Free Sound of Secrets by Darlene Gardner

the car with harsh light, and Gray again noted the ravages that love had left on his face. His features were pinched and sorrowful, and the deep lines that radiated across his face were a roadmap of suffering.
    His mother had made his father happy in the brief time they had been together, but no amount of happiness was worth this corresponding pain. Gray tried to make his voice light.
    "Here you are, Dad.” He wondered how many times over the years he had tried to jolly his father out of his suffering. "One of these days, one of those people you're interviewing is going to get tired of waiting and go home."
    "Never happen," his father said. Gray noticed he was straining to regain his public face before he went back into the office. "Everybody knows I won't be on time so they just show up late. Even so, I better be on my way.
    "Thanks for dinner, son. And, Cara, where did you say you were from again?"
    "I don’t think I did, but I’m from South Carolina. Sumter, to be specific."
    "Ah, Sumter. I’ll have to get there some day. Well, it was a pleasure to meet you, Cara. Good luck with the article.”
    “Thank you for taking the time to talk to me, Mr. DeBerg,” Cara said.
    "Bergie. Everybody calls me Bergie," he corrected before bidding Gray goodbye and shutting the door, leaving them alone in the car. Cara, so quiet before, seemed eager to break the silence.
    "I parked in the next block." She gripped the door handle. "I can get out here and walk."
    "Have a drink with me instead." Gray had made up his mind that she wasn’t going anywhere until he got some answers. "Secret Sound can be a lonely place when you don't know anybody."
    "Thanks, but no thanks. I'm not much of a drinker."
    Gray's ego would have suffered if he hadn't suspected her eagerness to get away from him was because she had something to hide.
    "Then we'll take a walk on the beach. I’m sure my father won’t mind if we borrow his car for an hour or so."
    He put the car into drive, pulling away from the newspaper office and the car she had intended to use for a quick getaway.
    "Wait a minute," she protested, raising her voice. "I didn't say I'd come with you."
    "You didn't say you wouldn't, either."
    "You didn't give me a chance to refuse. I don't make a habit of going to a dark beach with a stranger in the middle of the night.”
    "Since the moon is full, it won't be dark," he pointed out. "Besides, how can you call me a stranger? You've spent the last two hours with me and my dad. Besides, didn’t you say I seemed familiar?”
    “But you’re not.” He heard the panic in her voice and knew he’d put it there. He bit back a curse, annoyed at the way he'd handled the situation. But what alternative did he have? Other men would have tried charm. His was too rusty to be of much use.
    A streetlight shone red, and he pulled the big navy-blue car to a stop in front of it. He turned to her, hoping she wouldn't unlock the door and jump out before he could explain. Her face was bathed in the red glow of the stop light.
    "Listen, Cara. All I want to do is walk. Nothing more. You'll be perfectly safe with me." He gave her a wry smile. "I’m the police chief, remember? I can't have you going around town telling people I abducted you."
    "Then next time," she said succinctly, "make sure that I want to come with you before you step on the gas."
    The light turned green. He didn't attempt to proceed even though he was holding up traffic. One of the other drivers honked his horn.
    "It's a beautiful night. Would you accompany me for a walk on the beach?"
    Behind them, a second car horn joined the first. Cara looked over her shoulder at the cars behind them.
    "Those people want to go," she said. "The light's green."
    "Ah, but we can't go yet. You haven't answered me."
    More horns sounded, creating a discordant chorus of blares and beeps.
    "Yes." She nearly shouted to be heard above the cacophony of horns. "Yes, I'll come."
    In response, Gray put the car into drive and