Page 700 of Cold Case, Warm Hearts

“Sydney? Sydney, are you there?” Tuesday asked.

“Yes,” she croaked, “I’m here.”

“Are you all right?”

“Yes, thank you.” She couldn’t let the terror overtake her, not with Walter standing there, listening to every word she spoke. She couldn’t let him know that she knew it was him. “Just keep things under control as best you can. I’ll be there in a few minutes.”

“What are you talking about?” Tuesday asked.

“Thanks. I’ll see you in a few.”

“What’s going on?” Sydney heard Tuesday ask as she disconnected the call.

Sydney looked at Walter and Kendall. “That was Sean O’Conner. There’s been an accident at the mill. I have to go there right away.”

Walter’s eyes narrowed. “An accident? What kind of accident?”

“Uh, I don’t know. He didn’t say.”

“I see.” Walter paused. “Sean O’Conner, huh? Who was it really?”

A calm stillness much like death came over her when she looked into the face of her father’s killer. Then came the rage. Oh, how she would have loved to rush at him to tear him apart—make him hurt like he’d hurt her. Her voice became steel. “I toldyou. There’s been an accident at the mill.” Even as she spoke, her mind went over the alternatives. She was alone in a remote area with Walter and Kendall. Could she race to Kendall’s truck and beat him there? No, when Kendall got out of his truck earlier, he took his keys with him. She could try to run, but they would catch her. Was Kendall involved or just an innocent bystander? Her only chance was to make Walter believe that she didn’t know about him. “Kendall, I need you to take me home so I can get my jeep,” she said with a voice of authority. Sydney’s heart dropped when Kendall looked to Walter for permission.

Walter nodded.

“I’m sorry I have to leave,” Sydney said.

Kendall hopped off the boat and onto the pier.

There was a pang of sadness in Walter’s eyes. “Yes, me too.”

Sean beaton the door for the third time then turned and looked at Sydney’s jeep parked in the driveway. Where could she be? He caught a movement out of the corner of his eye and turned to see Sydney’s neighbor peering at him through her window. When she realized he’d caught her staring at him, she slinked back and let the lace curtain cover her. Sean put one hand on his hip and ran the other through his hair. The old woman was always watching Sydney’s house. Maybe she’d seen Sydney leave.

He rushed next door. The front door was open but the glass storm door closed. He grasped the metal handle, only to find it locked. He cupped his hands around his eyes and strained to see inside. The woman saw him the same instant he saw her. She was standing in the middle of the living room. He knocked onthe glass door, but she made no move to open it, remaining fixed to the floor.

“Hello?” he said through the glass. “I’m looking for Sydney.”

She shook her head and looked like she might bolt to a back room. “Have you seen Sydney today?” he asked. She didn’t answer. He felt something brush across his leg and looked down to see a cat. He bent down and picked it up.

“I have your cat,” he said loudly.

In a flurry of motion, Hazel rushed to the door. She unlocked the storm door, opened it, and reached for Dixie. She attempted to close the door, keeping Sean at a safe distance, but Sean stuck his foot in the door.

“I’ve got to find Sydney. She may be in danger. You’ve got to help Sydney.”

Hazel’s eyes grew wide, and her head began shaking from side to side. “Can’t hurt Sydney. Shouldn’t make Sydney go on that boat. Sydney didn’t wanna go. He shouldn’t have made her.”

“Boat? Who made Sydney go on a boat?”

“Shouldn’t have gone. No, she shouldn’t have gone. Bad. Bad. Don’t hurt Sydney.”

Sean caught hold of Hazel’s arm. “I need to know who she went with. You’ve got to tell me!”

Hazel raised her eyes to his and studied his face. Panic contorted her features and she squeezed Dixie so tightly that the cat screeched and leapt from her arms. “Don’t hurt Hazel. Please don’t hurt Hazel,” she whined as she backed away from him.

“What! What’re you talking about?”

She pointed her finger at him. “I know you. You broke into Sydney’s house. You’re the eyes! You’re the eyes that have been watching me and Sydney!”

---