Sound of Fear

by Marta Perry

  “Some of those guys think they own the road,” Carmichaels muttered. “And they don’t have the control they should over those machines.”

  “This was apparently deliberate. She ended up in the ditch, and her car had to go in for some bodywork. She just got it back. He had followed her for over a mile and then cut her off just when a tractor was coming, so she couldn’t get out of the way. You can ask Phil Shuman. He saw the whole thing.”

  “Why didn’t she call us?” Carmichaels demanded. “Or the township boys?”

  Trey shrugged. That was a good question. “She figured she’d already caused quite a stir and didn’t want to make it worse. Besides, she’d just had an unpleasant encounter with Carlie Shay.”

  “Carlie, huh? Well, she’s been up to more than her folks know about, most likely. But I don’t know that I see her driving a motorcycle.”

  “She had a boyfriend with one, didn’t she?” Careful, he thought. Don’t accuse. Just comment.

  Carmichaels looked at him for a long moment. “Shawn Davis.” He supplied the name. “I heard she broke it off because her grandmother put her foot down.”

  “That’s what I heard, too. But I don’t know that Carlie’s the type to quietly knuckle under.”

  Carmichaels grunted but didn’t directly respond. Maybe with the introduction of Carlie Shay’s name, he’d gone too far. The chief wouldn’t be eager to make enemies of a family like the Winthrops.

  “Is that the only thing that happened to your client? Because if so...”

  “No. Somebody came prowling around the cottage at the Burkhalter farm late one night...pounding on the side and chucking stones at it.”

  Carmichaels looked skeptical. “Could have been a lot of things. Your city-girl client probably never stayed alone in a place like that.”

  “Not such a city girl. She was a large animal vet in farming country before she returned to Boston. She’s not someone who scares easily. Besides, the dog was carrying on. He knew someone was out there. Amos heard him barking and came to check.”

  “So what did Amos think about it?”

  “That it was an animal, most likely.”

  “You see? If Amos wasn’t convinced...”

  “He wasn’t convinced until we found the rocks that had been chucked at the cottage. And the dog came back carrying something to show he’d caught up with the intruder. A piece of black denim.”

  “So someone was there,” Carmichaels said slowly. “That still doesn’t prove it’s anything to do with what Ms. Curtiss claims. Anything else?”

  If he told the chief about the incident at the barn, he’d be bound to investigate, and Amanda was emphatic about not bringing the police in on the Burkhalter family.

  He shrugged. “I guess that’s it.”

  Carmichaels studied his face for another moment, and then he pulled out his wallet and tossed money on the table. That was it, apparently.

  Well, what else could he expect? He was walking a fine line as it was between what his client wanted and what he thought was wise.

  Carmichaels rose, standing for a moment with his hand on the table. “Shawn Davis, huh? No reason that I can’t lean on him a little.”

  Trey stood, too. “Thanks, Chief. I owe you.”

  “Just remember that when you decide to tell me the things you left out this time around,” Carmichaels said. “I’ll be in touch.”

  So Carmichaels had known all along he was holding something back. He wasn’t surprised. It was about what he’d expected of him.

  At least he’d taken a step toward keeping Amanda safe. But was it enough?

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN

  WHEN SHE LEFT the cottage the next morning, Amanda intended to take her usual walk with Barney. By the time she’d reached the farm outbuildings, she realized that was going to be impossible.

  Sarah, coming out of the chicken coop, waved to her. Amanda detoured toward her. She was probably walking like an old woman by this time, unlike Sarah, who came to her with a step as light as if she were a girl.

  “Taking a walk?” Her face expressed concern. “Are you sure that’s wise?”

  “I’ve just decided it’s not the smartest thing I might do,” she admitted. “My bruises seem to have bruises.”

  Sarah linked arms with her. “I have just the thing for that—a liniment that’s as gut for people as it is for horses. Komm to the house, and I’ll give it to you.”

  She couldn’t very well reject Sarah’s good intentions, though she had her doubts about the efficacy of horse liniment on her bruises. Still, she could take it. She didn’t have to use it.

  They were nearing the house when Sarah landed a bombshell. “I heard from Jacob. He was able to get a driver quickly, so he left Ohio early this morning. He’ll be here today in time for supper.”

  She couldn’t catch her breath, just for a moment. It reminded her of her first fall from a horse, when she’d had the wind knocked out of her.

  “So soon,” she managed to say.

  “Yah, well, he wants to see his daughter.” Sarah’s smile was gentle and loving, and she patted Amanda’s hand.

  “It’s not certain,” Amanda said quickly. “You did tell him that, didn’t you?”

  “I told him.” Sarah’s steps slowed. “Isn’t this what you want? You did say to tell him to come.”

  Saying she didn’t know what she wanted didn’t seem a viable option. “I think it’s best if we hear his story for ourselves.” Trey would surely want to be there...that should make it easier. “All of this is a little hard to handle. Six weeks ago I was living in Boston with my mother. I knew who I was and what my role in life was. Now...”

  Sarah seemed to consider that carefully, her forehead wrinkled in thought. “I understand, I think. Would it help if you knew a bit more about Jacob?”

  She hadn’t even been curious enough to ask about Jacob’s life. That must have hurt Sarah, and she’d been oblivious.

  “Yes, it would. Did he marry?” Someone else. Someone who wasn’t his first love. Natural enough, she supposed.

  “He did.” They’d reached the porch, and Sarah sat down on the padded swing, patting the place next to her. Amanda lowered herself cautiously, but it was more comfortable than it looked.

  “Jacob married, and he and Katie have been happy, I think. They have five young ones—two boys and three girls.”

  So she had half siblings. Or at least, they might be that. Funny, she’d always wanted a sister or brother.

  “I always wished...” she began, but the ringing of her cell phone cut off the confidence she was about to share.

  It was Trey. “You won’t believe this, but I found the place where Juliet stayed when she was in Echo Falls. It just fell into my lap. And the woman is willing to talk to us. Can you come to the office now?”

  “I’ll be there in fifteen minutes.” She clicked off without waiting for more and sprang from the swing, nearly forgetting her bruises until a stab of pain forced her to remember. “I have to go. I’ll talk to you when I get back.”

  She went back up the lane a bit faster than she’d come down, energy pumping through her, Barney trotting eagerly beside her. Progress, at last.

  When she pulled up in front of the office, Trey was waiting for her. He climbed in beside her.

  “I knew you’d be eager, right?”

  “Right. Where to?” Apparently he was the unusual man who didn’t feel the need to be in control of the vehicle.

  “Just drive down to Maple Street and turn left. I’ll tell you when.”

  She pulled back out onto Main. “How did you find out?”

  “First things first,” he said. He reached across to clasp her hand lightly for a moment before returning it to the steering wheel. “How are you?”

  Amanda
shrugged. “About as you’d expect after having a ton of hay fall on me.”

  “I don’t think it was quite that much, but I get the message. Do you want to stop at the pharmacy?”

  “Not necessary. Sarah has some horse liniment that she claims will do the trick.”

  She heard his soft chuckle. “Everyone in the area knows Sarah’s horse liniment. Actually works pretty well, but it smells to high heaven.”

  “Guess I’d better be cautious about using it, then.” She shared his smile, loving the ease between them.

  “Left at the corner. The house is the second one on the right.”

  “You still didn’t tell me...”

  “Sorry. The woman’s name is Arlene Lockhart. I stopped by to see my parents, and my mother mentioned Arlene had just come back from visiting her married daughter in Virginia. Then she went on to say it was a good thing Arlene had given up taking guests or she wouldn’t be able to travel.”

  He glanced at her. “I know. I should have thought of that, but I never knew she’d run a guesthouse. I called this morning. She’s happy to talk to us, and she remembers your mother, because Juliet was actually her last guest.”

  Amanda pulled to the curb. “This one?”

  He nodded, and she parked. He came around to help her get out. She paused for a moment once she was standing to recuperate.

  “Sorry. I’m not really as decrepit as I appear.”

  “Only approaching eighty, not ninety?” he teased gently.

  They started up the walk, and he held her arm unobtrusively. The house was one of the Victorian homes that Echo Falls seemed to have in abundance, a solid-looking brick with glossy black shutters.

  The woman opened the door before they reached it. She’d obviously been watching for them. Lean and angular, with tightly curling gray hair, she swept them inside with a glance.

  “So this is what it takes to get you to stop and visit me, Trey Alter,” she scolded, smiling. “And you’re Amanda.” She took Amanda’s hand and held it for a moment. “I remember your mother speaking of you.”

  She led them into a living room furnished with an eclectic mixture of modern electronics and furniture from a variety of periods, all coexisting comfortably. Trey, after a quick glance around, chose an old-fashioned rocker rather than a chair of molded plastic with chrome legs.

  “It’s been a long time,” he said, ever the cautious lawyer. “You still remember her?”

  “There’s nothing wrong with my memory.” The woman’s voice was tart, and she drew Amanda down on the sofa next to her. “Besides, she was my very last guest. I’d already made up my mind to close, but she seemed so nice when she came to the door, and besides, the room was ready.” She shrugged. “Glad I did. Your mother was a fascinating woman. So intent on her painting, but interested in everything around her, too.”

  Amanda gave Trey a quick glance. Of course Juliet would have been interested in the town. She’d come here because of Melanie. A thought stabbed at her. Had she suspected that Melanie’s death wasn’t an accident?

  “Did my mother say anything about why she’d come to Echo Falls?” she asked.

  Mrs. Lockhart nodded. “Said she’d seen pictures of the falls and wanted to paint them, and that’s what she did. Up early every morning she was, off to the falls.” She smiled. “I remember giving her the directions. When she heard she’d have to hike through the woods, she just went out to her car and got a backpack to put all her gear in.”

  Juliet hadn’t been to the falls before, then. That disposed of the idea that she’d been the person with Melanie at the falls the day she died. Lost in her relief, she came back to the moment to hear Trey asking how long Juliet had stayed.

  “Four days—no, no, five. She came on a Sunday late afternoon and left Friday. After you called, I went back and checked, and sure enough, I still had my guest book tucked away on a shelf. So I’m sure.”

  “Did she ever show you the painting?” Trey seemed to have taken over the questioning.

  The woman nodded. “She was funny about it. Looked sad, I thought, so I made sure to say how good it was. Which it was,” she added.

  She turned to Amanda. “No use in pretending I haven’t heard all the gossip, is there? But she never mentioned Melanie, so far as I can remember. And that’s about all I can say, I guess.” She looked regretful, as if she’d like to have more to contribute to the topic everyone was talking about.

  Amanda collected herself. “Did she have any visitors while she was here? Or any calls?”

  The woman frowned a little, obviously searching her memories. “It does seem to me that someone called for her that week. I just answered and passed the phone on to her.”

  “A man or a woman?” Amanda asked.

  “I just don’t remember.” She shook her head. “Too bad. I just know it was for Juliet. Oh, and it was a local call.” She reddened a little. “I suppose you think it was odd that I asked her that, but I’d had some trouble then with people making long-distance calls on my phone. So I mentioned that if she called them back long-distance, that would be added to her bill, and she said it was a local call, and she wouldn’t be talking to them again, anyway.”

  Amanda exchanged glances with Trey and knew he was thinking just what she was. Who would Juliet have known locally that might have called her?

  “You can’t tell us anything else about the call?” Amanda waited, watching the woman’s expression as she considered it. But finally she shook her head.

  “Sorry. I wish I could help, but it was a long time ago. Like I told Trey, the only reason I remember as much as I do is because she was my last guest.”

  “Thanks, Arlene.” Trey gave Amanda a questioning look, as if to ask if there were anything more. She shook her head.

  “Yes, thank you,” Amanda echoed, rising, wishing she could think of the question that would unlock all the things she wanted to know. “I do appreciate it.”

  “Anytime.” Arlene pressed her hand again. “You think of anything else, you don’t need to wait for Trey to bring you. Just you stop by.”

  Repeating her appreciation, Amanda let Trey usher her to the door. There didn’t seem to be anything else to be learned here, and there was no reason to be disappointed. Still, she kept hoping for the one breakthrough, and it didn’t come. Maybe it never would.

  * * *

  TREY PAUSED AS they neared Amanda’s car. She seemed lost in thought, making him wonder if she’d heard more from Arlene than he had. “Mind if I drive?” he asked.

  She blinked, as if waking. “That’s fine.” She smiled. “I wondered when your need to be in control would assert itself. So what did you think about that local call Juliet apparently got? I didn’t think she knew anyone in Echo Falls, so who would be calling her?”

  He frowned, trying to concentrate on the question while other concerns bounced around in his brain. He helped her in, slid behind the wheel, and pulled out. “It could be nothing. She might have asked someone from the tourist office to call her, or something like that.”

  “Maybe.” She looked dissatisfied. “But it suggests to me she knew someone here. Or was in touch with someone. A friend of Melanie’s, maybe?”

  “It could be. If so, it’s odd that person hasn’t come forward now that they’ve heard about you. I don’t relish the thought of trying to call everyone in town who’s the right age.” He turned at the corner and headed down toward the river.

  “Where are we going?”

  “I have something I want to discuss with you that needs both attention and privacy.”

  “Something’s happened?” Her voice was sharp and alert.

  “Not exactly.” He pulled up near the park where there was a view of the river.

  “Well?” The look she gave him had a trace of exasperation, but she leaned against the door
so that she was facing him more directly.

  “Sorry. I’m not trying to be mysterious. I just didn’t want to break this to you while you were behind the wheel of a moving vehicle.” He stretched, his fingers brushing her shoulder. “I had a call from my guy at the lab. The written report should reach the Winthrops in tomorrow’s mail, but he wanted to give me a heads-up.”

  Her breath caught, and he thought she hadn’t expected it so soon.

  “Out with it. Am I Melanie’s daughter, or has this all been a wild-goose chase?” There was nothing of the apprehension he’d expected—just an impatience to learn the truth.

  “He says the comparison of your DNA with Elizabeth’s was pretty definitive...something technical about the markers in the female line. You are definitely related closely to her, presumably through Melanie, since there’s no other viable possibility.”

  “Viable...okay, I get it. If there’d been another granddaughter of hers floating around who’d been pregnant at the right time...”

  “Yes. There wasn’t. So I think it’s safe to consider it a sure thing. You are Melanie Winthrop’s daughter.”

  Amanda was silent for a moment, and he found he couldn’t read her face. “So that means I’m Jacob Miller’s daughter, too.”

  He nodded. “Unless you subscribe to some other far-fetched solution. I don’t think Sarah has any doubts.”

  “No.” She shook her head slightly. “I didn’t tell you. Sarah says he’s on his way. He’ll be here by late afternoon.”

  So that accounted for her reaction. “You’ll be meeting your father tonight. And tomorrow the Winthrop family will have to accept you as Melanie’s child.” He hesitated, thinking that prospect, at least, wouldn’t fill him with glee. “How do you feel about it?”

  Amanda’s usual spirit seemed to bounce back. “I think I’ll enjoy the Miller relatives better than the Winthrop ones, from what I’ve seen of them.”

  “Can’t say I blame you. Elizabeth will probably try to bully you the way she does the rest of them.”