Free 'Til Death Do Us Part by Amanda Quick

ring. Trent picked up the gift to examine it more closely.
    Calista contemplated the bell with a mix of horror and loathing.
    â€œDear heaven.” She took a step back.
    There was no point trying to soothe her fears by denying the obvious, Trent thought.
    â€œIt’s a safety coffin bell,” he said. “I’ve seen advertisements in the press for similar items. At the time of burial the bell is installed above the grave. The chain is attached to the inside of the coffin. The ring goes around one of the fingers of the deceased. The idea is that if the dead person is buried alive by accident and awakens inside the coffin, he or she can ring the bell and summon help.”
    Calista turned away, folded her arms very tightly beneath her breasts, and began to pace the room. “He is threatening to bury me, perhaps while I am still alive. I don’t understand. Who could possibly hate me with so much passion?”
    A dark fury heated Trent’s blood. It had been a long time since he had experienced such a surge of raw emotion. It caught him by surprise. He wanted to hurl the bell against the nearest wall.
    But such a loss of control would not do Calista any good. He suppressed the flash of rage and concentrated on his examination of the coffin bell.
    â€œWhat are you looking for?” she asked.
    â€œAnyone who goes to the trouble of designing such an expensive bell—to say nothing of the chain and the finger ring—will have no doubt patented it and very likely made certain that each device is stamped with some identification.”
    â€œHmm.” Calista unfolded her arms. “I never thought of that. Then again, I have not been thinking at all clearly of late.”
    He turned the bell upside down and studied the interior—and very nearly smiled with satisfaction when he saw the mark. “
J. P. Fulton, London
.”
    Calista held out her hands. “Let me see that.”
    He gave her the bell and watched her peer into the interior, marveling at the sudden shift in her mood. A moment ago she had been cast into the abyss. Now she was flushed with excitement.
    â€œDo you think that if I am able to locate this J. P. Fulton I might be able to find out who bought the coffin bell from him?” she asked.
    â€œWhat I think,” Trent said carefully, not wanting to raise her hopes unrealistically high, “is that finding J. P. Fulton would be an excellent place for us to start our investigation.”
    Calista stilled. “
Our
investigation?”
    â€œYou surely don’t believe that I am going to let you pursue this matter alone, do you? Whoever sent you this bell has as good as threatened your life, and I doubt very much that the police would be of much assistance, at least not at this point.”
    â€œNo.” Her jaw tightened. “My brother and I considered going to the police, but what good would that do? There is nothing to be done unless or until the person who is haunting me perpetrates some act of violence.”
    â€œBy then it may be too late.”
    She looked at him, mute and appalled.
    â€œI’m sorry,” he said. “That was far too blunt. But your situation is dire. It does not allow for social graces.”
    She swallowed hard. “I am well aware of that. Please understand. I appreciate your offer to help but this is not your problem, sir.” She set the coffin bell on the desk. “Given the horrid nature of this new gift, I am afraid that there may be considerable risk involved for anyone who attempts to assist me.”
    He looked at her. “I am most certainly not the hero of my novels. But I have been told that I have a talent for logical thinking. In addition, thanks to the research that I have done for several of my books, I have acquired a few useful skills and some connections in certain quarters that may prove helpful.”
    â€œI don’t understand.”
    â€œNever mind, it doesn’t matter now.