Page 58 of Last Date

He flicked his surprised gaze to mine. “Are you?”

“Yes. After all you went through, you should have been welcomed home with open arms.”

“That’s what you would have done?”

“Of course.”

He smirked. “Told you you were a good person.” He turned and walked away, shaking his head.

I watched him until he disappeared into the trees. That had been an extremely bizarre conversation. Surprisingly candid, like all the conversations I’d had with Elon, but also a little sad. I couldn’t imagine what it must have felt like to return home after a traumatic experience only to be rejected. Elon seemed to have bitterly resented Allister. Could that anger have translated into murder?

I shivered and tried to shake off that thought. Being strange didn’t automatically make you a murderer. There was little doubt the police would examine Elon’s alibi with a magnifying glass. If he’d been ruthless enough to kill Allister, he’d be caught. And that was that.

Chapter Ten

A week later, Charlene came tearing into the office looking borderline hysterical. “Somebody tried to kill Elon Green,” she screeched.

“What?” I barked, coming out of my office. “When?”

“Late last night.”

Helen stood near the printer, her eyes wide. “But why? How?”

Charlene pulled off her wool scarf and stuffed it in her coat pocket. “The barista down at Perkin’ Up just told me. Apparently Elon was attacked in his bedroom last night. The assailant got past the alarm system and everything.”

“My God,” I mumbled.

“Did they catch the person?” Helen asked.

Charlene shook her head. “No. He got away. But apparently one of the security guards shot him. There was a trail of blood leading away from the house, but then it disappeared.”

“I can’t believe this.” I stared at Charlene in shock. “That poor kid has been through so much already. Now this?”

“Why would anyone attack Elon?” Helen frowned.

Charlene rasped, “Maybe it’s the kidnappers come back for revenge. Maybe they’ve never forgiven him for running away and turning on them.”

Grimacing, I said, “That seems awfully risky. Besides, from what Elon said, the imposter mother adored him.”

“Sure, but he left. He betrayed her love,” Charlene whispered. “Maybe it brought out a murderous rage in her.”

“I don’t know.” I crossed my arms. “Would she have the skills to get past a high-tech security system?”

Charlene shrugged. “She kidnapped Elon in the first place.”

“Yeah, but I heard she just grabbed him from the park. She didn’t sneak in like a cat burglar and take him.” Helen laughed gruffly.

“Is Elon okay?” I asked.

“He’s been taken to St. Mary’s Hospital. Apparently, he’s in stable condition. The perp tried to strangle him.”

I stiffened. “Really?”

Helen turned to me, looking startled. “You don’t suppose he was attacked by the same guy who came after you at the Rusty Pier, do you?”

“I don’t know. Elon and I don’t have much in common,” I murmured. “The guy who attacked me was a brute. He had no finesse. I find it hard to picture him outsmarting an expensive security system.”

“I agree.” Helen nodded. “It’s probably a different guy.”