Love Inspired Suspense April 2021--Box Set 2 of 2 by Laura Scott (free e reader .TXT) 📕

“We’re not sure that they were accidents,” Liam said, choosing his words with care.

“What do you mean?”

“We think those deaths were disguised to look like accidents. They were all survivors of the bus accident. We’re checking with families of the kids who died that day to see if there might be a connection. Since you’re a survivor, too, I wanted to give you a head’s up and to ask you to let me know if you notice anything odd, anything that makes you uneasy.”

“I appreciate the warning.” She gave a delicate shiver, then eyed him shrewdly. “There’s more, isn’t there? You’re thinking that one of us might be behind what’s going on.”

“You’re very quick, Ms. Thomas,” Paige said.

“It’s Reva.” Out came a flash of whiter-than-white teeth in a patented politician’s smile. “I’m smart enough to do the math.” She turned to Liam. “But I have a hard time seeing members of our friends’ families going around killing people.”

“Maybe you won’t have such a hard time when I tell you that some people still carry grudges,” he said and explained about Mr. Howard and Pope’s wife and son. “Now someone is trying to kill me.”

“I can’t believe it,” Reva said, shaking her head. “I never bore you or any of the other kids who survived ill will. After all, I’m a survivor, too.”

Liam recalled that she’d taken some teasing over her job as equipment manager, as it didn’t carry the prestige of being on the cheerleading squad itself. Somehow she’d managed to get out of the bus on her own and swim to the surface.

Because she was younger than the other survivors, she had been largely lost in the shuffle and no one had paid much attention to her. When she was remembered, it was always as “Marie’s little sister.”

“I know. You were one of the few people who was still speaking to me by the end of school.”

“It wasn’t your fault that kids died any more than it was mine. I’m sorry, Liam. I remember most of the folks treated you like a hero, but I guess some blamed you for not getting their kids out. You did your best. That’s what I told my parents when they were grieving Marie, the same as I told everyone else.”

“Thanks, Reva. That means a lot.”

“About these accidents...” she spread her hands “... I just don’t know. I didn’t realize that they were anything but that until you showed up. Now I’m wondering if I’m at risk.” A delicate shudder punctuated her words as twin lines worked their way across her brow.

“Have you noticed anyone following you?” Paige asked.

“No. But I’ve been pretty preoccupied.” Her worried look relaxed into a thoughtful expression. “I can ask my staffers if they’ve noticed anyone strange hanging around. They’re pretty protective of me.” She gave a light laugh. “We’ve become a kind of family. They believe in me and what I want for the town, for the state.”

“Family is good, wherever it comes from,” Liam said.

“That’s what I thought. My staff is the best. They make sure I remember to eat and sleep. I’m fortunate to have them. All in all, I’m doing okay.”

“I’d say you’ve done more than okay,” Paige said. “You’re very young to be mayor, and now you’re running for the state senate.”

“Thanks. It’s a lot to take on. I hope I’m up to the job.” The words were modest, but the smug tilt of her smile was not. Its brilliance radiated a confidence that said she was not only up to the job but would soon move on to even bigger things.

“I’m sure you are,” Liam said.

“I really wish I could help. After I graduated, I didn’t keep in touch with kids from school much. It was—” she lifted a slim shoulder “—too hard with losing Marie. And I was never really a part of the rest of you. I know what the kids thought, that I was just a hanger-on, being cheerleading equipment manager. It wasn’t much, but it let me hang out with all you handsome football players.” She gave Liam a wink and reached for his hand, held it a beat too long. “Marie always said you were a hero. You proved it that day.”

Uncomfortable with the praise, Liam ducked his head. “Thanks,” he mumbled. “But I wasn’t a hero any more than anyone else.”

“You were a hero in my book. What you did took guts.”

“Thanks, Reva. Like I said, not everyone feels that way.”

“You know what I do when people don’t like me? I put them out of my mind and move on.” She snapped her fingers. “Easy-peasy.”

After a few more minutes, Liam and Paige made their goodbyes. Back in the truck, he turned to her. “What did you think?”

“She comes across as straightforward.”

“‘Comes across’? Does that mean you don’t think she is?”

“It means I don’t know. She’s ambitious and is aiming for bigger things. Things that will take her beyond Willow Springs, even beyond the state capital.”

Liam was dubious. “Being mayor of Willow Springs and running for state senator doesn’t exactly make her a power player.”

“But that isn’t where she intends to end up.”

“How do you know?”

“Her shoes.”

He shot her an incredulous look. “Her shoes?”

“Jimmy Choo. Trust me. I know good shoes even though I can’t afford them. She’s dressing for the job she wants. I’m guessing Congress. From there it’s a hop, skip and jump to governor. And from there, who knows?” Paige sent him a teasing smile. “She had a crush on you back in the day. Like most of the girls.”

“You, too?” Why had he asked that? It came off as sounding desperate.

But Paige didn’t seem to mind answering. “Of course. I had the biggest crush of all on you. I was afraid to even look at you for fear you’d discover my secret.”

And now? But this time he had the sense to keep his mouth shut. And what was he doing, quizzing Paige about feelings that were fifteen years old?

“You were big-man-on-campus,” she