And she didnt?
No, she fought. But there was something about the way she did it. It was as if she was somewhere else. Seeing something else.
Hellers expression was thoughtful. Post-traumatic stress?
Maybe. She was able to keep herself together enough to escape my grasp, though. And she did it pretty well. Bowled me over.
There wasnt a lot in the background check other than what I told you. The sheriffs department never liked her story that she could remember nothing. But I dont know if thats because of who she is. Or, more to the point, who her family is.
Who are they?
The Winters, according to my source with the local law, are one of those families that just spell trouble. Two of her brothers are in jail. Daddy died in a mining accident when they were young, and apparently Mama tried and failed to replace him with a series of men who all brought their own brand of trouble to the family.
Does Charlie have a record?
Nothing as an adult. If she had any record as a juvenile, its sealed.
Ive moved her up to my intermediate class, Mike said. The beginner class will just bore her. She might quit.
And you dont want that?
He didnt. Something strange is going on with that woman. I dont know what yet. But I think its in our interests to find out what it is.
He turned back to the window. Charlie was out there now, unlocking the drivers door of the Toyota. She slid behind the steering wheel and pulled out of the parking lot, heading onto Poplar Road.
Mikes gaze started to follow the car up the road, but something in the parking space shed just vacated snagged his attention. There was a wet spot on the pavement beneath where the Toyota had been parked.
Right about the place where her brake line should be.
He muttered a curse and strode past Heller, already running as he hit the exit. He skidded to a stop at the empty parking place and crouched to look at the fluid on the ground.
Definitely brake fluid.
He gazed at the road, spotting the Corolla just as it started the climb up the mountain.
Without a pause for thought, he pulled his keys from his pocket and sprinted toward his truck.
* * *
THE TOYOTA HAD to be on its last legs. Fifteen years old, well-used before shed ever bought it, the little blue Corolla had put up with a lot in the five years since shed bought it with cash from a small used car lot over in Mercerville. The heating and air were starting to falternever good in the dead of winter or the dog days of summer. And as she crested the mountain and started down the other side, she realized her brakes felt unresponsive, spongy beneath her foot.
That was not good.
She dropped the Corolla to a lower gear, and the vehicles speed slowed, but only a little. She thought about putting it in Neutral, but in the back of her mind, she had a fuzzy memory that doing so wasnt the answer.
Damn. Why hadnt she read that road safety brochure her insurance company had sent out last month?
Fortunately, there wasnt much in the way of traffic on the two-lane road, but she was fast approaching a four-way stop at the bottom of the hill. There were a handful of cars clustered at the intersection, far enough away now that they looked more like specks than vehicles.
But that was changing quickly.
She dropped to an even lower gear and gave her brakes a few quick, desperate pumps. They were entirely unresponsive now.
Dont panic dont panic dont panic...
The roar of an engine approaching behind her took her eyes off the road to check the rearview mirror. There was a large pickup truck coming up fast behind her. Suddenly, it swung left, around her, and whipped into the lane in front of her.
What the hell was that idiot doing?
The truck slowed as it moved in front of her, and on instinct, she stamped on her useless brakes. The front of her car bumped hard into the back bumper of the truck, bounced and hit a second time. A third time, then a fourth, each bounce less jarring until her front bumper settled against the back of the truck.
The pickup slowed to a stop, bringing her Corolla to a stop, as well. She turned on her hazard lights and put her car in Park, setting the parking brake to make sure it didnt move any farther downhill.
The drivers door of the pickup opened, and a tall, lean-muscled figure got out and turned to face her with a grim smile.
Mike Strong.
What the hell was going on?
Chapter Three
The brake lines been cut. Bill Hardy, the mechanic at Mercerville Motors, whod taken a look at the Corollas brake system, showed Charlie the laceration in the line.
Charlie stared at it in horrified fascination, trying not to relive those scary moments as shed struggled to bring her car under control on the downhill stretch of Poplar Road. If Mike Strong hadnt pulled his driving trick to bring her car to a stop
Dont think about it.
How could that have happened? she asked Bill.
Well, maybe you could have kicked up a sharp rock or a piece of metal in the road, Bill said doubtfully.
But you dont think so?
Honestly, if I didnt know better, Id think this was a deliberate cut. He gave her a sidelong look. You havent made any enemies lately, have you, Charlie?
Had she?
She glanced toward the tiny waiting area, where Mike Strong sat in one of the steel-and-plastic chairs pushed up against the wall across from the vending machine. Shed told him he neednt wait for her, but hed insisted. And given that hed more or less saved her life this morning, she could hardly quibble.
No, no new enemies, she said.
Except, she supposed, whoever had killed Alice.
She turned her head to look at Mike again and found him standing in the open doorway between the waiting area and the garage. Any news?
Brake lines cut, Bill said shortly before Charlie could stop him.
Mikes eyebrows came together over his nose. On purpose?
Hard to say with certainty, but its possible. Bill looked at Charlie. What do you want me to do? Youve got a little body work needs doing on the front now, and the brake line needs replacing
Can I have the damaged brake line? Mike asked.
Charlie frowned at him. Why?
Mikes green eyes met hers. Evidence.
Bills brown eyes darted from Charlies face to Mikes and back again. Should I call the cops?
No, Charlie and Mike said in unison.
Okay, then. Bill licked his lips, looking confused.
Fix the body damage and replace the brake line, Charlie said. And preserve the brake line in case we need to let someone examine it to establish whether or not the cut was intentional.
Will do, Bill said with a nod. Listen, its probably going to take me a few days to get this done. You gonna have a way to get around?
Ill figure out something. Charlie nibbled her lip, wondering if she could make do with her bike for a few days. She didnt have any meetings scheduled at work for the next couple of weeks, so she didnt have to worry about a commute. There was a small grocery store a half mile from her house, so she and the cats wouldnt starve. Even Campbell Cove Academy was within a miles ride. It would be good exercise.
I can give you a ride home, at least, Mike said.
Thanks.
What are you going to do for wheels? Mike asked as they walked to his truck.
I have a bike.
He slanted a look at her as he unlocked the passenger door of the truck. What if it rains?
There was no what-if; rain fell practically every week in the mountains, and often multiple days a week. She hadnt really thought about rain, but that was what raincoats were for, right? Ill deal.
He waited for her to fasten her seat belt before he started the engine. The dashboard clock read 11:35 and, to her chagrin, her stomach gave a little growl in response. Breakfast had been a long time ago.
I could go for an early lunch, he murmured, sounding amused. You wanna come?
She looked at him through the corner of her eye, trying to assess his motives. To lunch? With you?
His sunglasses had mirror lenses, so she couldnt be sure his smile made it all the way to his eyes. I suppose we could sit apart, if you like. Though that seems like a waste of a table.
Mayfair Diner was little more than a hole-in-the-wall, one of three storefronts that filled the one-story brick building on the corner of Mayfair Lane and Sycamore Road. Charlie ate there often, since her house was just a short drive down Sycamore. By now, everybody who worked there knew her by name and called out greetings when they entered.
Whats good here? Mike asked as they headed for the counter.
Depends on how much weight you want to gain.
He smiled at her blunt answer and looked up at the big menu board. How are the omelets?
I like them, she answered with a little shrug. The cheese-and-bacon ones are particularly good.
I bet.
The counter waitress, a plump, pretty woman in her forties named Jean, smiled as she approached to take their order. Hey, Charlie, what can I get for you and your friend today?
Ill have a grilled cheese with chips and a pickle, and iced coffee with cream and sugar, Charlie said.
And you, hon? Jean looked at Mike, her voice instantly flirtatious.
Ill have a veggie omelet and a small fresh fruit cup, he ordered. And water to drink.
Disgustingly healthy, Charlie thought. Would explain his smokin-hot body, though.
Find yourself a seat, and Ill send someone out with your orders in a few minutes, Jean said with one last flirtatious smile at Mike before she turned to clip their orders to the chefs order wheel.
Charlie and Mike settled in a corner booth. He took the bench seat that faced the door, she noticed. Always on the lookout for trouble?
An uncomfortable silence lingered between them for a moment before Mike broke it in a gravelly murmur. You didnt seem that surprised when the guy at the garage thought your brake line had been cut.
She looked up sharply. Whats that supposed to mean?
He shrugged. If someone told me my brake line had been cut...
Youd start with your self-defense class roster? She flashed him a cheeky grin to hide her own sense of unease with his question.
He grinned back. Probably.
What she didnt want to admit, even to herself, was that there might be someone out there who wanted her dead. For most of her life shed been fairly invisible, by design. Her neer-do-well brothers had brought more than their share of ignominy to the family name. Better not to draw any attention at all than the kind her brothers had managed to elicit.
A smiling teenage girl came over with their orders on a large tray, saving Charlie from having to find something else to say to break the silence. The girl eyed Mike with starstruck shyness, giggling a little as he smiled his thanks. Charlie wasnt sure the girl even realized there was a second person at the table.
Does that happen often? she asked, taking a sip of her iced coffee.
Mike looked up from his plate. Does what happen?
Charlie nodded toward the waitress who was still darting quick looks toward their table as she talked with another server. Googly-eyed females growing tongue-tied in your presence.
He frowned. Never noticed.
Of course he hadnt. She changed the subject back to the topic of the hour. How on earth did you even notice that brake fluid in the parking lot?
I happened to be looking out the window when you drove away. There was a big puddle of fluid underneath the car, so I thought I should check it out. When I realized it was brake fluid
You hopped in your truck and raced to my rescue?
Seemed like the thing to do.
When you first whipped around in front of me, I thought you were a maniac. She shook her head. That was kind of a crazy thing to do.
Blame the academy. Crisis driving is one of the things were trained to do, you know.
Does the Campbell Cove Academy teach those skills to civilians, too?
Only to professional security personnel at the moment, he said with a shake of his head. Its an intense and expensive course, and most civilians wont have any need to learn the skills.
Not sure I agree with that, she said wryly.
He leaned a little closer, lowering his voice. You really have no idea who might have tampered with your car?
Why would I?
You just started taking a self-defense course, and now your vehicle is sabotaged. I have to wonder if theres a correlation.
She pretended not to understand. You think someone messed with my car because Im taking a self-defense course?
He frowned. Dont be obtuse. Im asking if the reason youre taking a self-defense course has anything to do with why someone might tamper with your brakes. Have you been threatened? A stalker or a disgruntled ex?
Nobodys threatened me.
He sat back, studying her through narrowed eyes. Im not sure you can say that with a straight face after today. Assuming your mechanic is right about how the brake line was cut.
I dont know who would want to hurt me, she said firmly.
That was the problem, wasnt it? She didnt know who would want to hurt her any more than she knew who would have hurt Alice. But someone had. She was more convinced of that fact than ever.
Okay, Mike said after a long silence. But I think you should be careful anyway. Maybe this morning was a warning shot.
Im planning to be careful.
You still planning on trying to get around by bike?
Or on foot. I work from home, and most of the places I go on any given day I can reach by walking.
Not sure thats a good idea.
Its not like my track record in a car is exactly stellar after this morning, she joked.
He didnt smile. Are you going to be at my class tomorrow afternoon?
She shook her head. The academy is a little too far away for a bike ride. Maybe I can pick up the class the next time you offer it.
Youll have your car back soon. I can give you a ride to the class until then. Just be ready about a half hour early and Ill swing by to pick you up.
She narrowed her eyes. Why? Why would you do that?
Because I think you need it. Its not like its a big problem for me to give you a ride.
She nibbled her lower lip, considering his offer. He was right about one thingshed like to know how to protect herself in a pinch. Wasnt that why shed picked up the self-defense class in the first place?