Love Inspired Suspense April 2015 #1 (52 page)

“Hey, it's okay.” He patted her shoulder. “I really didn't expect to find him so easily. Honest. We'll just go up to the second floor and meet with the artist. She'll help us get a good likeness, then Paul will circulate it. I think we'll have better luck with that.”

Within another hour they had a sketch of “Dr. Ramirez” drawn. Mel drew in a sharp breath beside him when the artist showed them the final sketch. He could relate. It was an uncanny how she captured the features of a complete stranger just on their descriptions.

The artist stood. “I'll just get this to Chief Kennedy so he can get it to the other precincts.”

“I'm starving. What about you?” Jace stood, then held out a hand to help Mel to her feet.

“Not starving, but I could eat.”

“Let's go to the Amish restaurant across the street,” Jace suggested. “They have the best chicken and dumplings.”

Before long, they were sitting down to a hearty meal. Feeling some of the tension dissipate, Jace reflected that they were probably free to enjoy a quiet meal.

“I can't believe you brought her here.”

Or not.

Jace looked up, resigned. Senator Travis and his wife approached their table. The senator had his usual sneer on his face. Mrs. Travis showed no emotion whatsoever. She did appear to be a little thinner than the last time he'd seen her, and her color was off. He remembered that she was ill. Lagging behind his parents was Seth, tugging at his collar and appearing uncomfortable.

Jace kept his face carefully controlled. He managed to look at Mel out of the corner of his eyes. Her face was blank, although her fingers plucked nervously at her napkin.

“Senator, Mrs. Travis. Travis.” Jace greeted their visitors.

“Lieutenant Tucker, if you keep hauling that woman along with you, people might start getting the wrong idea. You best start minding your reputation.” The senator's booming voice hushed the conversations around them.

“Sir, I think you might want to be careful what you say,” Jace warned.

“Dad, let's go,” Seth muttered, his glance straying to Melanie before he looked away.

“You were smart to break off with this woman when you did, Seth. She's trouble.” Senator Travis curled his lip and narrowed his eyes. “Haven't you noticed that people around her seem to get hurt? I'd be careful if I were you, Lieutenant.”

Senator Travis smirked—a sly, unpleasant expression—as Jace surged to his feet, furious.

“Easy, son. I'm just stating a fact. I don't think we've seen the end of the troubles caused by this woman.”

He led his family away. Seth threw an apologetic glance over his shoulder, but Jace ignored him—as did Melanie, he noticed. He sat down and swiftly sent a text to Paul. It seemed he had a new suspect for his list.

They paid their bill and walked across the street to the car. Jace unlocked the doors. His phone chirped. Glancing at the text, he said to Mel, “Paul wants us to see him for a minute before we head back to my mom's house. Let's go back into the station to see what he wants.”

Jogging around the car, he put a hand on Mel's elbow and steered her back toward the station. They were almost to the door when he pulled her to a halt.

“Oh, wait. We should lock the doors.” He held the car remote toward the vehicle and clicked twice to lock it. The horn gave a slight beep. They turned to resume walking. The blast as the car exploded into flames sent them both flying forward.

FOURTEEN

“O
of!” Jace hit the ground with a thud and grunted as the wind was knocked from him. Mel hit the ground five feet away from him and lay still where she landed.

“Mel!” Frantic, he ignored his own aches and pains as he jumped up and ran over to her. Pounding footsteps had him grabbing his service revolver and whipping around to face whoever was coming at them.

It was Seth. A Seth very anxious about his ex, judging from the wild look on his face.

“I called 911! An ambulance and the bomb squad are on their way.” Seth skidded to a halt beside Jace. “Has she moved?”

“No. You'd better take a look at her.”

Seth gave him a wary look. “Could you put your gun away, do you think?”

Jace muttered under his breath as he holstered the weapon. He hadn't realized it was still in his hands.

The men knelt on either side of Mel, who was stirring. The police station doors slammed open as Paul, Dan and half a dozen other officers and workers came running out of the building.

“Jace! What happened? Are you two all right?” Paul shouted, his calm mask slipping as he sprinted toward his best friend.

Mel picked that moment to moan. All attention shifted to her as she opened her eyes. At first her face was confused; her gaze seemed unfocused. Within seconds, though, her expression changed. Her eyes widened and the fear crossed her face. Until she locked glances with Jace. His heart thudded as her gaze calmed. Emotion clogged his throat.

He had come so close to losing her.

He couldn't understand how she had become so important to him so fast. He had been determined not to get involved with anyone. What was he going to do now? He was no prize for any woman, not with his baggage.

The ambulance siren distracted him.

Within minutes, he and Mel had been corralled by the medics and were getting their vitals checked. Neither had suffered any serious injuries. A few scratches, and Mel had a nasty bump on the back of her head. It wasn't a concussion, though. He had been concerned about that when the bump was discovered. So was Seth, he guessed, watching the other man's intense concentration as the on-duty medics checked her out.

By the time they were declared fit, the bomb squad was on the scene, poring over the destroyed cruiser.

“Sir! We have something here,” a junior bomb squad member yelled to his leader.

“I'll be right back,” Jace told Mel. “Dan, stay with her.”

“Yes, sir.” Jace nodded in approval as Dan took up his position next to Mel. He frowned when Seth sat next to her on the other side. Mel looked a little too comfortable chatting with her former fiancé. He gave Seth a stern stare, which the other man ignored. There was nothing he could do. The sooner he found out what the bomb squad had found, the better.

Jace hurried over to the huddle of officers and the bomb squad team. A small piece of debris sat in the palm of the leader's hand.

“What exactly are we looking at, Trevor?” Paul inquired.

“This here, boys and girls, is what is left of a do-it-yourself car bomb. Whoever built this little baby knew what they were doing. See this wire?” he pointed to a small wire, barely discernible from where Jace was standing. “I suspect that this was connected in such a way that when you unlocked your car door via the remote control, it would go into ready mode. As soon as the car locked again, which it would have done automatically once you started driving, it would activate the detonator.”

“When was it put there?” Jace asked. “Is there any way to know?”

“Well, when is the last time you used your remote to unlock the door?”

Jace thought back. “Yesterday afternoon. I was in Pittsburgh.” He generally didn't bother to lock his car doors at home. No one did. It was a bad habit, but he was grateful for it now, as it had literally saved his and Mel's lives.

“Okay, well, then I would estimate it was set sometime in the last twenty hours or so.” He slipped the remains of the bomb into a bag held out to him, then removed his gloves. “One more thing. Whoever set this bomb was no amateur. This was a professional.”

“What? You mean a hit man?” Jace exclaimed. He and Paul both turned to look at Melanie. She was still sitting between Seth and Dan, laughing and shaking her head at something Seth was saying. At that moment, she looked completely young and innocent. It was hard to believe a hit man was after her. Because Jace was fairly certain he was only collateral damage. Whoever had set that bomb wanted Mel out of the picture.

Whatever doubts he still clung to about Mel's innocence melted away. Someone, maybe even a couple of someones, was trying too hard to silence her. Someone who was afraid her memory might resurface.

Paul fell into step beside him. They started to walk back toward Mel and her impromptu guardians.

“I need to get into Maggie Slade's house.” Jace kept his voice low so as not to be overheard. “I have a hunch that we'll find a clue of some sort there.”

Paul, too, kept his voice pitched low. “I'll call the judge as soon as I return to the office. Let him know the case is getting out of hand and we need immediate access.”

“Appreciate that,” Jace murmured, never taking his eyes from Mel's beautiful face. The sun came out from behind the clouds, and she tilted her face up to the warm rays, closing her eyes. His chest tightened. He found himself actually rubbing his hand over his chest, it ached so badly.

“Jace? You okay?”

Jace looked at Paul in surprise. For a moment, he had forgotten that he wasn't alone.

No. He wasn't alone. Even when danger was near, God was with him. He needed to entrust Mel's care to God. Ask Him to help him keep her safe. Mentally, he turned the task over to God. Resolution entered his soul. And peace.

“Yeah, I'm good,” he replied, steel in his voice.

* * *

The day of the funeral dawned cold and clear. Frost coated the grass and the windshields of the vehicles. The sky was a brilliant blue, the sun shining bright and blinding. It looked as though it should be warm, but when people walked outside, their breath misted in front of them.

Jace waited in the living room for Mel and his mother to join him. He repeatedly tugged at his necktie. It seemed way too tight. Jace hated the constricting feeling at his throat. He had dusted off his best suit for the occasion. It hadn't been worn since Ellie's funeral. Good thing it still fit. It had never even occurred to him until that morning that he should have checked before.

He took out his phone and checked the time. They should have left two minutes ago. What was taking those women so long? As if on cue he heard the click of heels and the swishing of skirts in the hallway. His mother entered the room first, looking elegant in her black dress and pearls. But his attention did not remain on her for long. Mel entered the room, and his throat closed.

Today, she wasn't Mel. No, today she looked like a Melanie. Feminine and poised. She held her head high, though he could see the fear behind her eyes. Even in mourning, she took his breath away. That's when he knew. He was lost. He walked over to her and bent down to kiss her cheek. Standing so close to her, he could hear her breath hitch. He held out his arm to her.

“You'll be fine, Melanie. I'll be with you. Even when I'm acting as pallbearer, someone will be with you at all times.”

“I know,” she whispered, her voice faint. He was glad to note that it was steady.

“Got your inhaler?”

She nodded once. “In my purse.”

“All right, then.” He turned and offered his other arm to his mother. “Irene called,” he said. “She's already at the church. Let's motor.”

Fifteen minutes later, they pulled up in front of the church. As expected, the place was packed. Sarah Swanson had been a beloved member of the community for almost sixty years. There was not a person they met who didn't have a story to share. Yet there were others, those who stood back and watched with cold, narrowed eyes. How many of those had come for a show, to see Mel and either mock her grief or accuse? Instinctively, he pulled his arm closer to his body, bringing her a step nearer. He would protect her.

Irene greeted them with a serene expression. She hugged her mother and brother before embracing Mel and placing a kiss on her cheek. She turned her head and whispered in Melanie's ear. Jace couldn't make out the words, but he caught Melanie's sniffle and her small nod. He left the women with Dan and Miles. Paul arrived and took his place behind them. Jace approved wholeheartedly. Mel was surrounded by those who would keep her safe. Then Seth arrived and squeezed in beside Paul. Paul greeted Seth politely, then turned his curious eyes on Jace.

What could he say? The man could sit wherever he pleased. Besides, the more the merrier if it kept Mel safe. It could be worse. He could be sitting beside her.

Jace went to the back of the church and took his place as a pallbearer. The ceremony itself went off without a hitch. The news cameras had not invaded the sanctity of the church, which he was thankful for. He even had a moment where he let himself hope that this day wasn't going to be the circus they had feared.

He should have known it wouldn't be that easy.

The media were in place at the grave site before the mourners even arrived. As the hearse led the parade of cars with purple funeral flags into the cemetery, Jace felt Mel shiver beside him at the sight of the cameras and reporters. It resembled the day she had been released from prison. He looped an arm around her shoulders.

At the grave site, he exited the car first, then held out his hand to help first his mother, and then Mel, from the car. A zealous reporter hurtled toward them, his microphone held out in front like he was preparing to pass along the baton at a relay.

“Melanie!” he barked at her. “What do—”

Mrs. Tucker stepped in front of Mel and held out her hand like a traffic cop.

“Young man, this is a funeral, not a carnival. Have respect for the dead,” she reprimanded the reporter. Jace ducked his head, hiding a smile. He recognized his mother's teaching voice.

“This might be a funeral, but that girl is nothing but trouble.” Jace clenched his jaw as the protestor he recognized from the courthouse stepped forward. “My niece would still be alive today if not for her.” He pointed one meaty finger at Mel, who paled.

“Sir,” Jace ground out, “I am truly sorry for your loss. Your niece deserved better. But Melanie Swanson was not responsible for her death.”

A startled murmur swept through the onlookers. Miles's eyes widened and Dan whistled. Jace grimaced. He flashed an apologetic shrug at Paul. He hadn't meant to let the cat out of the bag so prematurely, but Mel deserved to be able to lay her aunt to rest in peace, free from undeserved accusations.

“What are you saying? Has she managed to deceive the police, too?” the uncle demanded in a near shout.

“No, sir. New evidence has surfaced that, we believe, will prove her innocence.”

The uncle looked skeptical. “If she isn't responsible, than who is?”

“We are investigating, sir. We will let you know when we can.”

The funeral continued, but Jace could tell there would be questions afterward.

He was wrong, though. As soon as the graveside service ended, Paul orchestrated a police escort back to the car. When Jace made to enter the car, though, Paul pulled him back.

“I'm sending Miles and Dan with Melanie.” He fished a paper out of his jacket. “Here's your search warrant. I want you to go to Maggie's house now and search it before the press gets wind of what you're doing. Because once they know, the killer will know.”

* * *

Mel was quiet the entire ride back to the church. She knew it was customary for the funeral committee at the church to put together a lunch at the social hall, but her stomach quailed at the idea of trying to eat right now. She was aware of Miles and Dan holding a hushed conversation, but she tuned them out. All she wanted was a bit of breathing space.

She had almost fallen over when Mrs. Tucker scolded that reporter as if he were a disruptive student in her classroom. And then Jace had stepped up and defended her, in front of all those mourners. In front of the TV cameras. She had seen Paul's expression. He had not been pleased. Of course, whoever had it in for her would now know that the police suspected Sylvie's killer was still on the loose.

Where was Jace, anyway? He had handed her into the car, then taken off. Dan and Miles had slid into the car with her instead. She liked Miles well enough, although he didn't instill confidence the way Jace did. Dan, though, still intimidated her a little. Oh, she knew he was one of the good guys. He had explained his behavior, and she believed him. It was just a little difficult to reconcile the polite police officer she had seen in Paul's office with the sneering lieutenant sitting in front of her.

No, she didn't feel as safe with these two as she did with Jace. Where was he? She knew it had to be something urgent that had taken him away. His face went all intense as he talked with Paul. He practically ran to get into Paul's cruiser with him. She leaned her head against the cold window, idly watching the scenery fade as her breath fogged up the pane. She continued to muse on Jace's quick exit until she felt a hand on her arm. She rotated her face toward Mrs. Tucker so that her head still lay against the glass. The coldness felt soothing to her.

“Melanie,” Mrs. Tucker said, “we've arrived at the church.”

Eyes widening, Mel leaned forward to peer out the front window. They had indeed arrived. She had been so focused on her thoughts, she hadn't even noticed that the vehicle had stopped.

Inside the building, people were milling around chatting. The aromas of a variety of hot dishes mingled in the air. No one outright glared at her, but she couldn't help but wonder if people were whispering about her. Bundled in her coat, she started to feel uncomfortably warm. She didn't want to remove it, though. It gave her an added layer of protection. It was ridiculous, she knew, to feel naked without her coat on, but it was like a security blanket.