Free Ever Present Danger by Kathy Herman Page B

then turned and ran up the stairs.

    Ivy started to go after him, and Carolyn gently took her arm. “Let him go, honey. You’re not going to get a seven-year-old to change his mind about hating what’s happening. We all hate it.”

    A door slammed, and Ivy sighed. “I won’t stand for him treating you like the enemy.”

    “Well, maybe he perceives me to be the enemy right now. He’s about to lose the only grandmother he’s ever known, and it probably feels as though we’re all expecting me to take her place.”

    “That’s not true.”

    Carolyn’s eyes widened. “It is to a scared little boy.”

    Ivy finished putting the dinner dishes in the dishwasher when the doorbell rang. A few seconds later, her father stood in the doorway, his mouth forming a straight line of disgust.

    “Pete Barton is here,” Elam Griffith said. “What do you want me to tell him?”

    Ivy didn’t say what she was thinking. “I’ll come talk to him.” Elam mumbled something under his breath and went upstairs. Ivy went to the front door and saw Pete standing on the porch,a Denver Broncos stocking cap pulled down over his ears. She went outside and closed the door behind her.

    “What’re you doing here?”

    “Is that any way to greet your high school sweetheart?” Pete flashed his trademark smile that would have melted her a decade ago.

    “If you came to tell me the sheriff knows Joe was strangled, my dad already told me.”

    “I figured.” He took a card out of his ski jacket pocket and handed it to her. “Actually, I wanted to give you the invitation to the class reunion. I called and made reservations for the four of us.”

    Ivy glared at him. “I told you I wanted to think about it.”

    “Okay. But now you’re all set if you decide to go.”

    “I already told you I’m ashamed of my past and don’t really want to face everybody. Besides, I know I look awful. The last thing I want is everyone’s pity.”

    Pete rolled his eyes. “Then do something about it! Have your hair styled. Wear something that at least makes you look like you have a figure. And put some color on your face.”

    “Is that your idea of a pep talk?”

    “What’d you expect me to say: You haven’t changed a bit? I’m not blind.”

    Ivy hated that she was blushing. She struggled to find her voice and finally said, “I don’t have to go if I don’t want to.”

    Pete leaned down until he was nose to nose with her, his breath turning to vapor. “Why don’t you cut the whiny kid routine? This is no joke. You know what’s at risk, so I suggest you start thinking about your loyalty to the other three people involved in the pact.”

    “Or what?”

    The look in Pete’s eyes sent a chill up her spine. Or was it the cold air?

    “Do you really need me to spell it out again?” he whispered. “What happened to Joe happened a long time ago. I never meant to kill him, and I’m not going to prison for it. Period. Do you understand what I’m saying?”

    “Are you threatening me?”

    His face softened and he brushed her cheek with his hand.“Why would I do that? Look, all I’m saying is there’s nothing to be gained by getting caught now. Rotting in prison won’t bring Joe back. You and Denny have kids to raise. Reg’s wife is pregnant. My mom needs me to run the deli. Just honor the pact. That’s all I ask. We’ve come too far to blow it now.”

    The front door opened.

    “Everything all right?” Elam said.

    “I’m fine, Dad. I’ll just be a minute.”

    “You need to come in out of the cold.”

    “I was just leaving, Mr. Griffith.” Pete’s gaze caught hers. “Think about it. Everyone would love to see you.” Pete nodded at Elam, then turned and went down the steps and out to his shiny green truck.

    “What’d he want, anyway?” Elam said.

    “Our high school class is having its tenth reunion on the twenty-second. Pete thinks I should go.”

    “Is he trying to date you again?”

    “No, nothing like