you're steady.'
She complied. A moment later, they allowed her to come carefully to a sitting position, then ease to her feet. Matt kept his arm around her, even though she assured him she was fine.
'I'm so embarrassed,' she said. 'I feel like an idiot.'
'Nonsense.' Lilah brushed leaves and other debris from her black jacket. 'When's the last time you ate?'
She didn't know; she couldn't remember, couldn't seem to gather her thoughts. She wet her lips. 'I don't know…lunch yesterday, I guess.'
'No wonder you passed out,' she said, distressed. 'I should have brought you a meal.'
Avery looked at Matt. 'Did you see them?'
'Who?'
'That group of men. Standing together. There were seven of them.'
Matt and Buddy exchanged glances. 'Where?'
She pointed to the spot where the group had been standing.
'Over there.'
They looked in that direction, then back at her. 'I don't recall seeing a group,' Matt said. He looked at Cherry and Lilah. 'Did either of you?'
The two women shook their heads no. Matt met her eyes. 'Are you certain of what you saw?'
'Yes, I…yes. They were at the wake, too.'
'Who were they?'
She rubbed her head, confused. At the wake, she had thought she recognized several of them. Now she couldn't recall who they had been.
She was losing her mind.
'I don't know. I…' Her words trailed off. She moved her gaze from one face to another, reading the concern in their expressions.
They thought she was losing it, too.
Lilah slipped an arm around her shoulders. 'Poor baby, you've been through so much. Come now, I have finger sandwiches and cookies back at the house. We'll fix you right up.'
Lilah did fix her up-as best as was possible anyway, considering the circumstances. She and the rest of the Stevens clan hovered around her, making certain she had plenty to eat, insisting she stay off her feet, shooing people off when she began to fade.
When the last mourner left, Matt drove her home. She laid her head against the rest and closed her eyes. After a moment, she opened them and looked at him. 'Can I ask you something?'
He glanced at her, then back at the road. 'Shoot.'
'You really didn't see a group of men huddled together? Not at the wake or funeral?'
'I really didn't.'
'I was afraid you were going to say that.'
He reached across the seat, caught her hand and squeezed. 'Stress and grief play havoc with the mind.'
'I'd heard that.'
He frowned slightly, looked at her again. 'I'm worried about you, Avery.'
She laughed without humor. 'Funny you should say that, I'm worried about me, too.'
He squeezed her fingers again, then returned his hand to the wheel. 'It'll get better.'
'Promise?'
'Sure.'
They fell silent. She studied him, his profile, as he drove. Strong nose and chin. Nice mouth, full without being feminine. Kissable. She remembered that.
Damn handsome. Better-looking than he'd been all those years ago.
'Matt?' He cut another glance her way. 'What was that about, with Hunter last night?'
'I don't think now's the time-'
'People were whispering about it at your mother's.'
He turned onto her parents' street. 'A woman was found murdered last night.'
'Hunter found her?'
'Yes, in the alley behind his place.'
In the places she had lived since leaving Cypress Springs, murders were commonplace. But here…
Things like that weren 't supposed to happen in Cypress Springs.
But neither were beloved physicians supposed to set themselves on fire.
'How was she murdered?'
He reached her parents' house and eased up the driveway. At the top, Matt stopped, cut the engine. He angled in his seat to face her. 'Avery, you don't need to know this. You have enough to deal with right now.'
'How?' she persisted.
'I can't tell you. And I won't. I'm sorry.'
'Are you?'
He caught her hand. 'Don't be angry.'
'I'm tired of everyone around here trying to protect me.'
'Really? Beats the alternative, don't you think? I'm sure Elaine St. Claire would think so. If she were alive.'
The murdered woman. Obviously. Heat stung Avery's cheeks. She sounded like a petulant child.
She curled her fingers around his. 'I'm sorry, Matt. I'm not myself.'
'It's okay. I understand.' He brought their joined hands to his mouth, pressed a kiss to her knuckles, then released hers. 'Are you sure you're going to be okay here alone?'
'There you go,' she teased, 'taking care of me again.'
He returned her smile. 'Guilty as charged.'
'I'll be fine.' She grabbed the door handle. Popped open the door. 'I'm thinking nap. A long one.'
He reached across the seat and caught her hand once more. She turned and met his eyes. His were filled with regret. 'I really am sorry, Avery.'
'I know, Matt. And that helps. A lot.'
She climbed out of the vehicle, slammed the door and started toward the front walk. When she reached the door she glanced back. Matt hadn't made a move to leave.
She lifted her hand and waved. He returned the gesture, started up the vehicle and backed down the driveway. She watched as he disappeared from sight, then unlocked her door and stepped inside.
The phone was ringing. She hurried to answer it. 'Hello?'
'Is this Dr. Phillip Chauvin's daughter?'
The voice was a woman's. Deep. Coarse-sounding. The voice of a lifelong chain-smoker.
'This is Avery Chauvin,' she answered. 'Can I help-'
'To hell with you,' the woman spat. 'And to hell with your father. He got what he deserved. You will, too.'
In the next instant, the line went dead.
CHAPTER 15
For the next twelve hours, Avery thought of little else but the woman's call. The things she'd said had played over in her head, a disturbing chant.
He got what he deserved.
You will, too.
At first she had been stunned. Shocked that someone could say such a thing about her father. Those emotions had given way to anger. She had tried dialing *69 only to discover her dad hadn't subscribed to the callback service. She had considered calling Buddy or Matt, then had discarded the thought. What could they do? Assure her the woman was just a crank? Advise her to get an unlisted number?
The woman could be a crank, that was true.
But what if she wasn't? What if the woman's call represented a legitimate threat?
