(2014) Hush by Karen Robards

Author:Karen Robards [Robards, Karen]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Romance, Mystery, Suspense
ISBN: 9781444797879
Publisher: Gallery Books
Published: 2014-12-30T00:00:00+00:00

— CHAPTER —

SIXTEEN

Less than twenty minutes later, Riley drove through the dozen or so four-story brick buildings that made up the Heywood Plaza apartment complex, jittery with nerves, taking in the relatively late-model cars all lined up in the parking areas, the green space complete with playground and swimming pool between the buildings, the dim and yellowish, but present, security lighting that kept these wee hours of the morning from being overwhelmingly dark. The complex was not particularly upscale, but it didn’t scream danger, either. The area of town was decent, not too far from River Oaks.

The surroundings weren’t the reason she was feeling so anxious.

It was the fact that Emma might be out here alone at this time of night that was giving her a spasm. Coupled with the fact that she definitely was out here alone. After last night, to borrow a phrase from Disney’s The Little Mermaid, which Emma had watched so often years ago that the songs were permanently implanted in the family consciousness, Riley wanted to be where the people are. Although she thought (hoped) she’d headed off any more attacks on her by telling the world that she no longer had Jeff’s phone, she couldn’t be sure that she wouldn’t be attacked for some other reason. Or that Emma wouldn’t be attacked.

Simply speculating about the possibilities was enough to make her blood run cold.

That old adage about there being safety in numbers had never been more true.

Em, what were you thinking?

The complex was laid out in a square with a single entrance off Willowick Road. Despite the lateness of the hour, a few people were outside—heading to or from their cars, walking leashed dogs, carrying out trash—but there was no sign of Emma. As Riley scanned the shadowy sidewalks and parking lots and front-yard space and vestibules, the ever-present knot in her stomach was joined by a tightness in her chest.

Emma hadn’t said much over the phone, just “come and get me” and the address, after which Riley had asked Cissy Barry to close for her and flown out the back door so no one but Cissy would realize she was leaving early. It had been obvious from Emma’s voice that she was near tears. Last time Riley had seen Emma was around seven thirty, when, after grabbing dinner and changing clothes to go to work at the club, Riley had headed out. Emma and Margaret had, she thought, been settling down for a night of TV.

Apparently not.

What she’d said to Emma, along with I’m coming right now, was Stay inside until I get there. I’ll text you.

But knowing Emma, and knowing that she was upset over everything that had happened, and considering that even driving like a maniac it had taken Riley almost fifteen minutes to get there, she wouldn’t be surprised at all to find Emma walking down a sidewalk or huddled in a vestibule.

The particulars of what Emma was doing at an apartment complex in the middle of the night could wait until Riley had her safe.

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