Page 11 of Speak No Evil

They’d turned off onto the Saw Mill River Parkway a while ago and were now closing in on home. “Thank you for sticking with me tonight.”

“I could tell you were scared.”

“Yeah, I was,” she admitted. She took in his face with the dark beard along his strong jaw, the tight lines of his face and the blue eyes in such contrast. If she hadn’t been with Will, would the stalker have accosted her? Or robbed her?

4

Will slowed now as they entered Gwen’s small commuter town, passing the Metro North train parking lot. “Is your car here at the station?”

“No. I left my car at home and caught a ride with my upstairs neighbor this morning since there is little parking at the train stop.” Gwen pointed out the windshield. “Keep driving this street and turn right at the next light.”

“Okay.” He did as Gwen instructed. The lights of the town center faded in his rear-view mirror, and they entered the hilly residential area with mostly large mansions and big two-storied homes.

Though only a little past sunset, the overhanging trees opposite the dwellings blanketed the pavement in darkness. He swept a glance over the thick foliage crowding the roadway on the left where the land apparently dropped away.

“See that two-story white colonial up there with the glowing second story windows?” Gwen gathered her belongings. “The street continues around the corner. Erin and I are in the lower apartment.”

As Will made the turn, the street light glinted off something metallic in the shrubbery on the left. He looked closer and found a dark SUV in the bushes across from her house.

Right then, the faint red glow of a cigarette appeared and disappeared, confirming someone sat in the driver’s seat. From there, the smoker would be able to see anyone arriving or leaving the big, rambling house where Gwen lived.

Will straightened in his seat. The woods hid the car so well, other drivers might have focused on the turn or Gwen’s two-story residence, but his years in covert operations had trained him to always search his surroundings. After what had happened in Manhattan, he’d been especially vigilant. But which apartment was the driver spying on? Gwen’s or the folks upstairs?

“I should have left a light on,” Gwen said. “But I expected to be back before dark. You can park right in front of the side door.”

Will kept driving, forcing himself to maintain the same pace rather than accelerating. They had driven past the house, heading up Tremont, when Gwen threw out a hand.

“Stop. You just passed my place.” She released her belt and cracked the door. “You can let me out here. I’ll walk back.”

“No!” He kept his foot on the gas, and lowered his voice. He did not want to frighten her. “Sorry, didn’t mean to be so abrupt. That’s not a good idea.”

“Why?” she asked, pulling her door shut.

“Someone’s watching your house. There was an SUV hidden in the woods across from your place.”

“Who?” She turned around to look behind them.

“I have no idea.” He glanced in the rear view but saw only the empty street. “I saw an occupied car trying to hide in the bushes. Back near the turn.”

Will drove another fifty yards, half a football field, found a shoulder wide enough and parked. “I’m going to pull over so we can talk about this situation.”

Gwen had gone along with him when they’d been rushing through the streets of lower Manhattan, but she might have latched onto anyone who felt safe. What about now?

He couldn’t protect her if she didn’t trust him.

Her seatbelt swooshed into the keeper device, and she turned to him. “You really saw someone watching my apartment?”

“Or that of the people upstairs. I’m assuming the car in the drive is theirs, and they’re home. Most people might not have noticed the SUV watching, but my training kicked in.”

“Your training?”

“For covert operations.” He released his own belt. “I want to see if I can get a license plate number.”

“Wait.” She tapped his arm, frowning. “What if he recognizes you?”

“I don’t think he will. He saw the Jeep, not our faces.” Will opened his door. “I won’t be long. You stay here.”

“I’m coming, too.” She got out and closed her door before he could say anything else.

---