When a Stranger Calls by Kathleen Long

Author:Kathleen Long
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
Published: 2013-08-29T04:00:00+00:00

“YOU KNOW THIS IS the second false alarm you’ve called in to the precinct, Lindsey.”

Indignation simmered inside her, threatening to bubble out in a string of expletives Lindsey was quite sure her uncle had never heard her use.

“I know what I heard.” She hugged herself, suddenly wishing she were still in her jeans and sweater and not standing as the object of Frank Bell’s scornful gaze wearing only her nightgown and robe.

“Really?”

He smirked and Lindsey’s indignation shifted into anger.

“I’m not an idiot, Uncle Frank. I know when an intruder is in my own home.”

He held up both hands. “Let’s not get carried away, peanut.”

“Don’t you ‘peanut’ me. How can you not believe me?”

“Tell you what.” He patted her shoulder. “I’ll believe you if you want me to, but as long as there is no sign of forced entry and nothing out of place, there’s not much to go on.”

Lindsey pulled herself up taller. “What about fingerprints? Maybe we should call out the crime scene unit?”

Her uncle’s only response was a glare full of disdain.

Annoyance shifted inside her. The last thing she needed at this particular moment was his condescension.

Lindsey hoisted her chin in his direction. “How’d you get here so fast?”

“Don’t you think someone’s going to call the mayor when there’s a report of an intruder at his niece’s house?”

She considered his statement for a second, realizing it made perfect sense. “You could have just called. I wouldn’t want to draw any negative attention to your precious campaign.”

Her uncle stepped close, hooking his fingers beneath her chin, something he hadn’t done since she was a small child. “You don’t have to be so tough all the time. Let your family worry about you now and then.”

“All right,” she answered softly.

The responding officer nodded toward Uncle Frank.

“Be right back,” he said as he dropped his touch and crossed the living room to where the young man stood.

They spoke quietly, so quietly Lindsey couldn’t pick up a single word. After a few moments, the officer tipped his hat to her, turned and left. She was alone with the mighty Mayor Bell, and no doubt in for another lecture.

He closed the space between them and looked down at her. “Everything checks out. Outside and in. You’ve got your imagination working overtime rehashing this whole thing with your mother.”

“I know what I heard,” she ground out between clenched teeth.

“Go get some sleep. You’ll realize in the morning you need to drop this.”

Lindsey drew in a long, slow breath, hoping he’d take her silence as a hint to leave. Uncle Frank fished in his shirt pocket, then held out his hand to her. A small, blue capsule sat squarely in his palm.

“What’s that?” Disbelief rippled through her.

“One of your aunt’s sleeping pills.” He thrust his hand nearer still. “Take it. Some solid rest will do you good.”

Lindsey shook her head, frowning. “I don’t take pills. Especially pills that dull my senses.”

Uncle Frank snagged one of her hands and pressed the capsule into her palm. “Keep it then.

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