Silver Falls - Anne Stuart [85]
But right now the forces of darkness were closing down on his family, and he couldn’t see any way to get free from them.
One of his sons was going to die. And he had no idea how to stop it.
“I need to go home,” Rachel said flatly. She wasn’t sure where to look—not into his eyes, not anywhere near his face or his body. She felt vulnerable, ashamed, and the sooner she got away from him the better.
“That’s not a good idea.”
“I want to go home, pick up my daughter and get the hell away from this place and everyone here.”
“Everyone?”
At that point she did look him at him, calmly, squarely. “Everyone,” she said. “I want to forget this place ever existed. I never signed the adoption papers. I’ll get an annulment or a divorce and move on with my life and forget about all of you.”
“Are you sure you didn’t sign those papers? David’s a talented man. He had my handwriting down pat by the time he was twelve.”
She fought against fear. “He’d need witnesses. A legal hearing of some sort.”
“Don’t underestimate my brother’s charm. He knows how to get what he wants. Even if the adoption papers weren’t signed it might turn out that you left a will.”
She couldn’t hide her stricken expression. “He wouldn’t—”
“There’s nothing he wouldn’t do. And if I were you I wouldn’t be in any hurry about the paperwork,” he said, unmoved by her reaction. “You’d have to be in touch with David to do it, and the only way to be truly safe is for him not to know where you are. At least until things change.”
He was right, and it pissed her off. “Well, hell, maybe I’ll stay married to him until you can manage to get him convicted of murder. That way when they execute him I can get his pension from the college.”
“I think they might put a stop to his pension considering he killed at least one student and two teachers.”
“What?” She was too horrified to be annoyed.
“You don’t need the details. Neither of them were ever seen again, and I’m not naïve enough to think that’s a coincidence.”
“That doesn’t make sense. If he murdered other women he dated then why wouldn’t he kill me?”
“Because they were tall and thin with long blond hair,” he said simply.
“I don’t even know if I believe you. I was stupid last night, scared and angry and upset, and you took advantage of me.”
“Yes, I did. I took advantage of you this morning, too. I enjoyed it.”
“I want you to take me home. Now!”
“I don’t think that’ll be necessary.” He shoved a hand through his long dark hair.
“And just why not?”
“Because your husband and a police car just pulled up outside the motel, and I imagine they’re going to crash into here, guns blazing, and rescue you.”
She didn’t move. “Do I need rescuing?”
“Not from me. You’d probably disagree. We don’t have much time,” he said, moving toward her, his previous laziness vanishing. “You need to listen to me. Don’t believe what anyone tells you, even Maggie Bannister. There’s more going on, and I had my reasons. Whatever you do, don’t trust…”
The banging at the door drowned out whatever he was saying, and a moment later it slammed open. Not just Maggie and David, but two uniformed policemen with their guns drawn. As was Maggie’s.
“Get away from him, Rachel,” David said, with real fear in his voice. “Don’t let him touch you.”
Caleb took a step back, raising his hands in a mock gesture of helplessness. “What do you think I’m going to do to her?”
Maggie paid no attention. “Caleb Middleton, you’re under arrest for the attempted murder of Rachel Middleton. Read him his rights, deputy.”
Caleb held still as one of the beefy deputies came forward and put him into handcuffs. “Why aren’t you charging me with the other murders, Maggie?”
“Because I don’t have any proof yet,” she