SILVER FALLS

Prologue

Alone. I sit in the chair by the window, peering out into the never-ending darkness. My soul, like the night, is empty. I haven't slept well in years and tonight is no exception. A quick check of the clock only strengthens my bewilderment. Half-past three. I groan, and as I do my eyes drift to the bed where she lies sleeping. Her figure is cast in the silver glow of moonlight. Her face is angelic, frozen in time. But beneath the veil of perfection, beyond the reach of even the greatest physicians, a dark mass grows.

I shudder at the thought, but quickly I clear my mind and concentrate on hope, for that is the life raft I must cling to now. My eyes linger on the bed. I'm tempted to return, but realize any attempt at sleep will be futile, so instead I turn around in the chair and twist myself into a comfortable position and wait for the sun.

As my eyes adjust to the darkness, I find the silver outline of the trees in the distance. Beyond them lies the water. Its surface, like glass, reflects perfectly the strength of the full moon. Everything is still. Not a thing moves under the cover of darkness except a solitary cloud that drifts effortlessly across the face of the moon. I gaze with wonder until a minute later it too is swallowed up by the night. The universe, like me, holds its breath.

I sit for as long as I can, but I'm restless, so I move into the living room where I flip on the lamp. My journal sits on the coffee table, open to a new page. I find the pen and hold it in my hand the way an artist would hold a brush before starting a masterpiece. This is the moment I've dreaded for so long.

As the pen hovers above the empty page, I am plagued by the age-old question every writer faces—where to begin? I must have asked myself that question a thousand times over the years. As you may have guessed, I'm reluctant to tell this story. Privacy is important, not only to me, but to us both. Until recently, I was convinced I should remain silent. However, considering recent events, I think the time has finally come to reveal to you what happened to me in the fall of 2010 and how my life was forever changed.

Okay, here goes. I lower my hand until I feel the pen touch paper.

It all began with a letter...

Chapter 1

The Letter

Summer was over, and in the blink of an eye, the heat that had for months engulfed the town of Emmett's Grove, yielded to the cool winds of autumn. Up in the mountains, twenty miles northwest of Lynchburg, Virginia, the leaves had already begun their transformation. Brilliant greens faded into shades of gold and amber as they began their slow, steady descent toward lower altitudes. In the valley below, the James river, which had been choked by the summer drought, roared to life with the onslaught of autumn rains.

For Jayce Callahan, no other season quite compared to the beauty of autumn. Something about the way the dazzling colors stood out against an indigo sky made him appreciate being alive. It was also the time of year when he was most productive. Owning fifty acres of pristine Virginia pine forest brought him great satisfaction. But with that satisfaction came work—chopping wood, clearing the property of downed timber, setting traps—all to prepare for the winter that would inevitably come.

In those parts, up in the mountains, winters came without warning and could be long and harsh, not to mention lonely. But Jayce enjoyed the solitude, and besides, he wasn't entirely alone. He had his golden lab, Camo, to keep him company.

With a mighty swing, Jayce brought down the ax and split the last piece of cedar in half. As he stacked what remained of the winter firewood, something off in the distance caught his attention. He looked up automatically as the unmistakable crunch of gravel beneath tires filled the air. Someone was making the ascent. He took a step back, concealing himself behind the wood pile, and as he did his right hand reached for the gun he kept holstered on his hip. Years of training kept him steady, focused, eyes sharp as a hawk.

His eyes darted to the cabin where Camo was standing on the front porch at attention. She, too, had been alerted by the approaching vehicle and was staring intently at the opening in the trees where the drive entered the forest. Jayce gave the command, sending Camo leaping off the porch in his direction. Like her master, Camo was in her prime, and in a few strides she was at Jayce's side awaiting further orders.

“Good girl, Cam” he whispered, reaching down with his free hand as he stroked the fur on the back of her neck. He had trained her well. Camo had been with him since he returned home from the war. He had raised her from a pup, and she was as loyal a friend as he'd ever had.

As the roar of the engine grew louder, Jayce steadied his hand on the gun. He wasn't yet ready to pull it from the holster. There was still a chance, albeit remote, a motorist had wandered off the highway. If not, there was only one person brave enough to make the journey, but Jayce wasn't expecting her until tomorrow.

Jayce and Camo held their position and watched as the front of a rusty old pickup truck appeared from out of the darkness. It was her. On a Wednesday, no less. Jayce released his grip on the gun and breathed a sigh of relief. Taking the cue from her master, Camo's tail went to wagging as she set off toward the mail truck.

“Hey there, Cal,” said Carol Reilly. She was an older woman with graying hair and a warm smile. But despite her appearance, she was a tough sort—a mountain woman—and had been her entire life. She'd been delivering the mail in and around Emmett's Grove for thirty years and ever since Jayce moved up on the mountain three years earlier, she had come by at ten o'clock sharp, without exception. But never on a Wednesday. “You too, Camo,” she said, reaching down to pet the dog as she jumped up and put her paws on the door.

Jayce glanced down at his watch to make sure he wasn't losing his mind or what was left of it. He was notorious for losing track of time, but an entire day would have been something, even for him. “You're a day early, aren't you, Carol?” he asked curiously.

“Can't get anything past you,” she said sarcastically. She searched the mail basket and came back with a letter. “Special delivery,” she said as she handed the letter to him. “And since we don't get many of those around here, Tom said I'd better get my ass up here if I knew what was good for me. Oh,” she started, reaching into the brown paper bag she had at her feet, “I wouldn't forget about you, girl.” With a grin, she tossed Camo a bone and watched as she dragged it off toward the porch. “By the way,” she added, turning her attention back to Jayce, “did you know your line’s still out?”

“Well aware,” Jayce grumbled. “Going on two weeks. Can't say it bothers me much, though.” He paused. “I saw Roy yesterday evening when I was in town. He said they should have it fixed before dark. Of course, he's been saying that for a week, so I’m not going to hold my breath. I've got my walkie though, so Sharon can always reach me if she needs to.”

Carol's eyes drifted to the stack of wood Jayce had been working on. “I'm impressed. What do you have there, two cords, three? You're way ahead of last year,” she said, surprised by the progress he'd made. “A load like that oughta last you to spring.”

Jayce glanced over at the stack of wood. With the memory of the previous winter still fresh in his mind, his mood darkened. It was the only time in his life he got stuck in the snow. He and Camo both nearly froze to death waiting on someone to dig them out. It was an experience he didn't want to relive.

“That’s the idea,” he said. “After last year, I promised myself I wouldn't be caught off guard again.”

“Better watch yourself or people will start accusing you of being a mountain person.”

“I’ll keep that in mind,” he smiled, then let it fade. “By the way, how's Brock getting along?”

“He's doing better. Now that his back is healed, he's been out trying to play catch up. The storms did a real number on our side of the mountain. We got trees down everywhere. He's as far behind as I've ever seen, but you know Brock, he'll find a way, even if it kills him. Stubborn ass.”

Jayce stifled a laugh. “Well, if he needs any help, you have him call me.”

“I'll pass that along.”

“Sorry about you having to make a run on your day off.”

Shortly after taking the job as Sheriff, Jayce had been told Carol spent her Wednesdays down at the track watching the dogs run. She was a bit of a gambler, and despite the odds, she had a reputation of winning more than she lost.

“Don't worry about it. Tom's paying me double to make this run. Besides, if I hurry, I still have enough time to make it back and place a few bets.” She gave him a wink. “By the way, no return address on that letter. Were you expecting anything important?”

He shook his head slowly as he examined the envelope. It was blank except for his name and address, written on the front in perfect calligraphic script.

“I ain't never seen writing like that before,” commented Carol. “Must be from far away. Ain't nobody around here writes like that.”

“Probably right,” he mused, staring curiously at it. “I'll have to give this a look when I go inside,” he said, stuffing it into his inside coat pocket. “Don't worry though, I'll let you know if I've hit the lottery or inherited a fortune from some long-lost relative.” He gave a chuckle. “Hey, how did Brock like the honey I sent?”

“It was gone in less than a week, if that tells you anything. Well,” she said as she put the truck in gear, “I'll leave you to it, Cal. Tom'll get suspicious if I don't make it back soon. This was my only stop, so—”

“Right. I'll see ya, Carol... and thanks again.”

She said goodbye to Camo, waved, then sped off down the hill. When she had gone, Jayce went inside and kicked off his boots. His feet were tired and aching. Camo followed him into the house and went into the kitchen to finish the bone. Jayce shrugged the coat from his shoulders and grabbed the envelope before heading into the living room.

As he passed through the kitchen, he could smell the pot of chili he'd had simmering since morning. After the hard day's work he'd put in, his stomach was telling him it was time to eat.

But curiosity outweighed his hunger, so he went into the living room and flipped on the light, then found his favorite chair, the one with the worn-out leather, and sat down. He let out a sigh. What have I done now? he thought as he tore one end of the envelope and emptied the content into his hand.

Dear Mr. Callahan,

I hope this letter finds you doing well, if it finds you at all. After my two previous attempts resulted in a “Return to Sender” I am growing less confident by the day that we will reach you. We've exhausted all efforts by phone and written communication and have, to now, been unsuccessful in making contact.

As you may or may not be aware, your mother, Ms. Evelyn Montgomery Callahan, recently went to be with the Lord on September 22nd as a result of a heart attack. You have my deepest sympathies. In case you were wondering, the funeral service was beautiful and although from what I understand the two of you were estranged, perhaps you'd like to know the entire town showed up to pay their respects.

Now to the business at hand. Per your mother's last will and testament, she has named you sole heir to her estate, and while I cannot discuss the details of the will via letter, it would behoove you to pay us a visit in person so we can discuss the details. I have included a business card with my number. If you would be kind enough to call the office to schedule an appointment as soon as you can, it would be appreciated.

We look forward the hearing from you, and once again, you have our deepest sympathies.

Sincerely,

Edward James Buchanan, Esq.

When he had finished reading, Jayce leaned back in his chair and let out a long sigh. She had been dead almost two weeks, and this was the first he was hearing of it? The lines, he thought as his mind raced.

He sat for a long time and stared at the fire as day turned to night. So many thoughts ran through his head all at once, none of them pleasant. He knew this day would come, eventually, but he never imagined it would be this soon. Jayce was an only child. His father was never in the picture, so his mother had been his sole provider; had raised him all on her own, and now, the woman he had for so long both admired and loathed, was dead. They had been close, once, but that was years ago, before that summer. After that, everything changed.

When he could no longer suppress the aching in his stomach, Jayce made his way into the kitchen and ate supper alone. Afterward, he tried the phone again. Nothing. So, instead of watching TV, he decided instead to break open the bottle of Makers he'd been saving for an occasion such as this.

He reached up into the cabinet and grabbed the bottle of bourbon and a tumbler and sat them down on the counter. He had avoided alcohol altogether for six months, but if there was ever a time to fall off the wagon, this was it. He poured a shot and downed it. Burn. God, he missed that. Another pour, another shot. As the warmth spread throughout his body, he took the glass and the bottle and went back to the living room. It was going to be a long night.

He took turns drinking and thinking, and as he did, he considered the consequences of going home. He hadn't stepped foot in Silver Falls in over fifteen years. Nothing frightened him more. There were ghosts and demons back there, neither of which he was ready to confront. But how could he not go? Despite their issues, she was still his mother, and after all she had done for him, the least he could do was lay a flower on her grave and pay his respects. He drowned his sorrows one shot at a time until he finally passed out.

***

Two hundred miles away, under the cover of darkness, a boat glided across the still waters of Lake Murphy. The man controlling the vessel was no stranger to fishing in the dark, but he wasn’t in search of bass or crappie. As he eased into a secluded cove, he cut back on the throttle, then killed the engine. He had chosen the darkest part of the lake to dispose of the evidence. There were no houses, no lights, only trees and water. When he was certain no one was around, he reached into the bottom of the boat and retrieved a small package that had been weighted and wrapped tightly in duct tape. Lifting it into place, he pushed it off the edge and waited as it sank to the bottom. When he's satisfied with what he’d done, he started the engine and set out across the water.

***

The next morning, Jayce woke with a splitting headache. Somehow, he'd found his way to the bed, though how escaped him. Working himself up onto his elbows, he sat up slowly and swung his feet to the floor. The pounding in his head increased, and it felt like someone had beaten him repeatedly with a hammer. His eyes drifted to the floor where Camo was curled up in her usual spot beside the bed. “Morning, girl,” he said in a thick, raspy voice as he reached down and patted her on the head.

Normally he was up before the sun, but since he was still on vacation, and after the night he'd had, getting out of bed before noon was a miracle. He searched the nightstand for his watch. A check of the time revealed it was already after nine. He groaned.

He wasn't much of a drinker, at least not anymore, not since he'd taken the job as Sheriff three years earlier, so the bourbon he'd had the night before stung a little more than it should have. Okay, a lot more. He got up and opened the front door and Camo ran out to do her business. Then, he went for the shower where he stood under the scalding water until the headache subsided.

When he had finished, he wiped the condensation from the mirror and stared at himself for a long time. His blue eyes weren't as blue as they had been when he was younger, even without the bloodshot. Perhaps after all the things he'd seen, the color had been driven right out of them. As far as his physical appearance, he still had it. He was in the best shape of his life; strong, lean, and chiseled. He'd never had a problem building muscle or keeping it, and he hadn't been overweight a day in his life. In that respect, he was unlike most men his age, especially the married ones, who were satisfied with having dad bods.

He ran a hand through his long, dusty hair. Still wet. It needed a trim, but there was no time for that now. His beard was the one thing he could do something about, so he pulled the trimmer from the drawer and went to work. When he was done, he turned his head from side to side, admiring his work. “Better,” he said to himself, thinking he had erased at least five years.

When he was dressed, he grabbed a skillet and sat it on the stove. While it heated, he tried the phone again. “About damn time,” he said in a whisper as the sound of the dial tone buzzed in his ear. He dialed the office.

“Sharon... yeah, it's me,” he said with a sense of urgency.

“Well, speak of the devil,” she said, sounding surprised to hear his voice. “I was just telling Tommy about the time you and Greg Jacobs were chasing those turkeys and got skunked.”

“That right?” he said, hardly cracking a smile. “Hey, I wanted to tell you I'm going to be out a little longer than I thought...”

She could tell by the tone of his voice something was off. “Everything all right?”

He glanced down at the letter. “No, not exactly. I've got to go back home for a few days...”

“To Spring Creek?”

“No,” he said reflexively. “Home-home.”

“Oh,” she replied with shock. “Nothing bad, I hope?”

Jayce hesitated before answering. “Unfortunately, it is,” he said finally. “My mother... she, um... well, she passed away a couple of weeks ago. I got a letter yesterday afternoon. Apparently, they've been trying to reach me since it happened, but with the lines down...” His voice fell off. “Anyway, I already missed the funeral, but there are some legal matters I need to tend to. I shouldn't be gone more than a couple days at the most, but just in case—”

“Don't worry about a thing, Cal,” she said in a motherly voice. “Tommy and I can handle things around here, and if worse comes to worst, I'll give Howard a call. You go home and do what you have to do. Oh, and Cal, you have my condolences.”

“Thanks Sharon…for everything.”

Jayce hung up the phone and finished making breakfast.

When he had his stomach full of bacon and eggs, he chased a couple Tylenol with orange juice, then went to his room to pack. He found his old suitcase and began filling it with whatever he had clean. There were advantages to being a bachelor, but doing laundry wasn't one of them. Most days he was in uniform, and he had three pressed and hanging in the closet. Outside of that, he was a t-shirt and jeans guy, so his wardrobe was limited.

He found the one suit he still owned and laid it down on the bed alongside the suitcase. It was blue, but it would have to do. Not that he planned on wearing it while he was away, but experience had taught him to be prepared for anything. He added a pair of brown leather shoes, dress socks, belt, and white dress shirt.

“Not bad, girl,” he said to Camo as he stood back and took inventory.

Camo looked up at him and whined.

“I know,” Jayce said, as if he could sense her uneasiness. “I guess I'd better ring Hal and Doreen and ask if they can keep you for a few days.” He knelt beside her and let her lick his face. They hadn't been apart for longer than a day since he'd got her, and he hoped she'd be okay without him.

Before he left, he found the business card Edward Buchanan had sent with the letter and called the number. A young woman answered the phone.

“How may I help you?” she asked in a friendly voice.

“Yes, my name is Jayce Callahan. I received a letter from a Mr. Edward Buchanan,” he said as he read the name from the card. “I was wondering if I could speak with him.”

“Mr. Buchanan is out for the afternoon, but he'll be back in the morning. Would you like to leave a message or make an appointment?”

“Appointment would be fine. I'll be driving in this afternoon. Does he have any time tomorrow?”

“Let me check his calendar.” He imagined her thumbing through an event planner or something similar rather than a computer. It was Silver Falls after all, and he doubted they had caught up with technology. “Yes, he has nine o'clock available. Does that work for you?”

“Perfect.”

“Okay,” she said. “I've got you down, Mr. Callahan.”

Mr. Callahan, Jayce thought as he hung up the phone. He nearly chuckled at the sound of it.

By the time he loaded everything into the truck, it was shortly after two. He gave the cabin a final once over, cut the lights, turned down the pilot light, and locked the door. After making a quick stop to drop off Camo, he took I-81 and headed south. It was a four-hour drive from Emmett's Grove to Silver Falls, so as long as he didn't have to stop for traffic, he'd make it before dark.

Chapter 2

Homecoming

By the time he passed Abingdon, his stomach was in knots. He turned up the volume on the radio, hoping to drown out the sound of his heart beating in his ear. No luck. With the death of his mother weighing heavy on his mind, he wondered what fate awaited him in Silver Falls. Sixteen years was a long time, but not long enough to forget about what had happened that summer. As far as he knew, he was still in the crosshairs. Was he walking back into a trap? The only silver lining, if there was one, was that she wouldn't be there.

As the sign came into view, welcoming him to Silver Falls, Jayce tightened his grip on the wheel and took a deep breath to steady his nerves. He rocked his head back and forth and did anything he could to keep the anxiety at bay. This was the moment he had been dreading ever since the day he left. Turning back had crossed his mind, but it was too late for that. Whatever happened now was in God's hands.

As he descended through the cut in the hill, the town came into view. Silver Falls sat in a depression left by a meteorite. To the north, south, and west were prominent ridges, but to the east sat Lake Murphy, a sparkling reservoir where folks from all over East Tennessee and beyond came to relax and play under the summer sun. It was the one place in Silver Falls that Jayce both cherished and despised.

He proceeded down Main Street, passing Herb's Garage, where he'd had work done years ago when he got his first car. Next was the Dollar General Store where he worked as a teenager, and Southern Savings & Trust where his mother had done all her banking. He passed by the church and the hardware store, and then a strip mall where a dozen mom-and-pop shops offered everything from coffee to clothing.

Near the center of town was a small square with a clock tower that overlooked a statue of Thomas Akins, the founder of Silver Falls. But aside from what appeared to be a relatively new Italian restaurant and a slew of fast-food joints, not much had changed.

By the time he got checked in at the motel, it was half-past six and what remained of the daylight was quickly fading. He hadn't eaten since breakfast, so he went to the front desk and asked the manager what she recommended.

“If you want something quick, we've got the usual fare up and down Main, but if you want a sit-down meal, you can't beat Rafters.”

“Rafters?”

“It used to be the old boat shop, out where Highway 12 dead-ends into the lake. Some girls bought up the place about a year ago and turned it into a restaurant. A little fancy for my taste, but the food's excellent. Here,” she said, smiling as she handed him a coupon from a stack she kept in a shoebox on the counter. “Might save you a dollar or two.”

“Thanks,” he said, wondering if he looked like he needed a coupon.

He took her advice and drove down Main Street until he came to the red light, then hung a left and flipped on his lights as the sun lowered behind him. Even after all that time, he knew that stretch of road like the back of his hand.

After winding his way through the forest for several minutes, he arrived at what remained of Henry McCords boat shop. Jayce's grandfather had taken his boat to Henry more than once over the years. Seeing only a handful of cars in the lot made him feel better, so he slipped inside and found a table in the back near the window. He was surprised to find the place warm and cozy; not at all the dive bar he was expecting.

The entire place had been gutted. There were exposed brick walls and large picture windows with perfect views of the lake. In the center of the space was an enormous fireplace with a hearth where a fire blazed, and in a room off to the side was a small bar that could seat a half-dozen patrons.

Nice place, he thought as he finished looking around. He turned his head and stared out at the water. Night had fallen, but he could still make out the mountains in the distance. Once he was settled, he grabbed a menu and perused the options.

A couple of minutes later, a young woman appeared and asked if she could start him off with something to drink. She was in her early thirties, with blue-green eyes, full lips, and had long, sandy-blonde hair that was pulled up in a ponytail. Her white sweater and tight jeans fit her just right, and Jayce was digging the cowboy boots.

“Beer will be fine,” he said, giving her the once over. She was the prettiest thing he'd seen in months.

“Coming right up,” she said with a smile.

He could tell right away she wasn’t from the area. Her accent was thicker, slower. Georgia, maybe Alabama, he thought as he considered the possibilities.

In no time, she was back with his beer and a basket of hot rolls with butter.

“So,” she began, pulling a pen and pad from her hip pocket, “do you need a minute, or have you decided on supper?”

He gave the menu a last scan.

“Let’s do the catfish. Oh, and an order of hush puppies.”

“Excellent choice,” she said, jotting it down on the pad. “The hush puppies are our specialty.” She gave him a wink, then disappeared into the kitchen.

While he waited, Jayce scanned the room. His days in the military had taught him to be overly cautious, which is why he made a habit of sitting near the back, so he could see the front door. Not that he was convinced anything bad was going to happen, but if it did, he didn't want to be surprised.

But after scanning the crowd, he quickly concluded there was little to worry about. The half-dozen patrons were all in their fifties, and aside from demanding more ice cream for their apple pie, they were otherwise harmless.

Convinced he was safe; Jayce leaned back in the chair and took a swig of his beer. After several more, the buzz kicked in, and soon after he was completely relaxed. It had been a long day, but here he was, back in Silver Falls. So far, so good.

His food came out in a basket lined with red and white checkered paper, the kind you might find at a barbecue joint, and was piled high with three pieces of fried catfish and a mountain of hushpuppies.

“Are you going to help me eat all this?” he asked, looking wide-eyed at the mountain of fried food.

“It’s a lot, I know. We don’t want anyone to leave here hungry.” She paused and studied his face for a minute. “I don't mean to pry, but have we met before? You look awfully familiar.”

“I doubt it,” he said as he unrolled the napkin from the silverware.

“Then you're not from around here?” she probed.

“Was,” he said, choosing his words carefully.

“I'm Jessica, by the way... Jessica Glover. I own the place, well, my friend and I own the place.”

“Jayce Callahan,” he said, shaking her hand. “Pleasure to meet you, Jessica. You have a great place here.”

“Thanks,” she beamed. “Wait,” she said, thinking. “Callahan... you're not any relation to Evelyn Callahan, are you?”

He nodded. “Evelyn was my mother.”

“Oh, my gosh. I'm so sorry,” she said, putting a hand to her chest. “I was at her funeral last week. Such a sweet lady,” she added, shaking her head slowly. “I didn't realize she had a son.”

“Figures,” said Jayce, mostly to himself.

“How come you weren't there?”

“Who says I wasn't?”

“Trust me,” she said, raising an eyebrow. “I would have remembered you.”

Jayce's cheeks flushed hot with blood. “You're right. I wasn't there. I didn't find out she had passed until yesterday. My mother and I weren't exactly close,” he explained, recognizing the confusion in her eyes.

“I'm sorry,” she said sweetly. “Evelyn was one of our regulars. She used to come in here on Sundays after church. Her, Linda, and Mary Lou. The 'Red Hats', that's what we called them, because of their red hats, of course. They sat at the same table every week.” She turned and pointed to a round table near one of the enormous windows. “Well,” she added, turning her eyes back to him, “I'm sorry for your loss.”

“Thanks.”

About that time, an older gentleman sitting at the bar shouted for another slice of apple pie.

“That's my cue,” she said begrudgingly as she held up a hand to acknowledge him. “Well,” she said as she turned to leave, “it was nice meeting you.”

“Same here,” said Jayce, allowing his eyes to linger on her as she walked away.

He finished his dinner around nine and after one last beer, he got in his truck and carefully navigated his way back to the motel. The last thing he wanted was a DUI, but he would hardly classify two beers with dinner as drunk.

When he got back to the motel, he kicked off his boots and flipped on the TV, then sat his service weapon on the nightstand beside the bed. He made sure it was never out of arm's reach. He checked the locks once more and made sure the curtains were pulled tight. It was a small town, but that didn't mean it was harmless. He knew that all too well. Besides, now that Jessica knew who he was, he knew word of his return would spread like wildfire.

The next morning, he was up early. He hadn't slept well, but he wasn't surprised. Most nights he was lucky if he got four or five hours, but nothing a cup of coffee couldn’t fix.

The lawyer's office didn't open until nine, which meant he had two hours to kill. Breakfast, he thought as he stepped out into the cool morning air and stretched his arms high into the sky. The food from the night before was better than he expected, so instead of settling on toast and jelly from the lobby, he drove back out to the lake. Besides, if he was lucky, Jessica would be working. He hadn't noticed a ring on her finger, but in a town the size of Silver Falls, there was no way she didn't have every eligible bachelor knocking on her door. Not that he wasn't interested in a relationship, but it didn't hurt to look.

The first rays of sunlight were just peeking over the mountains as he ground the truck to a stop.

“Well, hello again,” said Jessica, greeting him as he stepped through the door.

“Morning,” Jayce replied, his blue eyes settling on her.

“Sit anywhere you like,” she offered as she went to top off coffee.

He grabbed the same seat from the previous night and sat down. The view of the mountains was spectacular. They were mostly green, except for the highest ridges, which had turned a shade of orange.

“At this rate you'll be one of our regulars in no time,” she teased as she turned over a cup and filled it with coffee.

He smiled as the sun warmed his face.

“Cream?”

“Black is fine,” he said as he took a sip. “Excellent coffee.”

“I'm glad you like it,” she grinned.

Now that he saw her in the light, she was even prettier than the night before. The only flaw, if you’d call it that, was a tiny scar on her chin.

“What can I getcha to eat this morning?”

“Fried eggs and bacon will be fine. Oh, and some toast if you got it.”

“White or wheat?”

“Wheat.”

“Sure thing,” she said, then disappeared behind the double doors that separated the dining area from the kitchen.

Jayce stared out at the water as the sun did its best to burn away the morning fog. It reminded him of the hundreds of mornings he'd spent on the water as a child with his grandparents. They had lived close by and kept their pontoon at the marina during the warm months. Jayce loved the water, always had, so to be that close to the place where his fondest memories lived brought a smile to his face.

In no time, Jessica returned with his food and a pat of butter for the toast, then went to wait on other tables. It was busier than it had been the night before, but despite the crowd, Jayce felt comfortable there. He ate his breakfast slowly, admiring the view, as he counted down the minutes until his meeting.

To his knowledge, his mother had little in the way of assets, aside from the house and the land it sat on. She had bought the place shortly after moving to Silver Falls, a few years before Jayce was born, and although it was a sizable home and had with it a couple of acres, mostly trees, it sat on a bluff that had arguably the best views of Lake Murphy. That must be worth something, he thought as he finished the last of his toast.

At fifteen minutes to nine, he paid his bill, dropped a tip on the table, then drove west on Highway 12. The office of Buchanan, Locke, and Smith sat on the west end of town in the old Carter home, which was once used as a make-shift mortuary during the Civil War. Jayce had seen it once or twice when he was younger, but mostly he stayed away from the west side. That's where Eric Robbins and Tony Fournette lived, two guys who used to bully him before he got old enough and strong enough to fight back.

Jayce ground his truck to a stop in a space near the front of the building. He looked at clock on the dash; he was five minutes early. Out of habit, he checked himself in the mirror before he got out and approached the door.

An attractive young lady with dark, shoulder-length hair and a pretty smile greeted him as he entered. He presumed she was the one he’d spoken with over the phone. Her soft brown eyes were hidden behind a pair of stylish glasses, which Jayce presumed were for looks and nothing more.

“Morning,” she said kindly as she straightened in her chair. “Do you have an appointment?”

“Yes...nine o'clock...Callahan.”

“Oh, you're Mr. Callahan,” she said, looking pleasantly surprised. He was younger and more handsome than she imagined. “Mr. Buchanan is expecting you. Wait right here while I get him.” She got up from her chair, tugged at the hem of her skirt, then sauntered her way down the hall.

Jayce couldn't help but notice her figure. She was taller than average, slender, and had long, athletic legs. Not to mention her ass; the way it fit into that skirt made his heart skip a beat.

She returned a minute later with a short, silver-haired man. He wore thin-rimmed glasses, which he held in his left hand.

For reading only, Jayce thought as he noted them.

“You must be Jayce,” he said delightedly.

“Yes sir,” he replied, shaking his hand. “Edward?”

“We're not very formal around here. Please, call me Eddie. Won't you step into my office?”

Jayce smiled and thanked the young woman for her help, then followed Eddie into his office and shut the door. Eddie offered him the seat in front of the desk.

“First, let me say how sorry I am for your loss, Mr. Callahan,” said Eddie with a deep, southern drawl as he rounded his desk. He sat down in his high back leather chair and fumbled through a stack of papers at the corner of his desk. “Your mother was a beloved figure here in Silver Falls. She will be sorely missed.”

“Thank you. I'm sure she will be,” said Jayce politely as his eyes scanned the room. He could tell by the pungent odor it had been freshly painted. There were dozens of pictures on the walls, mostly of Eddie when he was younger, back when his hair was jet black, but there were a few of what Jayce presumed to be Eddie's family. And then there was the law degree from the University of Georgia, framed in gold, that rested on the wall behind him.

“Ah, here it is,” Eddie said, coming up with a folder labeled CALLAHAN, EVELYN M. “My apologies. Normally, I'm not this disorganized, but ever since Betty passed away, I've been a little out of sorts.”

“Betty?”

“Betty Richards. She was my secretary for thirty years. Such a lovely woman. Died of a heart attack, poor thing.” His eyes drifted to a picture of her he kept on the bookshelf. “She was going to retire at the end of the year and move to Florida to be closer to her grand kids,” he said as his tone became somber. “Her husband passed a couple of years ago—Frank was his name. Well,” he said, shaking himself mentally, “sorry to drone on.” He straightened up in his chair and cleared his expression. “I have the will here, if you'd like me to read it to you?”

“Yes, that will be fine,” said Jayce as he worked himself into a comfortable position.

Eddie took a second to clear his throat.

“I, Evelyn Montgomery Buchanan, of Silver Falls, being of sound mind, not acting under duress or undue influence and fully understanding the nature and extent of all my property and of this disposition thereof, do hereby make, publish, and declare this document to be my Last Will and Testament, and hereby revoke any and all other wills and codicils heretofore made by me.” His eyes rose as he took a breath. “Now to the important part,” he continued, letting his eyes fall back to the page. “I devise and bequeath my property, both real and personal and wherever situated, as follows:”

“To my beloved son, Jayce Alexander Callahan, the house and property at 2176 River Road, including all contents therein, my checking and savings accounts at Southern Heritage Bank, the safe deposit box, and my retirement account.” He paused and scanned the rest of the document. “There is one more item,” he said as he reached into the desk drawer and removed a small box. He handed it to Jayce.

Inside was an ornate key made of bronze.

“What's this for?” asked Jayce, clearly perplexed.

“I was hoping you could tell me. There were no instructions, no letter, nothing, just the box and the key.”

Jayce turned it over in his hand, studying it. “And you're sure this was intended for me—all of it?” he asked, raising his eyes to Eddie.

“Absolutely. Evelyn was very particular about her paperwork. She and I met once a year to make sure everything was in order. I have the information for the financial accounts and the safe deposit box in this folder, and the deed to the real estate. As far as the key is concerned, it appears you have a bit of a mystery on your hands.” He smiled. “Evelyn was always one for a mystery, but I'm sure you know that.”

Jayce smiled politely. He remembered a lot of things about his mother, but her affinity for mysteries wasn't one of them.

“Anything else I need to be aware of?” Jayce asked as he stood and slipped the key into his coat pocket.

“The house keys,” he blurted. “I almost forgot. Amber,” he yelled.

In no time, she stood in the doorway, holding a pair of keys.

“There we are,” said Eddie as a look of relief washed over him. “What would I do without you?” He took the keys from Amber and sent her back to the front.

“This here's for the front door, and the other is for the cellar,” he explained as he handed Jayce the keys.

Jayce dropped them into his pocket, alongside the other key.

“Everything should be straightforward, but if something comes up, just call. Amber has some papers for you to sign on your way out. While you're doing that, I'll make a copy of the will. I wish you the best Mr. Callahan, and once again, my condolences.”

They shook hands and Jayce went to the front to sign the papers.

“How come I've never seen you before?” asked Amber as she held the end of a pen between her lips.

As he contemplated her question, Jayce was thinking she was far too pretty for a town like Silver Falls. He was never the best at guessing ages, especially when it came to women, but she couldn't have been a day over twenty-seven.

“I don't live around here,” he replied, eager to be on his way.

“Your momma was Mrs. Evelyn, wasn't she?” Amber stood and made her way to the other side of the desk as her voice softened.

He nodded. “Did you know her?”

“Sure. Everyone knew Mrs. Evelyn,” she said as she inched closer to him. “She was just the sweetest thing. I was shocked when I learned she'd passed.”

Eddie appeared then and handed Jayce the folder with a copy of the will.

“Like I said, if you need anything at all, just call.”

Jayce tucked the folder beneath his arm, thanked them both, then went on his way.

Chapter 3

Ghosts From The Past

While he pondered his next move, Jayce set off for the motel. Eddie had read the will to him, but he wanted to see the words for himself. His mother hadn't thought fondly of him in years, or if she had, she’d said nothing to him. So, for her to leave everything she had to him was quite a shock.

So far, Jayce had successfully kept a low profile, but a hundred yards short of the entrance to the motel, that all changed.

What now? he thought as he looked up to find flashing blue lights in the rear view. He eased into the parking lot and pulled around back where no one could see him. A white SUV stopped inches from his rear bumper, and out of it stepped a large man with broad shoulders, who wore a black cowboy hat and sunglasses. It was obvious at one time he had been quite an imposing figure, but these days he was more of an oversized teddy bear. On his black, satin jacket, stitched in gold was the word SHERIFF. He looked as if he’d just stepped out of central casting.

Jayce kept both hands on the wheel as the man approached.

He motioned for Jayce to roll down the window, so he did.

“Well, well, well, Jayce Callahan. Didn't I warn you never to step foot in my town again?” he said in a rough voice.

“That's not the way I remember it,” he said, glaring at him. “Then again, I've never been too good at taking orders.”

“All right, smart ass, out of the car,” said the Sheriff as he opened the door and motioned for him to step out.

Jayce did as he was told and stood alongside the truck, arms folded at his chest.

They stared at one another for a few long seconds, then both seemed to smile simultaneously, as if they had rehearsed the whole thing.

“Jayce, how are you, son?” asked Sheriff Pete Gainer as he removed his glasses, revealing steely blue eyes.

“Doing well, sir, how are you?”

The two of them embraced in a bear hug, both patting one another on the back.

“Half-and-half,” said the Sheriff happily as he pulled back, putting his hands on his hips. “I see you still have the ghost,” he said, looking at the rusty old truck.

“Yep. Figured I'd keep her until she gives out on me.”

“You just get in?” he asked, turning his eyes back to Jayce.

“Got in last night, as a matter of fact. I just finished up with Eddie. I assume you had something to do with that?”

“Sorry about that,” he said as his expression darkened. “But don't worry, I mailed the letter myself, from a post office in Morristown. I couldn't chance it.”

“I guess that means the case it still open?” Jayce asked as he crossed his arms in front of him.

“Unfortunately. I guess you'd classify it as cold these days, but that file still sits on my desk. Hasn't left in sixteen years.” He paused and cleared his expression. “By the way, I tried to call. What's with your phones up there?”

“Storms. We've had it pretty rough of late. The lines have been down for a couple of weeks. No one's been able to call in or out.”

“What about a cell phone? This is the twenty-first century, you know? Hell, even I've got one.” He flashed the iPhone he kept holstered on his hip.

“Well, look at you, Mr. High Tech,” said Jayce as a smile broke across his face. “Is that a smart phone?”

“Ah, knock it off. This was Alice's idea. Says it gives her peace of mind knowing where I am. Women, am I right?” he said, slapping him on the shoulder.

Jayce smiled reflexively, but it had been a long time since he'd been the concern of any woman, perhaps far too long.

“Not much use for cell phones on the mountain. Besides, I like my privacy.”

“So, do you have plans?” the Sheriff asked, changing the subject.

“Nothing important,” he said, thinking about the key in his pocket. “I was coming back to grab a little shuteye. Didn't exactly sleep well last night,” Jayce confessed as he glanced off toward his room. “Why, you have something in mind?”

“Sure do. Lunch,” he said as he slapped his stomach and grinned. “Come on, my treat. Hop in. I'll drive.”

Pete put his sunglasses back on and climbed into the SUV. Jayce did the same as he went for the passenger side.

They left the motel parking lot and turned left, but not until they made another left onto Highway 12 did Jayce realized they were heading back toward Rafters.

A few minutes later, they pulled into the lot and ground the vehicle to a stop.

“Folks must really like this place.”

“Why do you say that?” asked Pete as he exited the SUV.

“I've eaten here twice in the last twenty-four hours.”

“Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't realize. We could go somewhere else. Bobby Hammaker's got a decent Italian place over on Glenview if you'd rather try that?”

“No, this is fine,” he replied as he stepped out onto the gravel. “Besides, I think I saw a barbecue sandwich on the menu I'd be interested in trying.”

Pete led him inside, removing his hat as he crossed the threshold and found a table.

“If I didn't know any better, I'd think I had an admirer,” said Jessica as she approached the table with two waters. She was grinning broadly as her eyes settled on Jayce.

He smiled playfully. “Is it that obvious?”

“You two know each other?” Pete asked, looking surprised.

“Sure. Jayce and I go way back,” Jessica teased. “How long's it been, eighteen, nineteen hours?”

“Something like that,” he grinned slyly.

“See why I like this one so much?” said the Sheriff. “Never runs out of clever things to say.” He looked up at her and smiled. “How are you dear?”

“Doing well, Pete. How are you?”

“Oh, you know—”

“—Half-and-half, right?”

“Am I that predictable?”

They all laughed.

“So, how do you two know each other?” Jessica inquired as she cleared her expression.

“I've known Jayce since he was a little boy,” Pete told her. “I used to take him on patrol with me on the weekends just so I could keep him out of trouble.” He paused and stared at Jayce. In Pete’s eyes, Jayce was still that little boy who was trying to find his place in the world. “Bring him whatever he wants, and put it on my tab, will ya?”

“You don't have to do that, Pete,” said Jayce, feeling guilty. “I'm more than happy to pay.”

“Nonsense. My pleasure. Besides, I might have you help me with a couple of things while you're here.”

Jayce thanked him for the hospitality, then Jessica took their order and went to the back to hand it off to the cook.

“So, how does it feel to be back?” said the Pete as he leaned forward, resting his elbows on the table.

“A little strange,” Jayce admitted as he scanned the room, “but not as bad as I thought.”

“That's what I want to hear. This is your home and I want you to feel safe here.” He stopped and took a drink of water. “How are things in Emmett's Grove?” he asked, dropping his voice to a whisper.

Pete Gainer was the only person in Silver Falls who knew where Jayce lived. Jayce had known Pete his entire life, and he trusted him completely. As a kid, when Jayce wasn't on the water or trying his best to find trouble, he was in Pete's hip pocket. In fact, it had been Pete who had encouraged Jayce to pursue a career in law enforcement.

Pete and his wife, Alice, didn't have any children, so they considered Jayce the son they never had. And since Jayce's father had run out on him when he was three, Jayce thought of Pete as the father he never had.

“Good. I just finished getting my wood cut for the winter. As far as the town goes, I couldn't ask for a better setup. Aside from one or two, the folks are decent people; hardworking, honest, and keep to themselves, mostly. Makes my job easy.”

“Well, it sounds like you've got it under control?”

“Of course. I learned from the best.”

“You're too kind but thank you.” Pete beamed with pride.

Jessica arrived with their food—a barbecue sandwich for Jayce and a club sandwich, hold the mayo, for Pete. Jayce took his time eating lunch. With Pete close by, he was completely at ease.

“Any idea how long you're in for?” asked Pete as he took a big bite out of his sandwich.

“A few days, maybe a week. I've got mom's house to think about now.” Jayce took a fry and dipped it into a blob of ketchup. “I need to go by there in the next couple of days and see what kind of shape it’s in. If it doesn't need a lot of work, I was thinking of going ahead and putting it on the market. A house on the water has to be worth a pretty penny these days.”

“You're right,” Pete confirmed as he drew the napkin across his mouth. “Remember the Thompson place, out on Gallagher Drive? It sold last month for half a million.”

Jayce nearly choked on his barbecue.

“The Thompson place was a dump, if memory serves,” he said with shock as he washed down the bite. “Mom's place was much nicer, not to mention it has land. Two acres, if I remember.”

“Probably fetch a million, maybe more, if you find the right buyer. That should set you up nicely.”

Other than the basics—food, water, and electricity—Jayce didn't have many expenses. He'd tossed around the idea of getting a new truck, but he didn’t want to go crazy. He was a sensible man, didn’t like to go into debt for anything, so he’d probably save most of the money.

“I'm guessing Jessica told you about Stephanie?”

Jayce looked with a start as the mention of her name sent a shockwave straight through him.

“No. What about her?”

Pete’s lips parted with a sly smile.

“What? Did something happen to her?”

“No. She’s fine,” he laughed. “This is her place.”

“What, the restaurant?” he questioned.

“Yep. She and Jessica went in together and bought it about a year ago. Damn good thing too because they were thinking of tearing it down and building condos. Can you imagine, on our lake? What an eyesore that would have been. Anyway, this place is packed at all hours of the day and night, and the food is incredible.”

“I'm glad you think so.”

The sound of her voice caught Jayce by surprise. He turned to find a young woman with crystal blue eyes, whose face was framed by gorgeous strands of auburn hair. She was beautiful in every sense of the word, and for a moment she rendered him speechless.

“Well, well, well, the prodigal son returns,” she marveled, eyes squarely on Jayce as she gracefully crossed the room. She had on blue jeans and a light gray sweater, which fit her slender frame perfectly.

“Stephanie,” he remarked, finding a voice, but the look of shock was still tattooed all over his face. He stood and circled his arms around her, pulling her close to him. Sixteen years had passed since he'd last laid eyes on her, but in an instant the years seemed to melt away. To have her in his arms again felt as natural as breathing. Perhaps he held onto her a little longer than he should, but she didn't seem to mind. “You look amazing,” he beamed, admiring her at arm's length.

“Thanks,” she blushed. “You don't look so bad yourself, cowboy.” Her voice was thick with sarcasm as she inventoried his boots and tight jeans. “To what do we owe this pleasure?”

It took him a few seconds to respond as his mind was struggling to catch up. “I, um, my mom. I guess you heard—”

“Yes, of course. I was sad to hear of her passing. I'm sorry for your loss.”

“Thanks,” he replied as he returned slowly to earth. “But honestly we hadn't spoken in a very long time.” He had made a habit of distancing himself from his mother, even now that she was dead.

Her eyes lingered on him for several seconds. “So, how long have you been in town?”

“Got in last night,” he explained. “I was on my way back to the motel this morning when I ran into Pete.”

“Nothing gets by old Pete here,” she said, slapping him on the shoulder. “So, how long you are planning on staying?”

“Not sure yet. It really depends on how much work needs to be done to the house.”

She stared at him again, studying his face. It had been a long time since she’d thought about him, and despite the years, his eyes hadn’t aged a day.

“Well, I don't know if you'll have time,” she said, gathering her thoughts, “but I'd like to catch up, if you’re up for it?”

“I’d like that,” he said with sincerity.

“Okay. Well, in that case, I'll let the two of you get back to your lunch.”

Jayce watched as she retreated to the kitchen. He sat back down and caught his breath. Stephanie wasn’t just anyone; she was the one. She had been the love of his life at one point, before everything went sideways. Over the years, the thought of seeing her again terrified him. Things hadn’t ended well between them. But now that the moment had come and gone, he was relieved to find she wasn’t still angry with him.

For the rest of lunch, he tried to pay attention to Pete, but his mind was a thousand miles away. If it was possible, Stephanie was even more beautiful than the last time he had seen her.

After lunch, Pete dropped him off at the motel and told him to expect an invitation to dinner soon.

“Once I tell Alice you're back, she'll hound the hell out of me until I have you over to the house.”

“Well, I can’t wait to see her. It’s been far too long.”

Once he got settled, Jayce phoned to check on Camo. Doreen said she was doing just fine, which left Jayce feeling a mix of emotion. When he hung up, he glanced at the clock—six-thirty. Even after the big lunch, he was feeling hungry, but instead of wearing out his welcome at Rafter, he grabbed a burger from the diner on Maple Street.

He took the food back to his room and ate alone. The ballgame was on, so he watched that for a while, then sat and thought about Stephanie. Seeing her again had stirred something inside him, a feeling he hadn't felt in a very long time. The sudden rush of adrenaline frightened him a little. Okay, maybe more than a little. But he couldn't move on from the fact that he had broken her heart that summer, and despite all the fun times they had shared, it was his betrayal that had cast a dark shadow over everything.

When he was done eating, he sat in the chair for a while and examined the key Eddie had given him. Something about it was strangely familiar, but no matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t remember ever seeing it.

When his eyes got heavy, he slid off his jeans and shirt, climbed into bed. While he slept, a memory, one that hadn't crossed his mind in a very long time, broke loose and floated to the surface. Being in unfamiliar surroundings had a way of resurrecting old memories. But this wasn't just any old memory; this was the single worst memory of his life.

In his dream, Jayce was eighteen again. It was a hot July night, shortly after midnight. He had been at Stephanie's house that evening watching movies. Her parent’s place sat at the end of a long point that jutted out into the main channel. It was on the opposite side from where he and his mother lived.

His bike was in the shop, so that night he had taken the boat. He had just begun paddling home when he thought he heard a cry for help. He stopped rowing and sat up as he listened. But there was nothing other than the croak of bullfrogs and the chirp of crickets off in the distance. Thinking he must have imagined the whole thing; he resumed his endeavor. By the time he reached the middle of the lake, the sound he’d heard was a distant memory. Until he heard it again. This time, there was no mistaking what he heard—human, desperate, female.

Against his better judgement, Jayce pulled heavy on one oar and leaned to the side, turning the boat around. He started rowing toward the screams as quickly as he could. Rounding the point, the silver outline of Hope Island came into view as the cries for help fell silent. He made a few more strokes with the oars and stopped as he spied the glow of embers near the shore. His eyes scanned the horizon and stopped when they landed on a small boat pulled up on the sandy bank. Closer he eased, careful not to make a sound, but his heart was beating so loud he wondered if anyone else could hear it.

When he got close enough to examine the boat, he saw the dark green paint, illuminated from the red glow of the coals. On the back was a small, hand-crank engine. Everyone within an hour of the water had one just like it. As he eased past the island, he searched for any signs of life. Then, as he was about to turn for home, a figure emerged from the trees and slipped quietly into the boat. It was a younger man, of that he was certain, though anything beyond that was a guess. When a young lady didn't appear with him, Jayce’s concern only strengthened.

Jayce maneuvered his boat beneath the branch of a fallen tree and watched as the man cranked the engine and headed south toward the dam. When he fell from sight, Jayce worked his way along the shoreline until he found a flat spot and brought his boat to rest. He had been on Hope Island hundreds of times, so even in the dark he knew his way around. A quick glance at what remained of the fire and crumpled beer cans confirmed more than one person had been on the island that night. As he peered off into the darkness, a sense of dread swelled inside him.

He reached for his flashlight, but he’d left it at Stephanie’s. He stopped cold in his tracks. The island was notorious for having copperheads, and the last thing he wanted was to run into one of them in the dark. So, he called out instead, asking if anyone could hear him. Silence. He tried several more times to illicit a response, but everything was eerily quiet. Satisfied there was nothing else he could do, Jayce worked his way back to the boat, shoved off, and rowed for home.

The next morning, he called Pete and told him about what he’d seen and heard the night before. An hour later, from the back deck, Jayce watched as police and TWRA boats descended on Hope Island.

He woke with a start and sat up in bed. With the back of his hand, he wiped away the sweat as he steadied his breathing. It had been years since he'd had that nightmare, but not since that summer had it felt so real. This was what he feared about returning to Silver Falls; all those memories that he'd so carefully and deliberately hidden were returning, one by one.

Chapter 4

The Lake House

The next morning, he got to Rafters as the sun was coming up. Stephanie was already there when he arrived.

“This isn't the only place to eat, you know,” said Stephanie as she emerged from the kitchen.

Jayce looked up at her and grinned broadly.

“What?”

“You've got a little flour, just there,” he said, wiping it from her cheek.

“Thanks,” she said, looking slightly embarrassed. She reached for the coffee pot and poured him a cup. “You still take it black?”

Jayce nodded. “I don’t eat every meal here,” he joked. “I grabbed a burger from the diner last night.”

“You’re welcome here any time,” she said happily. “Besides, you're single-handedly keeping me in the black this month.” She turned around and sat the coffee pot back on the warmer. “I don't know what you said to Jessica, but she's quite smitten with you.”

Her comment caught him off guard. “Look, about that—”

“Easy, cowboy. Lighten up,” she said, sitting down across from him. “But I see you haven't lost your charm.”

“Some things just come natural,” he said with a hint of arrogance as he took a sip of hot coffee.

She looked at him for a long time. There was something she wanted to ask him, but she was having difficulty summoning the courage.

“Is it strange being back here after all these years?” she asked, tabling the other question for later.

He looked up from his coffee. “A little,” he answered. “To be honest, even after I received the letter, I debated whether or not I should come.”

“What made you change your mind?”

“I don't know, but I'm glad I did...” His eyes rose to meet hers.

“There's that charm again,” she smirked, shaking her head.

“Is it that obvious? I'm a little out of practice.”

“I doubt that,” she smiled, letting it slowly fade. “So, are you staying at your mom's place?”

“No,” he replied, perhaps a little too quickly. “I'm up at the motel.”

“The motel?” she exclaimed, looking aghast. “We can't have that,” she objected.

“What's wrong with the motel? It's quiet and cheap and—”

“And flea-infested,” she pointed out.

Suddenly, he felt the need to scratch, thought he presumed it was from the cheap soap and not the fleas as she had suggested.

“You have a better idea?”

“I may have,” she pondered. “I rent out a couple of houses, mostly to folks visiting the mountains or who have just moved to the area. As luck would have it, one of them is vacant right now. You could stay there if you like? I promise it will be much nicer than any room at the motel.”

He considered her invitation, but of course he was going to say yes.

“Thank you” he said, knowing that at least he'd have a soft bed to sleep in and plenty of space to spread out. And besides, if he knew Stephanie, the place would be so clean he could probably eat off the floors.

“Don't mention it. Besides, I'm gonna double the rate for you,” she joked.

“There it is. I was waiting for the catch.” He smiled in amusement. “But seriously, thanks.”

“It’s the least I can do.” She grabbed a pen and wrote an address and phone number on a blue sticky note, then slid it across the table in his direction. “I’ll cut out of here in a while and give it a final cleaning. If you want to stop by around five, it should be ready.”

“And the number?”

Her eyes fell as she twirled a strand of auburn hair around her index finger. “Just in case you need to reach me for anything.”

“I'll keep that in mind,” he said as the corners of his mouth curled into a smile. He folded the paper and placed it in the pocket of his flannel shirt so he wouldn't forget it.

Later that evening, Jayce checked out of the motel and drove out to the address Stephanie had provided. It was on a quiet road, hidden by tall pines, that wound its way along the short of the lake. He pulled into the driveway and parked beside a white Mercedes. He got out and whistled as he admired the car, then grabbed his bags and went for the door.

“Hello,” he called as he pushed the door open with his foot.

“In the kitchen,” she answered.

He dropped the bags on the leather sofa as he made his way through the living room.

“There you are,” he said as he rounded the corner. “Nice ride.”

“Excuse me?”

“The Benz. It’s nice.”

“Oh, thanks,” she said, blowing the hair out of her face. By the sweat on her forehead and flushed cheeks, she'd been at it for a while. “I've already taken care of the rest of the house... just wanted to make sure the kitchen was clean before I turned the keys over to you.”

“Thanks, but you didn't have to go to all this trouble.” He paused as he checked her out. She had on gray sweatpants, an old pair of tennis shoes, and a white t-shirt with paint splattered across the front. “That's quite a look,” he joked.

“Shut up,” she said playfully, looking down at her shirt.

He paused as he took in the opulence of his surroundings. “This place is amazing. How long have you owned it?”

“Six months,” she said as she loaded the last of the cleaning supplies into the caddie. “I wasn't sure how successful the restaurant would be, so I needed something else I could depend on for income. These houses were ready to be torn down, but I fixed them up, and, well, I think they turned out okay.”

“Where is the other one?”

“Just up the road. You passed it on the way in—the brick rancher with the fountain out front.”

Jayce recalled seeing it.

“I've got a long-term tenant in that one.”

“So, we never talked about the price,” he said as he reached for his wallet. “I shouldn't be here more than a week.”

“Keep your money,” she said as she slid past him. “Besides, if you keep coming by the restaurant four times a day, that should more than cover your debt.” She turned and smiled as she went for the door. After loading the caddie and the broom into the trunk of her car, she returned a minute later and handed him the keys to the front door.

“Just a couple of rules. No parties and no loud music. This is a quiet street, and I'd like to keep it that way.”

“Steph, it's me.”

“Right. In that case, no parties, no loud music...”

“You're funny,” he laughed.

She smiled. “Kidding.” She forced her hands into her pockets and rocked back on her heels. “But seriously, if you need anything, you have my cell. I'm at the restaurant most days, so...” Her voice trailed off.

“I should be able to manage, but if I need anything, I'll call you.”

They stared at one another for a few awkward seconds, neither of them knowing what to say, then she eased off the porch, got in her car, and drove away.

When she had departed, Jayce familiarized himself with the house. He found it to be much too elegant for a vacation rental, but that was Stephanie—everything perfect—down to the last detail.

He moved his stuff to the bedroom and fell back on the bed. The soft mattress was more to his liking than what he had been sleeping on. After checking out the rest of the house, he went into the kitchen and opened the fridge. She had it stocked from top to bottom.

He smiled and shook his head. “Some things never change,” he said to himself as he grabbed a soda and popped the top.

He moved out onto the covered porch and gazed out over the water. From where he stood, he had an unobstructed view to the other side of the lake. As he scanned the horizon, he was disappointed to find dozens of homes where once there had been beautiful green pastures. To make matters worse, there were a dozen bulldozers and earth movers sitting atop a nearby hill ready to clear more land. The area had really boomed since he had been away. But, amongst the newer homes, on the end of a long point, sat the house of Glen and Mary Ryan, Stephanie's parents. Jayce smiled as he remembered all the days he had spent with them when he was a teenager.

He and Stephanie had begun dating the summer they turned sixteen. She, the dutiful daughter, perfect in every way. He, the rebellious boy who snuck out at night to smoke cigarettes, but somehow got straight A's. They were an unlikely pair, and at first Stephanie's parents didn't approve of him. But to gain their trust, Jayce gave up the cigarettes and start acting respectable. By the time he graduated high school, he was a completely different person, and he had Stephanie to thank for that.

As he shook himself mentally, he took a drink of soda and strolled back into the house. Dinner time was fast approaching and despite knowing his way around the kitchen, he felt like eating out. He also felt bad for not paying for the use of the house, so he went back to Rafters.

Jayce was less than enthusiastic to find the lot full of cars when he arrived. He eased out of the truck and made his way to the front. Before he got to the door, he could see the place was full. Rather than risk waiting, he turned around to leave, thinking he would grab something and take it back to the house.

“We have some seats out back, on the porch,” said Stephanie, appearing in the doorway. She had seen him pull up. “I think you've got time before the rain sets in.”

Jayce glanced up at the deepening gray sky, then let his eyes fall back to her. “I’ll trust you,” he said, and followed her inside.

To the right of the fireplace was a door leading to a porch that looked out over the water. There was one other couple out there already, but it was quiet, and the view was second to none, so Jayce found a table near the railing and made himself comfortable.

“Jessica's a little preoccupied, so I'll be waiting on you this evening. I hope that's all right.”

He paused and stared up at her. “More than all right,” he whispered. “I, um, wanted to say thanks again. The house is magnificent, and you were right, it sure beats the motel.”

“Well, I'm glad you like it,” she said. She caught herself smiling a little too broadly and reined it in. “Something to drink? A sweet tea...beer...”

“Let's start with sweet tea and see how it goes.”

While she went to get his drink, Jayce stared out at the lake. The water was low, and many of the sandy islands, which were underwater only a few weeks before, were now clearly visible. He remembered fondly trolling those waters as a kid, and a smile came to his face as he thought about all the fish he'd caught with his grandparents.

“One sweet tea,” said Stephanie, sliding the glass in front of him. “Two lemons.”

“You remembered?”

“Yeah, well, mind like a—”

“Steel trap. Yeah, I remember.”

They locked eyes and both their smiles widened.

He had always admired that about her. She was smart and funny, often simultaneously, but most of all she was smart. Intelligence ran in her family. Her mother was a professor and her father had worked for the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) as an engineer. She came from excellent stock, which is more than Jayce could say for himself. Not that his family was stupid, at least not his mother. His father was more of a mystery.

“Thoughts on dinner?” she said, clearing her expression.

“How about the prime rib I saw on the marquee out front?”

“Excellent choice. Let me get to work on that.”

A short time later, Stephine appeared with a medium rare prime rib, mashed potatoes, and green beans.

Jayce ate in relative silence as the clouds above him thickened. When the first drops of rain began falling, he moved inside and took a seat at the bar.

“I hope the rain didn't ruin your dinner,” Stephanie said as she handed him a towel to dry off.

“Actually, I had just finished,” he reassured her as he dried his face.

He paid his bill, then lingered for another minute while he worked up the courage to ask if she wanted to come over later.

Her eyes got wide.

“Maybe that came out wrong,” he said, now replaying the words in his head. “I only meant to say, do you want to come by for a drink later? You mentioned wanting to catch up. I just thought we could sit on the back porch and talk.”

Stephanie appeared flustered. “I, uh, probably shouldn't,” she replied sheepishly. “Not tonight. I've got to close up and it will be near midnight by the time l leave. Rain check?”

“Yeah. Sure,” he replied, dealing with the sting of her rejection.

***

That night, after the last customer had been served, Jessica and Stephanie hung around to close up. They swept floors, emptied trash, and wiped down all the tables. The doors would open in a few hours, and they'd have to start the entire process over again.

Rafters had been a bit of an experiment for them both, but things had gone far better than expected. Still, the work was exhausting, and it meant neither of them had much of a social life outside of the conversations that took place inside those four walls.

“Today was our best day yet,” Stephanie delighted as she looked up from the ledger. “If we keep this up, we'll be able to bring on a general manager to help us run this place.”

“Now you're talking,” Jessica remarked as she finished wiping down the last table. “Not that I'm complaining, but I could use a day off.”

“You've been a real trooper, Jess,” Stephanie told her. “I'm don't know what I would have done without you.”

“I do,” Jessica responded, sitting down across from her as she kicked up her feet. “You would have worked yourself to death, but you would have made it work.” She paused briefly, only long enough to plan her next question. “By the way, why did you turn down Jayce when he offered you to come over tonight?”

Stephanie's face turned red. “You heard that?”

“You should know by now I eavesdrop on all your conversations.”

Stephanie thought about making up an excuse, but she wasn't good at lying.

“I guess it caught me off guard a little.”

Jessica stared at her for a moment, but knew she was telling the truth.

“That's okay. I'd be shocked if it didn't. Look, I realize things have been different since, well, since it happened, but you can't keep pushing everyone away. Eventually, you'll have to put yourself out there again.”

Stephanie knew she was right.

“If I were you, I'd drive over there tonight, before Amber sets her sights on him.”

“Nah,” she said, dismissing her comment. “Amber's harmless. Besides, she's a little young for Jayce, don't you think?”

Stephanie sat up straight and stared directly at her. “Are you that naïve? Have you seen Amber Dupree?” she asked, eyebrows raised. “I'm not even into girls and I think she's hot.”

Stephanie shot Jessica a look of amusement. “Be that as it may,” she drawled as she placed the last of the money it into the overnight deposit bag. “What's that got to do with me?”

“How long have we known each other?”

“Twelve years,” Stephanie replied, failing to see where this was going.

“Exactly, which means I know you almost as well as you know yourself, and I can honestly say I've never seen you light up when a guy walked into a room. Until yesterday, that is.”

The amusement was all but gone from Stephanie's face. She realized Jessica had been paying close attention.

“Now, are you going to tell me what's going on between you and the handsome Sheriff or are you going to make me guess?”

Stephanie dropped her eyes and looked away. “It was a long time ago” she finally said.

“I knew it,” said Jessica, as if she'd just unearthed some great treasure. “Wait,” she said as her smile fell, “how am I just now hearing about this? I thought you told me everything?”

Stephanie ignored her last question. “Cal and I dated when we were teenagers. But that was a long time ago,” she added before Jessica could say another word.

“Go on.”

Stephanie didn't respond right away. Painful memories played just beyond her eyes. “I loved him. I really loved him,” she began through blurry eyes. “But he broke my heart.”

“How?” said Jessica tenderly.

“It happened shortly after we moved to Silver Falls. I was mad at my parents. Having to start over at the start of my junior year was the worst. I had no friends to speak of and everyone at school ignored me. About a month after school started, I got moved into an advanced math class. That's when I met Jayce Callahan. He sat behind me and would always ask to look at my homework. I had overheard some girls in my English class say he had a reputation for being a bad boy. He snuck out of class several times a day to smoke behind the greenhouse. He was good-looking, though.” She paused as she fought a smile.

“But he was also arrogant and obnoxious. I tried my best to stay away from him, but for some reason he kept talking to me. Anyway, one day I was standing at my locker between classes when he came up and asked me out, just out of the blue.”

“What did you say?” Stephanie asked, hanging on her every word.

“I said no, of course. I knew my parents would never go for it. Just to rub it in a little, I told him he'd have to change his ways if he wanted to be with a girl like me. I thought that would teach him a lesson. Little did I know, he'd actually listen to me. By Halloween, he had cleaned himself up, stopped smoking, and started coming to class prepared. Turns out, he was extremely intelligent. Even when he was doing all those things, he was a straight-A student. Anyway, he asked me out again before Thanksgiving and this time I said yes.”

“Of course, mom and dad had to meet him before they would agree to let me go out with him, so I invited him over for Sunday dinner and the rest is history.”

“So, your parents liked him?”

“Not at first, but after a few more times at the house, they felt comfortable enough to let me go out with him. Admittedly, I fell hard. He was the first guy I had ever gone out with, and before I knew it I wanted to be around him all the time.”

“By the time we got to senior year, we started talking about what we would do when school was over. I wanted to be a journalist, and he had his sights set on finance. For as long as I could remember I had wanted to go to Georgia Tech. Jayce said he didn't care where he went as long as it meant he could be close to me. When we both got accepted, I was the happiest I had ever been in my life. Then, just a few weeks before we were supposed to leave, he broke up with me...said he had a change of mind...and heart.” She paused as tears welled in her eyes. “I was young and naïve. I thought we'd be together forever, but—” Her voice faded.

“And he didn't give a reason?” Stephanie could feel the anger swelling inside her.

“No. He said something about getting as far away from Silver Falls as possible. It was like he had transformed into a completely different person.”

“What an asshole.”

“But that's just the thing, he isn't. Jayce is one of the sweetest people I've ever met, which is why I still think there was something else going on. I'm not sure if it was his mother or what, but—”

“Have you ever asked him?”

“No.” She waited a few long seconds before speaking. “Before yesterday, I hadn't laid eyes on him since that night. Honestly, I didn't even know if he was alive or dead. No one around here seems to know anything about him. He’s like a ghost.”

“Weird,” said Jessica as she leaned back in her chair. Then, after a few seconds, she got up, grabbed her keys, and headed for the door.

“Where are you going?” Stephanie asked before Jessica could reach the door.

“To talk to him?”

“What? No!” Stephanie demanded, looking horror-struck.

“Don't you want to know why he left? Steph, this guy could be the love of your life, and if not, at the very least he owes you a proper explanation.”

It had been a long time since Stephanie had thought about love or anything that resembled it. She'd perfected the art of being distant and despite Jessica's best efforts, she had turned down every man who'd asked her out since returning to Silver Falls.

“Jess, I appreciate you sticking up for me, but I can fight my own battles. Besides, what happened between me and Jayce was a long time ago. I'm not the same person I was back then.”

“And neither is he. Look,” Jessica pleaded as she eased away from the door, “I'm not a huge believer in signs, but this guy showing up out of the blue after sixteen years has to mean something. I know you don't like to let anyone get close to you,” she continued as she sat back down at the table, “but if you want to have any kind of meaningful relationship, you have to make yourself vulnerable.”

Stephanie thought about her words a long time before speaking, but Jessica was right. “All right,” she said finally. “I'll ask him, but not tonight. It's already after eleven and he's probably asleep. I'll call him tomorrow, promise.”

When they had finished locking up the restaurant, Jessica went home to get some sleep. Stephanie drove by the bank and dropped off the bag in the overnight deposit slot, then went straight home. The streets were empty, except for the few remaining customers coming from Curleys Bar.

Stephanie and Jessica had discussed keeping their bar open a little later, but were concerned the crowd would be rowdy and take away from the elegance of the restaurant. Besides, a bar at midnight was not exactly the safest place for two young, attractive women to be, even if they owned the place.

By the time Stephanie got home it was eleven thirty. She checked the house, just to make sure nothing was out of place, then went straight to bed. Normally, she'd slip into a pair of comfortable pajamas, curl up on the couch for a while, and watch Letterman or Leno, but it had been a long day and morning would come sooner than she liked, so tonight no TV. Besides, her mind was still stuck on the conversation she and Jessica had been having.

It had been a long time since Stephanie had thought about Jayce, so she was mystified why she couldn’t push him out of her mind. Even though their relationship had ended abruptly, they were kids. It might have ended a month or two later anyway, especially once school had started. That's where she had met David. He might have swept her off her feet, and Jayce might have hooked up with one or two or more of the sorority girls. Oh well, there was no need to dwell on such things and yet, here she was, doing exactly that.

Stephanie was a workaholic—had been ever since the disaster with David ended with him leaving her a month before their wedding. After that, she poured herself into her work, leaving little time for anything, including relationships. She hadn't had sex in years, and although she didn't have a problem with it, per se, Jessica thought she was a complete lunatic.

As she lay in bed with her eyes closed, she couldn't help but think what things might have been like if she and Jayce had stayed together.

Chapter 5

The Warning

The next morning, Stephanie was up at five. She hadn't slept well. Normally, sleep came easy, but no less than five times did she wake during the night, each time with the same thing on her mind—Jayce. Not only had his return interrupted her routine, now the mere thought of him was messing with her sleep. She knew she had to do something about it.

Maybe Jessica was right; perhaps it was time to let go of the past and start over? Maybe it was time to sit down with Jayce and talk things over? Casting her thoughts aside, she showered, dried her hair the best she could, dressed, and headed out into the dark. Jessica was just pulling into the lot when she arrived.

“Morning,” said Jessica in a groggy voice. She wasn't a morning person but had been forced to become one since she and Stephanie had opened the restaurant. It would be a couple hours and three cups of coffee before she'd be her normal, bubbly self.

They went inside and flipped on the lights. The hum of fluorescent bulbs filled the air.

“Sleep well?” asked Jessica. It was how she started their conversation each morning.

“No,” said Stephanie, eyes down, as she set off for the bar.

“That's new. How come?”

“Too many things on my mind, I suppose,” said Stephanie as she went into the kitchen and turned on the oven.

When she came back, Jessica was already starting the coffee.

“Thinking about him again?” she asked, coming to life.

“Yeah, which is weird. I thought about what you said last night and maybe I should sit down and talk with him. I've been trying to deny it ever since he arrived, but I can't go another night without sleep. I need to put this to rest.”

“That's my girl,” Jessica said proudly, and they both went about readying things for the morning rush.

***

Later that afternoon, at a house across town, Alice Gainer was taking a chicken casserole out of the over. She had green beans, sweet potatoes, rolls, and a large pitcher of sweet tea. It was a bit overdone for lunch, but she enjoyed cooking for someone other than Pete. Besides, it was a meal she used to make for Jayce years ago when he'd spend all day on patrol with Pete, so she could have prepared it in her sleep.

“All right, you two, lunch is ready,” she said proudly as she uncovered the rolls. “Get in here and grab it while it's hot.”

Pete looked to Jayce. “You heard the woman.”

They went into the kitchen and filled their plates, then sat down and enjoyed the meal. Alice was an excellent cook. There was no doubt about it. She had learned from her mother who had learned from her mother, and so on. She had lived in Silver Falls her entire life, and so had Pete. They met in high school and had been together ever since.

“So, Jayce, Pete tells me you're going to sell your mother's home?”

“Thinking about it,” Jayce replied. “I don't have an interest in keeping it and I'm not down here enough to rent the place, so I might as well get out of it what I can, especially with the price of real estate these days.”

“Have you ever considered moving back?”

She didn’t waste any time, Jayce thought.

Alice wanted more than anything for Jayce to be closer. She loved him like a son and after all the time he'd spent at her house growing up, she could have claimed him on her income tax.

“Never say never, I guess,” he said, trying to be sensitive, “but I like where I'm at. The people are salt of the earth, and I have a magnificent piece of property, and there's always Cam.”

“Cam?” said Pete with sudden interest.

“My dog, Camo. She keeps me company.”

“What about a girlfriend?” asked Alice as she shoveled in another bite of casserole.

Jayce smiled amusingly. “No one special,” he answered.

“That's too bad,” said Alice, darting her eyes to Pete.

“Oh, leave the boy alone, Alice. It will happen when it's meant to. What do you think of Rafters?” Pete asked, redirecting the conversation.

“I'm impressed. Jessica and Steph have done an outstanding job.”

“She's an impressive young lady,” said Pete. “They both are.”

Jayce nodded in agreement as he shoveled in another bite of meatloaf. “Why didn't you tell me she was back in town?”

Pete looked up from his green beans. “Must have slipped my mind,” he said innocently, but Jayce knew otherwise. Pete was sharp as a tack.

“Well, it doesn't matter. I didn't think I would ever see her again, so I'm glad she's here. As long as she's safe. That's the only thing that matters to me.”

“You have my word,” said Pete, looking deathly serious.

Jayce hung around for a while, then left Pete and Alice's around six-thirty and started home. He had spent the entire afternoon with them, and as much as he adored both of them, he was ready to kick back and relax for the rest of the evening. Besides, he was still stuck on the key his mother had left for him. Something about it wouldn’t let him go. He thought it had to do something with the house, but he was dreading seeing the place. Too many ghosts.

Jayce took his time driving home, admiring the beautiful evening sky. It seemed to transform before his eyes from burnt orange to red as the sun lowered on the horizon. He missed those painted skies, the kind you find near water. There was nothing like that in Emmett’s Grove.

He wasn't far from home when he spotted a car on the shoulder of the road with its emergency lights on, so he pulled over to see if he could be of assistance. Even in Silver Falls, he was still a cop, so helping those in need always took priority. As he got out of the truck, he examined the car, a silver Lexus with a license plate that read BAD GRL. Jayce rolled his eyes.

Just then, the driver door opened and out swung a pair of legs, followed by the rest of her.

Jayce paused and swallowed the lump in his throat.

“Amber, right?” he asked as he resumed his approach.

“Oh, it's you.” She was surprised to see him. “Thank God. I was afraid I was going to have to walk home.”

“What seems to be the problem?”

“The damn thing stalled on me again. I tried my best to pull off to the side, but as you can see, I didn't quite make it.”

Jayce looked down and saw that the left tires were barely touching concrete.

“Have you tried calling anyone?”

“No service,” she said, flashing the latest iPhone.

“I'm not sure if you remember me, but I'm—”

“Mr. Callahan. I remember,” she said with a smile.

“Please, call me Jayce. Mr. Callahan creeps me out a little.”

“Fair enough, Jayce. I'm Amber Dupree,” she said, shaking his hand as her eyes smiled back at him. “I don't suppose you know anything about cars, do you?”

“Some,” he said, as he rounded the front of the car. “I was a mechanic in the service. I know just enough to be dangerous.” Modesty wasn’t his strength, but he was trying. Honestly, he was great with his hands and could fix just about anything.

I'll bet you do, she thought. She bit her lip as she admired him in those jeans. “Do you mind looking? I don't know much about cars myself, other than they're not supposed to stop while you're driving them.”

“Not at all. Do me a favor and pop the hood.”

She did as he instructed, then he lifted the hood the rest of the way and propped it open. He gave the engine the once over and immediately spotted the problem. “Plugs are shot,” he confirmed. “See there?” he said, pointing to the melted wires.

She walked to the front of the car to have a look. “That can't be good. Is it easy to fix?”

“Easy enough, but it will have to wait until morning,” he said as he lowered the hood into place. “The garage doesn't open until eight. Can I give you a lift home?”

“Sure. That'd be great.”

“Grab your purse and keys and don't forget to lock up. That's an expensive car.”

He went back to the truck and waited for her. He knew she was trouble, but he couldn't just leave her out there on her own.

“Thanks for the ride,” she said as she hopped up into the cab. “Love the truck, by the way. Very vintage.” Her voice was thick with sarcasm. “My boyfriend used to have one just like this.”

“Is that where I'm taking you, to his house?” he said slyly, trying his best to keep his eyes forward.

“Smooth,” she replied, darting her eyes to him. “I just moved to town a few months ago. I'm renting a place on the lake, just a few miles up on Gentry Road.”

“Gentry? That's where I'm staying,” he said with a bit of shock. “What's the address?”

“367, you?”

“375. Looks like we're neighbors.” A smile worked into the corner of his mouth, which he quickly dropped. Just then, he remembered what Stephanie had told him about her other tenant. He didn't realize Amber was who she was talking about.

After dropping Amber off at her place, Jayce went home and settled in for the evening. He wasn't much for TV, so he grabbed a beer and went out to the porch. Night had fallen, but he could still see the water, and now that the boat traffic had died down, it was peaceful. He had just sat down and made himself comfortable when someone knocked on the door.

He jumped up and grabbed his pistol as eased toward the front door. Looking through the peephole, he found Amber holding a bottle of wine in one hand and a basket in the other. She had on low-cut jeans, tennis shoes, and a purple crop-top sweater.

Jayce holstered the weapon as he took a deep breath and unlocked the door.

“Amber, hey,” he announced, swinging the door wide.

“I hope you don't mind, but I thought I'd cook dinner...to say thanks for earlier.”

Before he could object, she slid past him and made her way to the kitchen.

“Please, won’t you come in,” he murmured.

She went into the kitchen and popped the cork on the wine. “You always keep that gun on you?” she asked nonchalantly.

“You noticed?” he asked, glancing down.

“I figured it was that or you were thrilled I came over.”

He raised his eyes to her.

“You won’t need that around me—the gun, that is. Trust me, I'm harmless.”

I doubt that, he thought as he took the gun and holster and stowed it away in the TV stand drawer.

She poured two glasses of white wine and brought one out to Jayce. “Here,” she said, handing it to him, “drink this.”

“I'm more or a beer and bourbon guy myself,” he replied.

“Come on, just a taste. I promise you'll like it.” She took a sip first.

Jayce followed her lead, and despite his general distaste for wine, he was pleasantly surprised.

“See. What'd I tell you?”

“So,” he said as he sat at one end of the sofa, “do you always bring wine to stranger's houses after you first meet them?”

“Stranger?” she said, looking slightly annoyed as she sat on the other end, opposite him. “Your name is Jayce Alexander Callahan. You’re thirty-four-years-old, originally from Silver Falls…current location unknown. Evelyn was your mother. You don't have any father to speak of, and you were in the military. Oh, and you're a cop. How’d I do?”

“Not bad,” he answered in amusement. “But how did you know I was a cop?”

“Because,” she began as she brushed back the hair from her eyes, “only a cop would have gone to the troubling of stopping for me out there this evening. Anyone else would have driven right by.”

“I doubt that,” he said, allowing his eyes to look her over. “I think you could have had any man in this town stop for you.”

“What's that supposed to mean?” she asked, looking mildly offended.

“I'm just saying you're stunning, that's all.”

“Tall, dark, handsome, and sweet. You're some kind of trouble, Jayce Callahan.” She got up slowly and went into the kitchen, then grabbed a pot from the rack, filled it with water, and set it on the stove to boil.

“What brought you to Silver Falls?” Jayce inquired as he watched her unpack the ingredients from the basket.

“Needed a change of scenery,” she said as she walked back into the living room. “I get that way sometimes. Honestly, I hadn't intended for Silver Falls to be my landing place. I was planning on staying for a day or two to admire the lake and take my mind off things, but when someone mentioned there was an opening at the law office, I stopped in and Eddie hired me on the spot.”

“Wow, that’s fortunate. So, how long have you been here?”

“Six months, going on seven.” She took another sip and sat the glass down on the coffee table.

The water was boiling, so she dropped the noodles into the pot and started preparing the sauce.

“You know your way around the kitchen,” he complimented, watching as she diced the poured oil into a pan and went about tearing the oregano and basil.

“My mother was part Italian,” she explained as she grabbed a cutting board and began dicing the tomatoes. “I learned everything I know from her.”

“And your dad?”

“Died when I was a teenager—car accident.”

“I'm sorry to hear that.”

“Don't be. It was a long time ago, and he wasn’t exactly the greatest guy, so…” Her voice fell off as she dropped the meat into the pan.

“Did your mom ever remarry?”

“When I was seventeen,” she said as she gave the noodles a stir. “His name is Terry. How spicy do you like it?” she asked as she glanced over her shoulder at him.

“I'm okay with a little heat,” he replied, assuming she was still talking about food.

When dinner was ready, she filled two plates and sat them on the dining room table.

“More wine?” she asked as she poured herself another glass.

“Why not?” he said as he sat down to eat. “This looks amazing,” he delighted, thinking how long it had been since he'd last eaten great pasta.

“Eddie tells me you grew up here. Why'd you leave?”

“Same as you, I guess—change of scenery.” He waited to see if his answer had quelled her interest.

“And where'd you go?”

“To New York.”

“Wow, talk about a one-eighty.”

“Something like that. When I finished college, I was fortunate enough to be offered a job in the city.”

“As a cop?”

“No,” he laughed, thinking how difficult connecting the dots must be for her. “I took a job with a financial services firm, but I didn't much like the city, so I went out west for a while, spent four years in the army, then came back and settled in the country. That’s when I became a cop.”

“Do you like it—being a cop?”

“I do,” he confessed. “I've always enjoyed helping people.”

“I like that,” she said as she twirled the noodles at the end of her fork. “A man that knows who he is and what he wants. That's what's missing around here.”

“What? Folks who know what they want?”

“No. Men. Real men.”

Jayce smiled.

“What about you, did you go to school anywhere?”

“Only if you count the School of Hard Knocks. After dad died, mom had to take two jobs just to keep us afloat. I have a brother who's older, so he helped where he could, but we always seemed to just scrape by. I didn't have the money to go to college, so I moved out and started working when I was eighteen.”

“But you seem to do okay for yourself now. You drive a nice car, have a good job—”

“Looks can be deceiving,” she said ominously. “But it could always be worse, right?” She cracked a smile, but it quickly faded.

They finished dinner and Jayce helped her clear the table. It was the least he could do after she had cooked him dinner. Then, she poured them both another glass of wine and they went out on the porch and continued their conversation.

“This has been fun,” she said as she sipped slowly on her third glass.

“I agree,” said Jayce apprehensively. He was wondering when she was going to make her move, and how he was going to respond when she did.

“I hate to be a buzzkill,” she said as she stood, “but I've got to be up early tomorrow for an appointment in Knoxville. But maybe we could do this again sometime?”

“Yeah, sure,” said Jayce, feeling a mix of confusion and relief.

Amber downed the rest of the wine, then gathered the items she'd brought with her and headed for the door. Being the gentleman he was, Jayce walked her home. A couple hundred yards were all that stood between his front door and hers, but experience had taught him to be cautious. Besides, it was after midnight, and he knew how dangerous Silver Falls could be late at night.

After she was safely inside, Jayce retraced his steps to the house. He had been wrong about Amber. If she was easy, she had a strange way of showing it. She was seductive, in all the ways a woman could be, but if she'd had her sights set on a one-night stand, she had passed up a golden opportunity. Perhaps she was lonely, he thought as he went inside and shut the door.

Even through the fog of inebriation, he recognized something was out of place. As he looked around, he noticed the sliding door to the porch was open. In the five minutes it had taken him to walk Amber home, someone had been there. He went for the drawer and retrieved his gun. Instantly, he became sober, and went about clearing the house.

Whoever had been there was gone, but as he came back into the living room, he saw a letter sitting on the coffee table, addressed to him. Written in bold, black letters, were the following words:

I WARNED YOU NOT TO COME BACK

NOW, THEIR BLOOD IS ON YOUR HANDS

SEE YOU SOON