“I suppose that keeping a low profile could be a good thing. Save me a repeat trip to the river.” Melanie shivered at the thought. “But it won’t stop me from investigating. Those men will be sorry they brought their business to my door.”
“Great! We don’t need any of your Southern sass. This is serious,” Drew said.
“And what do you suppose I do for a living, Drew? Every day I meet the riff-raff of society in one form or another. Sass is what keeps me on edge, so don’t give me a hard time.”
“Father hates it, you know.”
“I know, and I don’t care. That’s why I don’t live under his roof,” Melanie said. “Mom was the glue that held me at Pine-Cove. When she died, I hit the road, no regrets.”
Drew changed the subject. “Did Chrissy ever drop any hints about bad guys coming after her?”
“She’s been a bit on edge lately. That’s why we went to Georgia for a holiday. I’d never have gone to visit family otherwise.”
“It was high-time. Someone needs to knock that chip off your shoulder. It’s not like you. Weren’t you always the religious one?”
How could she tell him of her suspicions regarding her mother’s death despite the closed suicide case? Drew idolized his father, and if he ever matured, he would fit the grand scheme of the family business like a glove. “Me and the Good Lord are working on it.”
“And you can’t remember anything about the encounter at your place?” Drew asked.
Had she not covered that already? “I hate repeating myself, Drew. My memory has not returned in the last ten minutes. I’ve lost an important part of my life. This will drive me crazy,” Melanie said.
“It’s probably the drugs. Might never fully recover from that.”
“You’re a big help.” She studied him. Had she mentioned drugs?
“Why don’t you phone your roommate? That’s a good place to start.”
“Right,” Melanie agreed. “And I won’t speak unless it’s Chrissy, I promise,” she added, not sure why he appeared so concerned that someone might be lurking at her place.
The phone rang six times before the answering service picked it up. She hung up when her own voice sounded on the other end directing her to leave a message.
“No one is there.”
It was one thing investigating the murders of complete strangers, but the personal connection almost made Melanie want to quit before she’d started. She gripped her hands together on her lap until they turned white.
Drew brought her back to the present. “You’ve got that far-away, brain-dumped look on your face. I take it you received no answer?”
Anger engulfed her again. Her younger brother could be so irritating. “Do you hear me talking, Drew? Use your head for something more than a hat rack.”
“A mite touchy, aren’t we?” was his smarty-pants comeback.
Melanie stared in disbelief. “You’re kidding, right? Do you have any idea what I’ve been through tonight?”
Something in his expression alerted her. She’d seen it on guilty faces while drilling suspects at work.
“Do you know something you’re not telling me? Spit it out, Drew Braxton.”
“I don’t know much. But…when I drove up the street toward the apartment building last night, your car sped out of the driveway with a van on its heels. I decided to follow you. I felt ripped off that my surprise had backfired – I came all this way for your birthday.”
“You never cared about my birthday before, and we just visited you in Georgia last week.” Drew put forward his best pout, but Melanie noted a shadow marring his boyish face.
“Thank you for the surprise that backfired. So, that’s why you were on the dirt road – looking for me?”
“Yeah. Lost sight of the vehicles at one point, but kept driving around. Lucked out when I saw those huge, round eyes startled in my headlights. Guess it all worked out in the end, right?”
“I suppose.” Melanie rubbed her forehead and winced in pain. “It only makes sense that Chrissy was the other prisoner in the car. We were together when the men arrived, and now, she’s gone missing.”
“Sounds logical,” Drew said. “Sorry about your friend, Sis.”
“I can’t believe this is happening. At the lake, I overheard the men say that I was in the wrong place at the wrong time, hanging out with bad company.” She shook her head. “Chrissy – what was she into?”
“You’re pretty scraped up, Mel. Let me go to the all-night drug store and get some first aid supplies.”
Melanie shrugged. The little strength the shower had rejuvenated was fast deserting her. “Sure. I’ll wait here.”
“Why don’t you lay down and rest? I won’t be long. And remember – don’t answer the door for anyone. I have a key to get back in.”
Melanie shooed him away and dropped back against the pillow. Sleep sounded good.
God is not the author of confusion.
Chapter 4
A car door slammed, and Melanie jolted back from her brooding. Drew must be back. She walked toward the window, pulled the curtain back, and gasped – a van was idling in the parking lot. A man emerged, and when her brother moved into the headlights to confront him, Melanie’s heart shattered. Their conversation appeared heated but hushed, interrupted by the occasional rough push or finger poke. From where she watched, fear exploded onto Drew’s face and marked his timid stance, while the bully’s threatening posture never let up. He slugged Drew, sending his body careening through the air and landing in a heap against the wall. The man wiped his hands on his pant leg and turned to get into his car.
Melanie debated running to his rescue, but that would give her away. Drew
