Read Online A Silent Terror by Lynette Eason - Free Book Online Page B

didn’t have good reason to be, but obviously the silver car belonged to a member of the congregation. Relief replaced her momentary anxiety.
    Ethan tapped her shoulder to get her attention. “So, what are you in the mood for?” His touch lingered, causing her stomach to do a series of flip-flops.
    Pushing her attraction aside for now, she thought.
    “Something…relaxing.”
    “Huh?”
    “You know, relaxing food. Fruit, ice cream, soup.”
    “I never knew food could be relaxing.”
    Marianna reached up and took his hand in hers, feeling the calluses of a man used to hard work, yet one who used his hands for gentle comport, too. Somehow, Marianna knew Ethan would never raise a fist against her – ever.
    “Well, you’re about to learn something new. How about we go to Panera?”
    “The one on East Main?”
    She laughed. “Yes, since it’s the only one in Spartanburg.”
    “Right.” He pulled his hand from her grasp and cranked the car to head across town. Once there, Ethan ordered while she got a table.
    From her seat, she watched him smile at the young girl who flirted outrageously with him while punching in the order.
    Marianna was impressed that while Ethan smiled in a friendly way, there was nothing encouraging or flirtatious about him. Curt would have…nope, not going there.
    Soon, Ethan brought their food to the table, and Marianna enjoyed her salad while he sampled the soup.
    After a few minutes, Marianna placed her fork on the table and looked at her companion. “So, let’s get to the point. You have something else you want to discuss with me, don’t you?”
    Startled bemusement flickered briefly, then, turning serious, he said, “I don’t think you’re safe staying at your house.”
    “I’ve already thought about that.”
    “And?”
    Marianna sat back, munching the last bite of salad. She swallowed took a sip of water, then said, “I hate to admit it, but you’re probably right. I don’t want to, but I guess I’ll be staying at my parents’ longer than I thought.”
    “What’s your hesitation?”
    “I’ve fought so hard to be…” Did she really want to share this with him? A man she’d known for only a little over a week and met under extreme circumstances? Yet, there was something about him that pulled her, drew her to him.
    He finished the sentence for her. “…independent?”
    She nodded, guilt hitting her hard. Her family was so wonderful, yet they had a way of being a little smothering sometimes.
    “They just want to make sure nothing happens to you.”
    Marianna straightened, agitation making her words sharp. “I can take care of myself. I don’t need someone watching to make sure nothing happens to me.”
    Something flashed in his eyes. Hurt, anger, grief? She couldn’t place the emotion she saw but wondered at the cause.
    Abruptly, he said, “Okay, so this guy that broke in. His shoe print is different than the one we found from the murder.”
    Marianna blinked but allowed the topic shift. “Does that mean it was two different people?”
    “No, not necessarily. He could have just worn a different pair of shoes this time. We did rule out Suzanne’s ex-boyfriend, Bryson James. He had an alibi, plus his shoe size is about a size and a half too small for the print we found. That’s too much of a difference to suspect him.”
    “What about the two prints from the different incidents. Are they the same size?” Marianna wondered.
    “No, but there’s only about a half size difference. Which, again, doesn’t mean much. Some people buy their shoes according to fit and feel, not size. But the difference is small enough that we can’t rule out it’s the same person.”
    “So, basically, we know nothing.”
    “That’s it in a nutshell.”
    “And there wasn’t any DNA or anything found either time?”
    “Still waiting on that. And you can’t think of anything you might have that this guy could be after?”
    Marianna threw her hands up. “No. I can’t think of a