Bullet in the Night Read Free

“I’ll be careful.”
    “I’d rather you not get involved, but I’ll help any way I can.”
    “You’re a good man, Mr. Trevor.” I wrapped my arms around his neck. “Come with me to Tucker’s to pick up Kirk’s file. The kids will be okay for forty-five minutes.”
    Nick’s eyebrows lifted. Normally, I was very independent.
    “I know, but tonight I don’t feel like driving alone to the scene of a crime. Humor me, please.”
    “Sure.”
    We left at eight forty-five with the kids settled doing homework. A lump formed in my throat as I realized I was about to see the shooting scene.

 
    CHAPTER THREE
    Evening shadows streaked the forest with a blackish hue as Nick steered around sharp curves on Old Bend Road. Tucker’s driveway, a half mile straight up and carved through wooded terrain, came into view. “How appropriate Lenora named this place Wooded Hill, don’t you agree, Nick? No houses on either side or directly behind their house and must be a hundred trees on the property, most of them huge.”
    Nick whistled softly. “Impressive. It seems remote, yet it’s only ten minutes from downtown Lake Geneva.”
    “What a find. Lenora loved— loves —this place.”
    “I can see why.”
    My limbs went numb. “The rustic beauty of Lenora’s hilltop home with its quaint small wings seems to mock her absence. I’ve never been here without her.” My heart fluttered in my chest. “It isn’t right.”
    A few raindrops seeped through the clouds and spattered our windshield. “That’s a warning of more to come.” Nick frowned. “Did you bring an umbrella?”
    “I usually keep one in my car.” I groped behind me. “Sorry, must have taken it in. At least it’s only a light patter.”
    Nick parked in front of the house. “Ready to make a dash for it?”
    We hurried up the flagstone path leading from the parking area to the main house. My toe caught in the gravel filling the space between the stones. I staggered and almost lost my balance.
    Nick grabbed my elbow. “Careful, honey.”
    “Right.” Remember, Jennifer, rushing gets you into trouble.
    Nick surveyed the house. “How long have the Lawrences lived here?”
    “Since they married, seven, maybe eight years. There he is now,” I mumbled.
    Tucker’s huge figure filled the open door frame. He must have seen our car lights approaching. He’d changed into a denim shirt and jeans and still managed to look suave.
    “Hurry before you get wet. This shower seems to come out of nowhere.” He motioned us onto the porch.
    A few seconds of silence followed. Were we both thinking about the shot coming out of nowhere to penetrate Lenora and change everything?
    Tucker’s hulking form reminded me of Gulliver entering the land of giants. He remembered his manners, bent over and stretched out his huge hand to shake mine.
    “Sorry I’m not more presentable.” Tucker threaded his fingers through his near-perfect hair, moving aside to let us enter the foyer. I might have laughed if I wasn’t still traumatized.
    “Please accept my sympathy over your wife’s tragic shooting.” Nick offered condolences with his usual graciousness. “We’re praying she’ll recover fully.”
    Tucker nodded. His eyes narrowed as he answered quickly, “Her condition’s the same.”
    Unchanged. Lord, I’d been hoping for an instant miracle.  I hunted for words of comfort counselors provide and only came up with platitudes I bit back.
    “I’m going back to the hospital to spend the night.”
    “I hope you didn’t come here just for me?”
    “I needed a change of clothes.” That’s right, he had said that earlier. Where was my memory? Floating about somewhere in the tragic event threatening Lenora’s life.
    We followed Tucker down a quarry-tiled hall. A sense of heaviness overpowered me. What if Lenora never returns here?  I’d last seen my colleague in her living room in a tailored black pants outfit looking elegant, her chestnut hair swept off her forehead,