Free Shiver by Cynthia Cooke

leader who would support anyone who needed it. Not today. The weary face that greeted him from behind the big mahogany desk looked ragged and reminded him of the night his mother had been killed. He cut off the painful memory before it could dig in and take hold.
    “How are you doing, Dad?” he asked, knowing it was a dumb question even as the words left his mouth.
    “As well as can be expected, Son,” his father replied. “You have news for us? Anything that will help explain how this has happened to our family?” Again? The unspoken word hung heavily in the air.
    “Not yet. We’re working on it.”
    “I understand you brought a young lady home with you. Timing’s not real good for that, Riley.”
    “Trust me, Dad. I’ve got my reasons.”
    “I hope so, Son.” His father let out an uncustomary sigh, his head bent as he stared at the top of his desk.
    “She’ll stay out of your way,” Riley added, and wasthankful he and Devra would be dining alone. His family didn’t need a vision of Michelle sitting across the dinner table tonight. They were too raw, too hurt. For a second, he regretted bringing her, but she’d stay until he got what he needed out of her. Until he got the truth.
     
     

 
    Chapter Five
     
    “So, Devra,” LuAnn said as soon as Riley disappeared down the hall. “Tell me a little bit about yourself. I don’t detect a Southern accent. Where are you from?”
    There was something in the woman’s hawk-eyed gaze that made Devra uncomfortable. “All over I guess.” She offered a small smile and tried not to choke on the cloying scent of too many flowers. A pinprick of a headache started pinching her temples.
    LuAnn was still staring at her. “There’s something familiar about you.” Her eyes squinted in speculation.
    “Can I do anything to help prepare dinner?” Devra asked, and brushed her hand across her hair to make sure it was all still firmly in place.
    “No. The neighbors brought enough food to feed us for a week.” LuAnn turned to the fridge, removed several Tupperware containers and placed them in a bag.
    Before she had a chance to question her some more, Devra turned toward the door. “Thank you so much for your hospitality. If you don’t mind, I’d like to take a short walk outside.”
    LuAnn stopped and turned toward her. “Stay on the path, dear. We wouldn’t want you to get lost.”
    Something in her voice sent a small shudder skipping down Devra’s spine. Surely she didn’t mean anything by that? As LuAnn turned away to busy herself with the food, Devra shook off her uneasiness and walked out the door. She was seeing danger where there wasn’t any. She was perfectly safe here, safer than anywhere she’d probably ever been.
    Still, she couldn’t shake the feeling that something wasn’t quite right as she followed the path in front of her. It meandered beautifully through large bushes of camellias and other flowering shrubs. In a perfect picture-postcard setting, wisteria wound its way around tree trunks forming a canopy over her head as she continued away from the house. A hummingbird flitted past her ear. She ducked and hoped it was a hummingbird, and not some giant-size insect.
    The parklike setting of the estate was breathtaking. Obviously, someone had put a lot of love and care into these grounds. She should feel soothed, calm even. Yet as she walked farther down the path, the uncanny feeling that someone was watching came over her. Uneasiness prickled the nape of her neck. She stopped and turned, her gaze searching the shrubbery, but no one was there.
    Obviously, her nerves were stretched too thin, she told herself. Still, she continued forward again, her ears straining for any unusual sounds. Was it possible the killer had followed them? Was there a chance he knew where she was? Something small lying farther along onthe path caught her eye. She felt herself being pulled toward it, even though in the deep recesses of her mind something urged her to