Beholden by Pat Warren Read Free Book Online Page A

for the weekend because… because…
     “Oh, God!” she whispered, as the memory slammed into her.
    Concerned, Father took her hand in his. “You’re going to be all right, Terry.”
    It all came rushing back, walking into the parking garage with Don, the shots, the men in the gray car, trying to outma-neuver
     them, picking up Lynn. A horrible thought, an incrediblefear, hovered at the back of her mind. “Why did my car go out of control like that? It was almost new.”
    “They don’t know, dear,” Father told her in his kind voice. “The police haven’t told us anything.”
    She knew. Someone had to have tampered with the brakes or something. And, because of that, because of what she’d witnessed,
     Lynn was gone. It was her fault, all her fault. She should have told someone, should have gotten help instead of running like
     a scared rabbit. Choking back a sob, Terry clutched Father Tim’s hand, ignoring her own bruised fingers. “I need to make a
     confession, Father.”
    “Certainly, dear.” It wasn’t unusual, a person who’d escaped death, needing to reaffirm her faith. “But shouldn’t I call your
     family first? And the doctor, to let him know you’re awake?”
    “No, please. I need to confess, right now.” She simply had to tell someone, and Father Tim was someone she could trust, bound
     by his vows not to repeat her story. As he bent his head to her, she closed her eyes and began.
    Listening, Father Tim could hardly believe his ears. This poor child who’d nearly died had witnessed a murder and, as if that
     weren’t enough, had seen an old family friend apparently involved in the killing. Father knew Sergeant McCarthy nearly as
     well as the Ryans, and thought him a fine man. Was Terry to be believed, or was she hallucinating? Still, he’d read in the
     papers about that reporter’s terrible death happening the same evening that Terry had been in her accident. She wouldn’t have
     known about it if she hadn’t been there, since she’d just awakened.
    Father Tim gave Terry absolution, then sat back. “I’m so sorry, my dear,” he said, wishing he could remove the pain from the
     young woman’s eyes. “Let me call your family now.”
    They’d been after her, Terry thought. She was sure of it. The men she’d seen at the garage, Mac and his friends, the ones
     who’d followed her in the gray car. She couldn’t allowthem near her family. She couldn’t let them know where she was. Even though they thought she was Lynn, they might want to
     kill her, too, just in case she knew something. “Does… does everyone think I’m dead?” she asked Father Tim.
    He hesitated, then decided there was no way to keep the truth from her. “Yes. We had your funeral last week.” He leaned forward.
     “Terry, your parents will be so relieved that you’re alive.” He rose. “I’ll just go call them.”
    She reached for his hand, caught his sleeve, and moaned at the slice of pain that shot up her arm at the sudden movement.
     “No! Please, Father. I just told you what I witnessed. Those men mean business. I can’t jeopardize Mom and Dad.”
    “Come now, Terry, surely they wouldn’t…”
    “Yes, they would.” It hurt to speak with her throat so sore, but it would hurt more to keep still. She had to think, to find
     a way. She knew someone who might be able to help. She had trusted Andy enough to try to call him that night. She had a strong
     feeling that he wouldn’t let her down. “Father, there’s a man I need you to call for me. He’s a detective out of Mt. Shadows
     Precinct. Andy Russell. Please, look up his number and be sure no one can overhear you. Tell him where I am and to come to
     me right away. He’s a good friend. He’ll come. Try the station and his home both.”
    Father O’Malley looked skeptical. She’d been in a coma for many days. Was she rational? “Are you sure, Terry? Your father
     was an officer. Why don’t we… ”
    “No, please, please. Do as I ask.