Free Safe From the Dark by Lily Rede Page A

the night. The young man’s expression cleared, and he stepped
aside to let her in.
    “You
must be Deputy Asher. Tom Castillo, Colin’s assistant.”
    Evie
shook hands and glanced over at the living room, where Deirdre was nursing a
very large glass of scotch from an armchair, wrapped in a blanket. Colin sat on
the couch while Jocelyn, in flannel cat-printed PJs with a jacket flung over
them, was gently examining his eyes as he held an ice pack to the back of his
head. Evie felt the hard knot of worry uncoil ever so slightly.
    “Hey,
Doc,” she said, stepping into the room.
    Colin
watched her warily as she approached.
    Well,
of course he’s wary. You basically let all the crazy out. Now he wouldn’t come
near you with a ten-foot pole. Despite her ongoing resolution to avoid him at all costs, the thought was
supremely depressing.
    “Tony
sent me. I was closest.”
    Colin
didn’t look happy about that, either. Jocelyn sat back.
    “You
might have a slight concussion, but you’re lucky that head of yours is so
damned hard, Colin. With great reluctance, I’m going to let you stay here for
the night.”
    She
grabbed a notepad from her bag and scrawled a quick list.
    “You
notice any of these symptoms, do not hesitate, do not drive. Call me, call Tom.
Have someone get you to the ER.”
    Evie
cleared her throat.
    “I
know it’s late, but I have to ask a few questions while the incident is still
fresh in your mind.”
    Colin
sighed.
    “I
saw something move outside, I came out to check it out, got about ten steps off
the porch, and then the bastard brained me with a two by four. That’s about
it.”
    Evie
turned to Deirdre.
    “Why
did you come outside, Ms. Small?”
    Deirdre
gulped her drink, and Jocelyn and Evie exchanged a look.
    “Well,
I heard the most awful clatter.”
    She
paused.
    “When
I fell, I knocked over the workbench,” Colin offered.
    “Yes,”
said Deirdre, “that was it. Then I came outside and saw Colin lying
unconscious, and so I called Tom. He must have been alone because he came right
over.”
    She
giggled, hiccupped, and then frowned.
    Tom
rolled his eyes.
    “Colin
had already come around when I got here, but I thought the Doc should have a
look at him just in case.”
    “You
thought right,” agreed Jocelyn, packing her bag again.
    “Was
anything disturbed?” Evie asked, turning back to Colin, forcing herself to hold
his gaze.
    “No.”
    “Anything
taken?”
    “No.”
    “We
can’t really rule out a burglar. You may have interrupted him or her before
they had a chance to break in.”
    “I
keep telling you, this isn’t New York. Besides, why would someone come all the
way up here when all the tourist traps in town are there for the taking?”
    Evie
hesitated, and then voiced what was really on her mind.
    “It
seems to be common knowledge that Ms. Small was staying here tonight. After the
fire last night, it’s possible that she was the target.”
    Colin
frowned.
    “I
thought the fire was an accident.”
    “Signs
point to arson.”
    The
four looked to Deirdre, but she was out like a light, curled up in the
armchair, cuddling her glass.
    “I’ll
put her to bed,” said Tom, moving the glass, and then lifting her into his arms
in a surprising show of lean strength.
    “Thanks,
Tom,” said Colin, and Evie bit her lip, trying not to ask whose bed Tom was
planning to put her in. She wasn’t used to this kind of jealousy, and didn’t
like it. But the harder she tried to ignore it, the more it sank green claws
into her stomach. There was something between them, whether it she acknowledged
it or not.
    “Best
not to mention this to anyone in town,” remarked Colin, “Candace will freak,
and Dreyer will immediately make it a reason to oust me from office. Until we
know what’s going on, let’s keep it between us.”
    Tom
disappeared upstairs with Deirdre, and Evie turned to go.
    “I
need to take a look outside,” Evie said, and Colin got up from the couch.
    “You’re
not