Early the next day the sisters left Treepoint while it was still dark; it was a three-hour drive so they decided to stop and eat lunch before driving on to Lily’s dorm. The college was bustling with students outside the large dorm. Beth walked by Lily’s side as they passed through the common room to reach the elevators; she noticed none of the other students said hi or even acknowledged Lily.
“Have you made many friends Lily?”
Lily paused in opening her door before answering truthfully as she entered her room.
“Not really, I guess I thought because it was a religious college, the other students would be serious about their courses. They think because I don’t go to their get togethers that I don’t want to be friends.”
Beth hugged her sister. Remembering how uncomfortable she had felt her freshman year.
“It’ll get easier. You will find students you will have more in common with, don’t get discouraged.”
“I won’t. It doesn’t bother me, I need to study more than I need friends to distract me.”
"I am sure your studies won’t suffer if you take time to go out for lunch or dinner. Don’t close yourself off to new acquaintances or experiences.”
Lilly grinned, “I won’t.”
Beth left her sister sitting at her small desk pulling books out of her backpack, worried about how isolated she seemed. It was late afternoon when she arrived back in Treepoint. Beth pulled into the Sheriff’s Office. He had called yesterday to ask her to stop by his office. She had told him she would stop in on her way back from dropping Lily off.
The receptionist showed her to his office immediately. Will Hunter had been sheriff for the last fourteen years and had attended her father’s church. There wasn’t much he didn’t know about the small community and what he didn’t, he made it his mission to find out. If it could adversely affect the town he protected; every measure was taken to see that the townspeople remained safe. Inside and outside the boundaries of the law; every recourse at his disposal was used with ruthless disregard. Her father and Will had a tumultuous relationship. Beth had often thought that he had only attended her father’s church to keep a cautious eye on the influential church leader.
“Hello Beth, have a seat.” He rose as she entered the room, and then resumed his as she took the chair in front of his desk.
“Lily doing well?” The sheriff picked up an ink pen lying on his desk. The pen slid back and forth between his fingers.
“Yes, still a little sore, but she is much better. Thank you for asking. You said you had some news on my car?” The pen was put back on the desk as he clasped his hands together leaning towards Beth.
“Yes, I am afraid you’re not going to like what the report confirmed. The mechanic found your brake lines had been tampered with. Someone definitely wanted to hurt, if not kill you. Everyone in town knows your constantly driving up and down those mountain roads. They are treacherous on a good day with a car in good working order, deadly with a car with no brakes.
Concerned, Beth sat forward in her chair. “You are sure Lily wasn’t the intended victim?”
The sheriff leaned back in his seat shaking his head. “No, Lily drives the car too infrequently, when someone wants someone dead they pick a plan that has the highest chance of success at the first attempt. Do you have any ideas as to who would want to hurt you? Anyone you made angry lately? Old boyfriends?”
Beth could only shake her head negatively to each question.
“All right, think about it and let me know. Be careful Beth I have already told my deputies to keep an around the clock check on your house. But you need to be extremely cautious.”
“I will Sheriff, and if I think of anyone, I will call you immediately.”
“Don’t hesitate to call me day or night.”
“When can I get my car back?”
“Soon as you can get someone to come and get it from the lot out back. Insurance should find it’s totaled. I suggest you look for a new car.”
Beth left the sheriff’s office worried and more than a little frightened. She had not been able to think of a single person who could have a reason to harm her. Looking at her watch, Beth walked across the street to meet Dean for their dinner date. They had been meeting at the diner every Thursday evening for dinner since they had begun dating.
Finding an empty booth was easy, that was why they had picked the diner, that and because the church was beside the sheriff’s office just across the street. It made it convenient when he worked late. The diner was never busy during the weeknights and they could enjoy a quiet conversation after work. Beth had ordered a drink and was scrolling down her messages on her cell phone that had come in while she was in the sheriff’s office; looking up when Razer slid into the seat in front of her.