True to his word, Eric Grayson showed up at Sherry’s house with police escorts. Though their sirens were off and their lights were dark due to the fact that it was the wee hours of the morning, their very presence put Wes on the alert. He was standing when his father came into the house.
“What’s going on?” he asked in greeting.
Eric, who looked so much like Wes that it was eerie, only stared at him for a moment. “It’s good to see you, son.”
“My name is Wes. Where is my sister?”
“Sit down,” Eric said. He lowered to a chair himself, and hung his hands limply between his knees. “Sherry’s all right. She’s in good hands.”
“Whose hands?” Wes demanded.
“Mine, sort of. And Clint’s. And a dozen cops who will protect her with their lives.”
Wes began to feel sick, but he kept his eyes riveted on his father. “I’m going to ask you one more time. What’s going on?”
“Clint’s our witness in the Givanti trial,” Eric confessed. “He’s been in our custody since it happened.”
Wes came to his feet. “You mean you knew where he was, and you let Sherry suffer? You could have explained things to her and you didn’t?”
“It was for her own protection. Knowing would have jeopardized her life.”
Wes’s teeth came together. “Where is my sister?”
“Just listen, Wes,” Eric said. “Sit down and listen!”
Wes wouldn’t sit down, so Eric just looked up at him and tried to go on. “We thought there was only one person who knew Clint was the witness. If he’d told anyone else, it would have pointed to his own irresponsibility, and his life would have been in danger. We didn’t think he’d tell anyone, and when we found him dead a few days ago, Clint convinced us to let him come back until he was called to the stand. He was desperate to see Sherry, and he thought the trial might drag on for months. He couldn’t stand the thought of going any longer without seeing her. But it was a mistake, Wes. Apparently, someone else knew about Clint, and when they sent Sherry that note, we knew that Clint had to go back into hiding, and he had to take Sherry with him this time or she might be the object of revenge. Madeline had to go, too, because she was here when the letter came, and Clint didn’t think it was safe to leave her behind.”
Wes’s face reddened. “Are you telling me that some murderer is out to get my sister?”
“She’s safe, Wes. She’s protected. I’m seeing to it that she’s taken care of.”
Wes stared at him for a long moment, then raised an arm and sent a lamp crashing to the floor. “You’re taking care of her? The man who abandoned her when she was just a little baby? I’m supposed to trust you to do the right thing for her?”
“You don’t have any choice, Wes. You have to trust me.”
“I want to go to her. I want to make sure she’s all right.”
“You can’t do that. In fact, I’ve posted people to guard your house, just to protect you and Laney and the kids. You have to take this seriously, Wes. You have to be careful. People might come after you to get to me.”
“Why? I’m not anything to you. There’s no connection here at all.” His mouth trembled as he got the words out, and he slowly bent forward. “So help me, if anything happens to my family or my sister, you’ll have me to answer to!”
“I understand that,” Eric said.
“You think you’re a big shot, don’t you? Playing with other people’s lives!”
“No, son, I don’t. God’s still in control.”
Wes breathed an incredulous laugh. “Give me a break. Don’t use that God talk on me!”
“Sherry told me you’re a Christian.”
“That’s true, I am,” Wes said. “But I don’t believe you are.”
“God forgives, Wes.”
“Not everybody,” he said.
“Everybody who asks. I’ve asked him, and I’ve asked Sherry. And Wes, I’ve asked you.”
“Too late,” Wes said. He stormed out the door, pushing aside the cops guarding the house, and headed to his car.