She was losing her mind.

"I don't know. I…" Her words trailed off. She moved her gaze from one face to another, reading the concern in their expressions.

They thought she was losing it, too.

Lilah slipped an arm around her shoulders. "Poor baby, you've been through so much. Come now, I have finger sandwiches and cookies back at the house. We'll fix you right up."

Lilah did fix her up-as best as was possible anyway, considering the circumstances. She and the rest of the Stevens clan hovered around her, making certain she had plenty to eat, insisting she stay off her feet, shooing people off when she began to fade.

When the last mourner left, Matt drove her home. She laid her head against the rest and closed her eyes. After a moment, she opened them and looked at him. "Can I ask you something?"

He glanced at her, then back at the road. "Shoot."

"You really didn't see a group of men huddled together? Not at the wake or funeral?"

"I really didn't."

"I was afraid you were going to say that."

He reached across the seat, caught her hand and squeezed. "Stress and grief play havoc with the mind."

"I'd heard that."

He frowned slightly, looked at her again. "I'm worried about you, Avery."

She laughed without humor. "Funny you should say that, I'm worried about me, too."

He squeezed her fingers again, then returned his hand to the wheel. "It'll get better."

"Promise?"

"Sure."

They fell silent. She studied him, his profile, as he drove. Strong nose and chin. Nice mouth, full without being feminine. Kissable. She remembered that.

Damn handsome. Better-looking than he'd been all those years ago.

"Matt?" He cut another glance her way. "What was that about, with Hunter last night?"

"I don't think now's the time-"

"People were whispering about it at your mother's."

He turned onto her parents' street. "A woman was found murdered last night."

"Hunter found her?"

"Yes, in the alley behind his place."

In the places she had lived since leaving Cypress Springs, murders were commonplace. But here…

Things like that weren 't supposed to happen in Cypress Springs.

But neither were beloved physicians supposed to set themselves on fire.

"How was she murdered?"

He reached her parents' house and eased up the driveway. At the top, Matt stopped, cut the engine. He angled in his seat to face her. "Avery, you don't need to know this. You have enough to deal with right now."

"How?" she persisted.

"I can't tell you. And I won't. I'm sorry."

"Are you?"

He caught her hand. "Don't be angry."

"I'm tired of everyone around here trying to protect me."

"Really? Beats the alternative, don't you think? I'm sure Elaine St. Claire would think so. If she were alive."

The murdered woman. Obviously. Heat stung Avery's cheeks. She sounded like a petulant child.

She curled her fingers around his. "I'm sorry, Matt. I'm not myself."

"It's okay. I understand." He brought their joined hands to his mouth, pressed a kiss to her knuckles, then released hers. "Are you sure you're going to be okay here alone?"

"There you go," she teased, "taking care of me again."

He returned her smile. "Guilty as charged."

"I'll be fine." She grabbed the door handle. Popped open the door. "I'm thinking nap. A long one."

He reached across the seat and caught her hand once more. She turned and met his eyes. His were filled with regret. "I really am sorry, Avery."

"I know, Matt. And that helps. A lot."

She climbed out of the vehicle, slammed the door and started toward the front walk. When she reached the door she glanced back. Matt hadn't made a move to leave.

She lifted her hand and waved. He returned the gesture, started up the vehicle and backed down the driveway. She watched as he disappeared from sight, then unlocked her door and stepped inside.

The phone was ringing. She hurried to answer it. "Hello?"

"Is this Dr. Phillip Chauvin's daughter?"

The voice was a woman's. Deep. Coarse-sounding. The voice of a lifelong chain-smoker.

"This is Avery Chauvin," she answered. "Can I help-"

"To hell with you," the woman spat. "And to hell with your father. He got what he deserved. You will, too."

In the next instant, the line went dead.

CHAPTER 15

For the next twelve hours, Avery thought of little else but the woman's call. The things she'd said had played over in her head, a disturbing chant.

He got what he deserved.

You will, too.

At first she had been stunned. Shocked that someone could say such a thing about her father. Those emotions had given way to anger. She had tried dialing *69 only to discover her dad hadn't subscribed to the callback service. She had considered calling Buddy or Matt, then had discarded the thought. What could they do? Assure her the woman was just a crank? Advise her to get an unlisted number?

The woman could be a crank, that was true.

But what if she wasn't? What if the woman's call represented a legitimate threat?

Avery paced, thoughts whirling. Her father had been both a Christian and physician. He'd believed in the sanctity of life. Had devoted his own life to preserving it.

What if her first reaction to his suicide had been the correct one? What if he hadn't killed himself?

Avery stopping pacing, working to recall word for word that last message he'd left her.

"I need to talk to you. I was hoping- There's something… I'll…try later. Goodbye, pumpkin."

When news of his suicide had reached her, she'd assumed that call had been a desperate plea for help. She'd assumed he'd called to give her a chance to talk him out of it. Or to say goodbye. She'd agonized over not taking that call ever since. She'd told herself that even if he hadn't spoken directly of suicide, she would have known. Would have picked up something in his voice. In her if onlys she would have been able to save his life.

He got what he deserved.

You will, too.

Those words, that threat, changed everything. Perhaps her dad had realized he was in danger. That he had an enemy. Maybe he had wanted to discuss it with her. Maybe he'd needed to bounce something by her.

He had done that a lot.

Avery acknowledged that what she was contemplating flew in the face of what everyone else believed to be true. People she trusted and cared about. Matt. Buddy. Lilah. The entire town.

Avery breathed deeply, battling her conflicting emotions: loyalty to people she loved, distrust of her own emotional state, suspicion for a criminal justice system that made mistakes, that often went with what looked obvious rather than digging for the truth. But if he hadn't killed himself, that meant he'd been-

Murdered.

The word, its repercussions, ricocheted through her. A murderer in Cypress Springs? Two, she realized, thinking of the woman Hunter had found in the alley. Could they have been killed by the same person?

That hardly seemed likely, she acknowledged, becoming aware of the fast, heavy beat of her heart. Just as unlikely, however, was the idea of two murderers in Cypress Springs.

Avery returned her thoughts to her father, his death. Who would have wanted to hurt her father? He'd been loved and respected by everyone.

Not everyone. He'd had an enemy. The woman's call proved that. Obviously, she herself had an enemy now as well.

He got what he deserved.

You will, too.

She crossed to the front window, inched aside the drape and peered out at the dark street. A few cars parked along the curbs, all appeared empty.

From what she could see. Which frankly, wasn't a hell of a lot.

Avery drew her eyebrows together. Had the woman called before, when Avery was out? She could have. Her father had neither caller ID nor an answering machine. Had she been watching Avery? Following her? Laying in wait? She could be anywhere. As close as a cell phone.