A Silent Terror (19 page)

Twister, who’d been lounging on the porch, bounded out to greet Marianna, whining, his hind end giving credence to his name.

Marianna laughed and scratched his ears.

Gina had the ball. Catherina ducked around Alonso, and another sister who looked exactly like Marianna shoved her younger brother out of the way – a definite flag-on-the-play kind of shove – and raced for Gina.

“I forgot.” Marianna had a confused expression Ethan had never seen on her face before.

“Forgot what?”

“That this afternoon was our annual Santino football game. Even Gina came back. And I forgot.”

Marianna’s father, ensconced comfortably in a rocker with a footrest, waved to them from the porch and signed, “Did you get my text?”

Marianna fumbled with her BlackBerry and groaned. “I felt it go off when I was talking with Misty, then forgot to check it when we left.” She read it aloud, “You ok? We’re all here. Ready for some football?”

“Sorry, Dad,” she called. “Alissa!”

The twin turned, screeched and flew across the yard to envelop her sister in a hug. Again, envy twinged Ethan’s emotions at the tight family bond these people shared, but he refused to let it take hold. But he wished. How he wished…

Ethan’s father had called and left him a message the night before last, asking for a return phone call. Ethan had honestly meant to do the courteous thing and call back, but in all the craziness, he’d put if off. He fingered his phone and looked for a secluded area. Maybe he could just slip away.

But the moment was lost when the sisters separated and two little girls burst from the house, followed by a blond-headed giant. When the girls saw Marianna, more screeching ensued, and Ethan had a hard time containing his laughter. Their joy was infectious. With the two bundles claiming ownership to her legs, Marianna turned to introduce everyone. She signed as she spoke. “Ready? This is my sister Alissa, her husband, Matthew, and their two precious leeches, Addy and Amy. Addy is six and Amy is three.”

Handshakes all around had Ethan’s arm hurting more and his head pounding to remember all the names.

“I’ll get Alonso,” she said.

Before Ethan could suggest she let him finish the game, she untangled herself from her nieces and made her way over to her brother, signing something he couldn’t see.

Alonso nodded and followed his sister from the game, promising to be right back. Ethan let Marianna guide the three of them over to the side of the yard and under one of the oak trees that offered a bit of privacy. But before she could sign anything, Ethan said, “Let’s move into the garage.” It wasn’t the most protected environment, but it was certainly better than the tree she’d picked. She frowned at him and he explained, “Until I’m sure this is over, I think it’s best that you stay within walls and away from windows.”

Understanding dawned, and she moved into the spacious garage attached to the house. She then signed to Alonso, “Ethan has some pictures he wants you to look at. Will you see if you can pick out the man who paid you to vandalize my car?”

Her brother winced at the memory, but said, “Sure.”

Ethan produced the images and Alonso studied them, his brow furrowed, left hand rubbing the stubble on his young chin. Just as Ethan was ready to jump out of his skin with impatience, Alonso pointed to the picture of Gerald Chambers. “That could be him. But it was so dark, barely any light to even read the notes we were writing back and forth. He had a flashlight on him but kept shining it in our eyes. I just can’t be sure.” He shrugged, anxiety in his features. “I’m sorry, I really do want to help.”

Marianna gave him a one-armed hug. “It’s all right. And I believe you.”

Relief flooded him, and in a sudden move that took them by surprise, he grabbed Marianna up in a bear hug, let her go and then trotted back to the game.

Ethan saw the tears on her lashes before she blinked them away. All she said was, “Well.”

Monday morning brought cold wind and freezing rain. Marianna shivered as she got ready for school, shaking her head and grumbling about the wishy-washy weather. Beautiful day yesterday, yucky stuff today. But that was February in the southeast. Pulling a heavy coat from the hanger, she looked at it and wondered which sister had left it behind. Then she glanced around the room. In spite of the circumstances, she had to admit it had been nice staying here again, allowing her to reminisce about her childhood and teen years.

Blessed didn’t begin to describe it. She knew she could never thank God enough for the richness of her life. But it looked as though it would be time to move back into the house she’d shared with Suzanne. Just the thought sent shivers dancing along her nerves.

And she knew she’d never move back there.

Just like that, the decision was made. She’d give her landlord the required thirty days notice and begin house hunting. Until then…

Marianna grabbed a bagel on the way out, opened the door and pulled up short. “Ethan, what are you doing here?”

He sat on the front porch, occupying the rocker her father had only yesterday watched the football game from. Ethan rose and held out a hand. “I’m your escort to and from work until I’m comfortable that this case is closed. Gerald Chambers still isn’t talking, and I really think he was working with someone, someone who was pulling his strings. There’s just no motive for anything he’s done. His actions don’t add up.”

Warmth tickled her insides as she let him hold the passenger door open for her. He cared. The door shut, she buckled up. Ethan slid in beside her and cranked the car. Marianna said, “Do you think he was the one who attacked me in the gym?”

“I don’t know. I’m guessing no.”

“Why do you say that?”

“I never smelled cigarettes on him and he never once asked for a smoke during the time we spent together.”

Marianna raised a brow. “So, he might have been there to be the decoy?”

“Or simply the lookout. If he saw anyone around, he would cause a distraction.”

“Like the vandalism of my car,” she muttered.

“He probably had it all planned out if he ran into anyone who questioned him being there. I do think Alonso showing up there was pure coincidence.”

Ethan turned left onto Route 56 and headed for the school. “I’ve got a question for you.”

Tilting her head, she shot him a smile. “Sure, what is it?”

“I’ve been thinking about something. Yesterday, in that alley, that cop yelled at you and you couldn’t hear him.”

Marianna frowned. “Yes.” Where was he going with this?

“Do you ever worry about…”

“What are trying to say, Ethan?” She ignored the familiar scenery zipping by.

“Well, what I mean is, have you ever thought about getting one of those cochlear implant things?”

The crushing devastation that she felt nearly sent her to the floorboard. She stared at him, unable to think, the question echoing through her mind. And then she could only remember Curt’s pushing and pushing and then his hand gripping her forearms, fingers squeezing, leaving her with bruises that eventually faded but the final words that never had – “Get a cochlear implant. It’s the solution to your problem. Why won’t you listen to me? Do as I ask? If you loved me, you’d do it.” Then he’d shoved her. Hard.

She’d walked out and never once looked back. And when he’d apologized for his rash behavior, she’d accepted his apology – but moved on without him, recognizing his potential for violence. If he’d kept his hands off her, they might have been able to work through the suddenly obvious issues he had with her hearing impairment, but the combination of the physical abuse and the veiled ultimatum had sent her running. Fast.

Now, as she looked at Ethan, whom she realized had just parked in front of her building, she found she couldn’t form an answer to his out-of-the-blue question.

He reached over, took her hand and continued to look at her. Waiting.

Drawing in a deep breath, she shook her head and blew it out, pulling her hand away. “I can’t believe you want to change me, too. I thought you were different. I thought I could trust you. I…” She broke off before the tears could fall, stumbling from the car and up the steps to the door.

He probably called her name, but she didn’t bother looking back, feeling as though she’d been blindsided, her trust and belief in a future with Ethan shattered into a million little pieces. Marianna stopped at the door, and paused to collect herself. Don’t think, don’t feel. Get through the day, then get home.

With heart still pounding, her emotions still haywire on the inside, she prayed that at least on the outside she looked normal. A shaking hand opened the door, and she walked slowly toward her classroom. Students began to enter, filtering around her as they went to their lockers. She turned into her room, still feeling zombielike and trying desperately to paste a smile on a face that felt frozen.

Dawn sat at her desk, talking to Victoria, one of the students who’d arrived early to help tutor. The television showed the latest in political news. Slowly, her brain climbed out of the shocked fog, and she began to assimilate the activity around her. Dawn stood and waved, saying, “Since you’re here, I’ll go run these copies.” She grabbed several papers, popped out the door and headed down the hall.

Marianna blinked again, giving an absentminded, belated nod to her disappearing assistant. It was Monday and was supposed to be a day off, a built-in snow day, but since it had snowed right after Christmas break, they’ d missed two days. Today was a make-up day. She’d have the older students in her class this morning to help tutor. On Monday, as part of a work program, she had two students, who were interested in the teaching profession, come to her class to help with the kids. Relief made its way through her, and she realized today could be an easy day – if she allowed it. She could sit back and process what had just happened with Ethan.

Then the lights started flashing, the alarm sounded and Marianna groaned in frustration. Why of all days did the administration pick today to run an intruder alert drill? They weren’t even supposed to be here, for goodness’ sake.

A few more students filtered in, and Marianna rushed to the door to begin the lockdown procedures she and the students had practiced only a month ago.

But when she reached the door, terror hit her as she caught a glimpse of a man in a mask headed straight for her.

This was no drill.

It was the real thing.

She grabbed the doorknob to pull it shut, but horror flooded her as she realized she wouldn’t have time to twist the lock.

His hand landed on the knob opposite hers…and pulled.

Ethan drove blindly through the campus, absentmindedly noting the students walking and talking as they made their way to class, bundled up against the unexpected chill the morning had brought. At least the rain had stopped about the time he’d pulled up to Marianna’s building.

Marianna.

He blew out a breath. Boy, had he ever said the wrong thing. Why had his question sparked such a reaction? A cochlear implant could help her hear, know when danger was behind her, hear music, laughter. Why wouldn’t she want to do that? But he already knew the answer to those questions, should have thought it through before sticking his foot in his mouth.

She was immersed in the deaf culture. Those things didn’t bother her; she didn’t feel the lack. Or what he and other hearing people would consider lacking. To her, her life was normal. And he just realized why she’d reacted the way she had. Flashes of her smoothing her hair down over her hearing aids taunted him; her statement to Misty about Curt wanting to change her sounded in his memory.

He’d insulted her, had made her feel as if there was something wrong with her. Just like Curt.

Ethan groaned and slapped his head. Idiot.

Ashley would have raked him over the coals for that one. And rightly so. But he hadn’t asked as in making the suggestion that she should get one. He just wanted to know if she’d ever thought about it.

Turning off campus, he headed for his office. He had until about three o’clock to find out if he could get anything else from Gerald Chambers and to see if he could get hold of Mrs. Luck. She still hadn’t returned his calls. Then he’d head back this way to see if Marianna would accept his apology and let him drive her home.

His cell phone rang, jarring him. Pulling it from the clip, he checked the caller ID: the Luck residence. He turned his scanner down and flipped his phone up to his ear. “Hello?”

“Mr. O’Hara? This is Joshua’s grandfather, Ed Luck. We took Joshua out of town over the weekend and just got your message.

What can I do for you?”

“Mr. Luck, thanks so much for calling me back. I just had a question for you. Do you know a man by the name of Gerald Chambers?”

“Well, sure, his daddy and Roland were big buddies. Served in the army together and even served on some political committees together.”

Nothing he didn’t already know. “Is there anything else you can tell me about why Roland came home just before he died? Your wife said his visit was unusual because it was during the week.”

“I can’t recall anything else. Something seemed to be bothering him, and he spent an awful lot of time in Josh’s room. I guess he was missing the boy, or maybe he was feeling guilty sending him to the deaf school so far away. He often said that he should have sent him to some private facility, but what a lot of people don’t know is that Roland was a gambler. And while he may have a pretty well-paying job, he had a hard time keeping money in the bank. He couldn’t afford a private facility.”

That was news. A gambler. Now he might be on to something.

Mr. Luck continued. “I had the impression that he was looking for something and couldn’t find it. I’m sorry I can’t be of more help.”

“No, no, I appreciate your time.” The approaching flashing lights caught Ethan’s attention. Several police cars whipped by. Then an ambulance. His pager went off. “Listen, Mr. Luck, if you think of anything else, will you give me a call back?”

“Sure thing, son.”

Ethan disconnected the call, then looked at the number on his pager. His boss. He pushed the speed dial button and waited.