Cold Comfort by Ellis Vidler

Author:Ellis Vidler [Vidler, Ellis]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Romantic Ssuspense
Publisher: Echelon Press
Published: 2011-12-04T06:00:00+00:00

Chapter 14

Claire sat in silence while Riley drove through the rain, headed back to McClellanville. Thoughts tumbled through her head until it ached.

"We assumed Edith Walters thought you looked like Blanche, but she'd been talking about Caroline. That's who she meant. Your—Blanche and Caroline must have been going to Clary to have him deliver the baby in a place where they weren't known. Clary didn't even tell his family."

"Maybe they'd planned all along to pass me off as Blanche's baby. I don't think my aunt—" She stumbled and took a deep breath. "I mean Caroline. I don't think she ever married. Back then, especially in the South, it was definitely not acceptable to have a child out of wedlock."

"At least you know Blanche never left Daniel. She must have loved you very much to suffer his family's censure and not tell them. She wanted to protect you, Claire."

"I don't want to be protected. My mother was overly protective. In spite of everything, I've grown this last year. I make my own decisions, do what I want. Independence is a heady feeling, and I won't give it up." She raised her chin and dared Riley to contradict her.

"I get the message."

Yeah, right. Until the next time he wanted her to do something. She turned to the side and watched miles of trees and fields, occasional houses and buildings, slide past. Rain ran down the window like tears. "Why didn't she tell me? Is it my father who's trying to kill me? Good heavens! Surely it can't be Joey Fortunato." The mere thought turned her stomach.

Riley laughed. "No, you're safe there. Fortunato's just hired muscle."

"Then who sent him after Dr. Clary?"

"I wish I knew." They turned off the highway and passed the ranger station Tammy mentioned. Riley said, "Watch for the landmarks to the cemetery. It shouldn't be far." He made a right and continued. "Maybe the guy who got away at Mistletoe. Fortunato's a low-level wiseguy—now that's a misnomer if I ever heard one." His wry grin belied his words. "But if it were anyone powerful or high up, he'd have used a more competent hit man."

"I don't know whether to be insulted or pleased." Claire glared at him.

He chuckled, a sound she wouldn't have expected from him, but when he reached over and gave her hand a reassuring squeeze, her heart melted a little more. She'd gotten a lot more than she bargained for when she hired him.

"Let's go to Greenville tomorrow. We need to find out more about Caroline." He turned right at the small tidal creek, and there under the spreading oaks, they found the cemetery, just as Tammy described.

Spanish moss hung like sheltering arms over the wet stones. The cold rain brought a hint of the salt air from the sea, mixed with the clean smell of pine.

"What a peaceful place." Claire stared through the shimmering veil, searching for the small white stone Tammy described.

Riley fished a large black umbrella out of the back of the Tahoe and held it over them while they searched for Caroline's grave.

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