Page 59 of Is Anyone Listening?
"When did you notice the vehicle behind you?"
"Shortly after I took the detour." I paused. "It's weird about that detour. If those tree branches hadn't blocked the highway, I never would have been on this road."
"Unfortunate timing," the sheriff murmured.
Anger ran through me. "Unfortunate? I almost lost my life, and I can't help thinking it wasn't a coincidence. Maybe that detour was set up for the express purpose of getting me on this road, and it almost worked." My gaze turned to Finn, who was watching our exchange with a grim expression on his face. "If Finn hadn't been there to pull me out of the car, I'd probably be dead."
"I can't imagine that the detour was deliberate. The tree came down over an hour ago. Who would know you would be on this road at this time, and why would they want to hurt you?" the sheriff asked.
"I don't know. Are there cameras on this road?"
"No. This road is rarely used, because it's somewhat treacherous."
"What happens now then?"
"Well, it will take time to get your car out of the water, if that's even possible. Getting evidence off the car is unlikely." He paused. "Isn't it possible that driving on an unfamiliar road with sharp turns and a fast car behind you might have caused you to panic, take the turn too fast and then overcorrect, sending you over the side of the hill?"
"That isn't what happened," I said. "I can't believe you're trying to make this my fault."
"I'm just suggesting a more likely alternative," the sheriff said.
"It sounds more like you're trying to write this off as just an accident, when that's not what it was."
"We should do this somewhere else," Finn interrupted, his gaze sharpening on my face. "You're freezing and you've been through a lot. Can I take you back to the inn, Cassidy?"
"I can give her a ride," Tyler said. "I'm staying right by the inn."
"Do you two know each other?" the sheriff asked curiously, his gaze moving to Tyler. "You're the architect, right? The one staying at the Morrison house?"
"Yes," Tyler said.
"You've been asking a lot of questions about the inn," the sheriff continued.
"If I'm going to buy into the neighborhood, I need to know my neighbors," Tyler said.
"And how do you two know each other?" Sheriff Holloway asked, his narrowed gaze suspicious.
"We met a few days ago," I said.
"I think it would be best if I took you back to the inn, Ms. Bennett," the sheriff suggested. "I'd feel better knowing you were safe."
I didn't know if I was safe anywhere, especially at the inn, but all I said was, "It's fine. I'll go with Tyler."
"All right," the sheriff said, looking unhappy with my decision. "We'll talk again tomorrow when your head is clear."
I didn't really see the point of that, but I was happy to see him head back to his car.
"Are you sure?" Finn asked, shooting Tyler a speculative look. "Can you trust him, Cassidy?"
"She can probably trust me more than you," Tyler retorted. "Considering how her friend returned from a day out with you."
Finn's lips tightened, but he looked away from Tyler to me. "I just want you to be safe. You might not believe that, but it's the truth."
"I appreciate that, Finn. And thank you for risking your life to save me, but I think I'll get a ride with Tyler."
Finn seemed disappointed with my answer, but he walked back to his vehicle, and I followed Tyler to his car.
As I fastened my seat belt and Tyler pulled onto the road, I felt an unexpected sense of terror. I was on the side of the car nearest to the edge, and I found myself gripping my hands tightly together and focusing desperately on the road ahead. There was a fire engine in front of us and Finn was behind us, so I should have felt safer being sandwiched between those vehicles, but I didn't. It also didn't matter that I had Tyler at my side, that I wasn't alone, but I couldn't shake the anxiety that threatened to overwhelm me. Even breathing seemed difficult. Every gulp of air made me want to run. But there was nowhere to go. I just had to get through this.
