"They're in bed. Where do you think two young babies should be at this hour?"
Neither man responded to her sarcastic remark. Instead, they walked around the house. Cliff checked the kitchen while Tom went down the hall, peering into each of the cold rooms. When he came to the little girl's room, he found them asleep under dirty covers. He shook his head in disgust.
When the two men came back into the living room, Autumn still stood by the front door, tapping her foot. "Well, are you satisfied?"
Tom crossed the room and stood in front of her. "Not yet, Mrs. Conners. We need one more thing, then we'll leave." He pulled a large plastic bag from his pocket.
Her eyes grew wide when he pulled the shawl from her shoulders and carefully tucked it into the sack.
"What the hell are you doing?" She reached for the sack, but Tom jerked it out of her reach.
Cliff stepped forward. "Our warrant is still good, Mrs. Conners. We might return your shawl after we run some tests. If it turns out clean." He took the bag from Tom and walked out the front door.
Tom stared into Autumn's face as she hugged herself. "I'd advise you not to leave the area, Mrs. Conners. I have a man watching your house."
Her eyes narrowed. "As if I didn't know I have a tail."
Tom shrugged and went out the door, slamming it behind him. He heard the rattle of the chain as he sucked in a deep breath of fresh air and stepped off the porch.
*****
Sandy hung up the phone and glanced at Angie. "Do you mind if Ken comes over?"
"No, of course not." Angie studied Sandy's face. "Are you going home with him?"
She bit her lower lip. "I don't know, but I'm sure he'll want me to."
Angie walked over and put an arm around Sandy's shoulders, giving her a hug. "Wait until you see and talk to him. Then make a decision. But I have a feeling you'll see the old Ken again."
"How I pray you're right. I've been so worried."
"We have no way of knowing how these accusations have affected Ken. And it still might be best that you stay here for another day or two. But, I'm leaving that up to you. You know you're welcome."
Marty came into the study. "Excuse me, Mrs. Nevers. How much longer do you want to hold dinner?"
Angie glanced at Sandy. "Do you think Ken would like to eat with us? It doesn't look like Tom is going to make it back."
"I'm sure he'd enjoy it very much."
"Give us another ten minutes."
Marty nodded and left.
*****
Ken felt like a weight had been lifted from his shoulders. Sandy's voice alone had reassured him, but the news she brought made him feel exuberant. He pledged to himself and God above that he would never strike his wife or daughters again. He prayed for words that would convince Sandy of his promise so she'd come home.
When Ken pulled up to the Nevers' property and gave his name, the officer looked at him suspiciously.
"It's okay, Officer. Just contact Mrs. Nevers. She'll confirm I'm expected."
The officer didn't take his eyes off Ken as he dialed the house. Then he stood in the center of the road watching Ken drive toward the house as the gates slowly closed. Suddenly, a small car screeched past him, the bumper clipping his leg as it slipped through the small opening. Crying out in agony, the officer fell to the ground.
Chapter Thirty-two
His mind elsewhere, Ken almost didn't see the car that sped past him as he crested the hill. "What the hell?" Hitting the accelerator, he followed the vehicle to the house, pulling up sharply behind it.
He jumped out and started toward the Toyota. But, to his amazement, a tall blond woman leaped from the driver's seat. Grabbing her arm, he whirled her around, then stood mesmerized as he gazed into her eyes. "Dear God!" He loosened his grip on her arm and stepped back. "Who are you?"
"Melinda Smith, so what's it to you?"
A tree nearby rustled in the breeze and Ken didn't realize a branch had cast a shadow across his face so that Melinda couldn't see his eyes. She turned on her heel and hurried up the stairs to the big house. An uneasy feeling cut through Ken that Sandy might have called her. He followed close behind.
When Angie opened the door, sheer shock crossed her face. "How'd you get in here? I'm calling the police." Then she spotted Ken standing behind Melinda. "Did you bring her here?"
He stepped forward. "No, she sped past me on the road."
Sandy rushed up behind Angie, but stopped abruptly, putting a hand to her mouth.
Ken pushed past Melinda to Sandy's side and put an arm around her shoulders. "Did you ask her to come?"
She shook her head.
Ken stared into Melinda's face. "Why are you here?"
She looked at Ken and sucked in her breath, her face turned ashen. "Who are you?"
"I'm Ken Weber and this is my wife Sandy."
"Do you know Marty Casale?"
"Yes."
At that moment, two police cars, lights flashing and sirens wailing, appeared over the crest.
*****
Tom left Cliff with the responsibility of getting the shawl sent to the lab and headed back to the Nevers' place. At the gate, he found emergency vehicles with lights flashing. He jumped out of his car just as they were loading an officer into the ambulance.
"What the hell happened?"
"It's not life-threatening, but looks like a bad injury to the hip area." After the paramedics filled him in on the incident, Tom jumped back into his car and sped toward the house. Who would force their way onto the property?
When Tom reached the house, two police cars were parked in front, their top lights still blinking. A congregation of people stood on the porch. Two officers stood on each side of a tall blond woman. "Melinda," he muttered, running up the steps.
Angie met him as he hit the landing. "Tom, what happened at the gate?
"Melinda forced her way in and bounced the officer off her fender.
"Is he all right?"
"Looks like a hip injury, but he'll be okay." Tom pointed at Melinda. "Why did she want in here so bad?"
"I'm not sure," Angie said.
Marty stood behind them, wringing her hands.
"I can only think of one thing, that she wanted to pump either me or Marty about her father. But the shocked look on her face when she saw Ken tells me she got her answer."
"Well, I don't think you're going to have to worry about her bothering you anymore. This hit-and-run stunt will probably cost her jail time."
The group watched silently as the officers snapped the handcuffs onto Melinda's wrists and marched her off to the police car.
Marty wiped the corner of her eyes with her apron and disappeared into the house. Angie motioned for everyone to come inside. They congregated in the study and Tom stepped behind the wet bar.
"This has been quite a night. Anyone care for a drink?"
After Tom prepared cocktails for everyone, he raised his glass high. "To you, Ken. Welcome back."
Ken smiled and lifted his glass. "To you, Tom, for helping me out of a big mess."
About that time, Marty poked her head inside the study door. "If I have to warm this dinner up again, it won't be worth eating."