “Madison is going to dig into both Roy and Manny’s past. If anything turns up, we’ll let you know.”

  Colin placed his hand on Emma’s shoulder as he had so often done when she couldn’t see. His touch soothed the knot of tension in her stomach. “We’d better go pick up Grace before she decides to walk home.”

  “Knowing your aunt, that’s a definite possibility,” J.T. said with a chuckle.

  Emma’s head throbbed from trying to remember all day long. But all that presented itself was a blank slate when it came to Roy Barnes. She curled her legs under her on the couch in Grace’s den and rolled her shoulders to ease the tense set of her muscles. Leaning against the cushioned arm, she cradled her chin in her palm and watched Colin pace in front of the coffee table.

  “Colin, stop. You’re making me crazy.” Grace set her mug on the coaster on the end table next to her leather lounge chair.

  He paused, looked sheepishly at them then resumed his pacing. “Sorry. Too much nervous energy.” Rubbing his hands together, he peered at the floor as he walked. “We’re missing something.”

  “It’s probably staring us in the face, but for the life of me I don’t know what it is. Amber will call if she comes up with anything on the Internet concerning Manny and Roy, right?” Emma couldn’t take her eyes off Colin. He was wonderful to look at.

  “Yes, but there are a lot of people with the name Roy Barnes. For all we know, that may not be his real name. Maybe J.T. or Madison will discover something.” Colin loomed on the other side of the coffee table, curling and uncurling his hands, his arms hanging stiffly at his sides.

  “Amber told me she was going to do some cross-referencing with Manny Stanovich. His name isn’t as common.” Wincing, Grace kneaded her right temple.

  “Do you want something for that headache?” Emma asked for the third time that day since Grace had come home from the hospital.

  “No, I try to avoid medication unless it’s absolutely necessary. This—” Colin’s aunt waved toward her head “—is a minor inconvenience.”

  Wishing she had been that wise after her car accident, Emma turned her gaze toward Colin, whose attention was fixed on her but without any recognition, as if he was deep in thought. “It certainly didn’t sound like this was their first time working together, so cross-referencing might bring up something.” When he didn’t respond, she said, “Colin?”

  He shook his head as though ridding his mind of cobwebs. “When do you think you’ll hear back from your accountant?”

  “I imagine in the next day or two. I told him it was a high priority. If he doesn’t call soon, I’ll call him.”

  “I think we should pay a visit to your brother’s company.”

  “Why?”

  “I don’t know.” He massaged the back of his neck. “Call it a gut feeling.”

  “Derek usually worked out of his apartment in Central City, but the main offices are in Chicago.”

  “Fine, we should go—”

  The phone ringing interrupted Colin. He moved quickly and picked it up. “Hello?” There was a pause while the other person said something, then he stiffened, his focus swinging to Emma. “Yes, she’s right here.” He held the receiver out for her, mouthing the words, “Your father.”

  “Dad?” Her hand clamped around the cold plastic.

  “I heard about the problem last night. Two men were arrested for Derek’s murder?”

  “Yes.”

  “When were you going to tell me? I found out from a reporter contacting me for a comment.”

  “It’s been busy around here.”

  “I want to see you, Emma. Can I come to Crystal Springs?”

  The fact her father asked her permission robbed her of words for a few seconds. Guilt nudged her to say, “Colin and I are actually coming to Chicago. We could stop by and see you.”

  “When?”

  “Just a moment.” Emma cupped her hand over the mouthpiece and asked, “When did you want to go to Chicago?”

  “Tomorrow.”

  “We’re coming tomorrow, Dad.”

  “Come around noon and we can have lunch in the executive dining room. No one will bother us there.”

  “I’ll see you then.” Emma gave the receiver back to Colin to put on its base.

  “You didn’t tell your father you had your sight back.” Grace rose.

  “I suspect he already knows. He has a way of knowing things even before it’s common knowledge.”

  “I’m going to bed. What time are y’all leaving in the morning, Colin?”

  “Nine.”

  “Then come over for a big breakfast before you leave.” Grace walked toward the door and left the room.

  “She’ll be all right, Emma. She’s tough. The doctor said her head would hurt for a few days.”

  “I can’t help thinking she’s in pain because of me.” Emma chewed on her bottom lip, hating to see Grace hurting.

  “Come on. It’s late. Walk me to the door.” Colin offered her his hand.

  She took it and he helped her to her feet. “Why couldn’t either Roy or Manny confess to who they worked for and cut a deal with the D.A.? Then this would all be over with.”

  “And you could go on with your life.”

  “You, too. I imagine in the past week or so you haven’t been able to do your job like you usually do.”

  “My congregation understands.”

  “From what I’ve seen, they’re wonderful. I’ve never experienced anything like them. Linda brought dinner over for us tonight. She was thrilled to have been a part of those men’s capture.”

  Colin chuckled, starting for the hallway. “When I stopped by to thank her this afternoon, she was holding court in her kitchen while she was preparing the dinner for you two. She told me everyone’s prayers have changed to finding out who hired Roy and Manny now that the killers have been caught.”

  Emma thought about the prayer warriors, as the women of the church referred to themselves, interceding on her behalf. If they could, then she could, too. “Colin, how do you pray to God?”

  At the front door, he opened it and pulled her out onto the porch. The warm spring air enveloped her with its scent of flowers and newly mowed grass. He drew her to
the swing at one end and sat, tugging her down next to him.

  “We haven’t talked much since I gave you those tapes.”

  “We’ve been busy.”

  “To answer your question, Emma, my prayers are often more like conversations with the Lord. There’s no right way to do it. If it comes from your heart, that’s all that matters. If you or someone you know needs something, ask Him. If you want to thank Him or praise Him, just do it. There’s no one way that works better than another.”

  Staring down at her hands laced together, she said, “When I was in the basement, I prayed to God.” She peered up at him. “And He heard me. I asked for help and for Grace to be all right. But I was so afraid I didn’t do it right, that my ignorance would—” She couldn’t get the words past the constriction in her throat when she thought back to that feeling of terror.

  “That’s not important. What’s important is that you asked.” Colin covered her clasped hands with his.

  Emotions solidified in her throat. “He heard me,” she whispered again in a thick voice. “Grace is okay.” Her gaze still connected to his, she licked her dry lips and continued in a strong voice, “I can’t believe He answered my prayer.”

  “Why?” His grasp tightened.

  “Until last Sunday I’d never gone to a church service except for weddings or funerals. I’ve done so many things wrong. I don’t even think my parents really love me, so how can He? How can He forgive me all my sins?”

  “One of my favorite verses is from the Gospel According to John. John the Baptist proclaims this when he sees Jesus coming toward him. ‘Here is the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world!’ That was why Christ walked among us, to wash away our sins. All you have to do is believe, Emma, that your Heavenly Father loves you.”

  She’d never really felt she belonged anywhere. The concept that God loved her unconditionally stunned her. The ice in her heart, put there from years of being alone, dissolved, and emotions flowed from her—of love toward God, of acceptance of herself as a flawed person who could be forgiven. “Is it really that simple?”