Page 1 of Cornered

IN THE DARK

LYNETTE EASON

ONE

THE SEPTEMBER SUNhad barely risen over the mountain town of Lake City, North Carolina, casting a warm, golden glow that filtered through Stephanie Cross’s kitchen window. She sipped her morning coffee, scanning the headlines of theLake City Newslike she did most every day. Yes, she could read it online and sometimes did, but she liked the feel of an actual paper when she had the chance to do so. Her morning routine comforted her, anchored her for the day, and offered a moment of quiet before she headed to the office.

She flipped the page. “Local Woman Killed in Tragic Early Morning Car Accident.”

CPA Brenda Hudson, her good friend and coworker at Blackston and Cosworth, had been confirmed dead at the scene. “What? No!” Steph jumped to her feet and scrambled for her phone. “No, it can’t be.” She dialed her friend’s number and it went straight to voicemail. She hung up and called her boss, Stan Gilchrest.

Four rings, then voicemail.

“No, no, no.”

She grabbed her purse and keys and darted out the door. Once in the car, she tried Stan again.

This time he answered just before the call slipped to voicemail. “Hello? Steph, that you?” His usually warm and confident voice sounded shaken. Wobbly.

“Yes. I just saw the newspaper. Brenda was killed in a car wreck? Tell me it’s not so.”

“I’m so sorry. Yes. I just got the news about an hour ago. Her husband called me at home to tell me.”

“And it’s already in the paper?”

“Yes, it is. As soon as the call came in to 911, that reporter, Cynthia Green, was right there. Probably heard it on the police scanner. Wrote her piece and sent it in on the side of the road.”

“Unbelievable. But why?”

“It happened on Youngstown. You know how people are complaining about that road. Sharp curve, no guardrail. Claiming it’s not safe and trying to get the city to do something about it. Cynthia is leading the way on that, and this is fodder to help push the agenda.”

“Youngstown Road. Oh no.”

“Yes.”

“B-but I just talked to her yesterday. We were going to have lunch today.”

“I know. I know.” His voice caught and Steph swiped at the tears sliding down her cheeks.

She blinked, keeping the road in focus. “What happened?”

“Her husband said they suspect she was going too fast and lost control. Just like everyone else who’s ever wrecked in that area.”

“I just ... I can’t believe it.” But what was Brenda doing on that road? She lived on the opposite side of town.

“I’ve got to go, Steph. I’ll see you at the office.”

Work. Right. “Yes. I’m on my way now.” She hung up only to have her phone buzz with an incoming call from her brother James. She activated the Bluetooth once more. “Hey.”

“I just heard about Brenda. Steph, I don’t even know what to say. I’m so sorry.”

She was going to have to pull over if she kept crying. “I’m in shock. I don’t even know what to do.”

“Are you driving?”

“Yes.” She sniffed and swiped her eyes.

“Then pull over.”

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