Chapter 10
Chapter Ten
“Where were you tonight?”
Victoria finished zipping her duffle bag before she turned to cast her youngest sister a confused glance. “Where was I?”
Treese folded her slim arms across the thoroughly immodest cropped and low-cut athletic top.
Paired with her skin-tight leggings, the outfit left nothing of Patricia’s fit body to the imagination.
No wonder two men had joined the Pilates class she taught.
“I mean, you obviously weren’t here. You did a spine twist when I said to do a swan dive.
You never make a mistake like that. I’ve never seen you anything but focused and pushing yourself in class. ”
Victoria sighed as she picked up the bag by the long strap and hung it on her shoulder. “I’ve had a challenging couple of days.”
“Oh?” Treese lifted her sculpted dark eyebrows.
Wonderful. Victoria would have to give her some tidbit of information now. Treese’s curiosity was legendary and could be dangerous if not quenched. “A patient of mine died suddenly. I found him.”
Treese’s brown eyes widened. “That’s awful. Who was he?”
Victoria hesitated. “I’m not sure I should say. I don’t know if the family has been notified yet.”
“I’m your family.” The chip Treese usually wore on her shoulder around Victoria was definitely present tonight.
Unfortunately, Treese also wasn’t the soul of discretion. “I don’t think the police would like me to discuss it with people. At least not until it’s public.”
“Fine.” Treese’s small jaw tightened. “I see you changed.” She aimed her gaze at Victoria’s long wool skirt and turtleneck.
It was true, Victoria usually wore her fitness clothes to and from Treese’s Pilates class. “Dad asked me to come to the house at eight.” She checked her watch. “I’d better hurry, or I’ll be late.”
“I’d say I’ll see you there, but I’m going to close down here and then I’m going out.”
Victoria tried to keep from narrowing her eyes at her baby sister. “A new boyfriend?”
“Boyfriend is a strong word. Meeting a guy, but maybe I’ll find another guy, too. We’ll see what happens.” Treese’s mouth angled in the little defiant smirk she had worn when she first started challenging Victoria’s authority at the age of twelve.
Victoria bit her tongue. She would be less controlling. Less hands-on and micromanaging. Less scolding. She had pushed and chided Spring too much and had caused significant emotional damage without realizing it. She didn’t want to make that mistake again.
Treese was two years younger than Spring, but still almost twenty-seven now.
She needed to make her own decisions, good or bad, and suffer the consequences.
At least Treese didn’t cross their father.
There was no danger she would disappoint him or create strife in their family—much worse possibilities than displeasing Victoria.
“Then I guess I won’t see you until the birthday party.” Victoria turned and headed across the nearly empty studio.
A few women and one man—a new student that evening—chatted by the counter where Treese sold energy drinks and bars. Victoria waved at Donna, the student she was usually next to in class.
The man was only interested in watching Treese, of course. Handy that someone who loved attention so much managed to attract every male within sight, even when she wasn’t trying. Although the skimpy outfit could be her way of trying.
“Is the party at eight?” Treese’s voice signaled she was following Victoria to the glass door at the front of the studio.
“I’m going to verify with Dad tonight, but I believe so.”
“Okay. I can help with the decorations. Probably put them up Sunday night.”
“Good.” Victoria pushed into the door, angling toward Treese slightly. “Have a good evening. And be careful.” She threw a glance at the man ogling her baby sister, protectiveness and discomfort tangling in her torso.
Treese glanced in the man’s direction, then chuckled as she moved closer to Victoria, hurrying her out the door.
“Don’t you worry, sis. He’s not even my type.
” Though the pleased glint in her eyes said she wouldn’t mind indulging in the flirtation anyway.
“Goodnight!” She waved at Victoria and turned away.
The cold slap of the night air on Victoria’s cheeks wasn’t unwelcome as she turned left and started up the sidewalk at a brisk pace. She probably needed the chill to combat the frustration boiling in her stomach.
That girl. Victoria never had been able to get a handle on parenting Treese.
She’d done her best, but Treese had decided at twelve that Victoria was not her mother and couldn’t tell her what to do.
It hadn’t helped that Spring set the example for that way of thinking.
But Treese was two years younger. And unlike Spring, Treese also rejected Victoria’s God—their mother’s God—in favor of worldly, secular ideology.
Victoria blew out a breath that puffed as a cloud in front of her face in the light of streetlamps. The popularity of the coffee shop and restaurants in this area, and the nearby condos, meant Victoria usually had to park several blocks away from Best You Fitness, Treese’s studio.
Tonight was no exception. She’d better step up her pace or she would be late to meet her father. She wasn’t about to let that happen.
At least the sidewalk was well lit and the neighborhood fairly safe.
A well-dressed couple walked arm in arm toward her, huddled close in their winter coats. “Good evening.” Victoria smiled at the redheaded woman who returned the greeting.
The man with her gave a quick, “Hello,” as they passed.
The biting temperature likely explained why the couple appeared to be the only other pedestrians. Only two weeks ago, Victoria would’ve seen at least thirty people on the way to her car. But now, an empty sidewalk stretched in front of her.
Everyone was wisely staying indoors in the plummeting temperatures. Everyone but those who had parked what felt like a mile away.
Victoria slid her hands into the pockets of her coat, her thin, dressy wool gloves not providing enough warmth for fifteen-degree weather. She tucked her chin into the coat collar that should really come up much higher on her neck.
Trying to forget the cold starting to cut through her coat, she focused on the click of her heeled dress boots as they sounded out the steps to her car.
But what was that other noise?
A different kind of click and a different rhythm.
She glanced over her shoulder.
Shadows and patches of light from the streetlamps created a patchwork design across the empty sidewalk.
No people.
A shiver tracked down her spine. She spun away and looked ahead, walking faster.
Her imagination must be more active tonight than usual. She’d found her friend, the victim of a murder, only that morning. It was no wonder her nerves were on edge, and her mind was conjuring danger where there wasn’t any.
She turned the corner to the next block.
Loud music blared from the bar ahead, its yellow signage flashing. At least the intoxicated customers that loitered outside the bar in the summertime were indoors in the warmth. Although even their unruly presence might be helpful to calm her imaginings of a nighttime phantom.
The pounding bass beats from the music inside the bar thudded loudly as she passed, drowning out any chance of hearing a follower.
But why would anyone be following her? The logical question paused the rapid trot of her pulse.
Even if Thomas had been murdered, that wouldn’t mean she was suddenly in danger. There were no greater risks to her now than on a normal evening when she walked the dark Chicago streets.
Come to think of it, the risk of danger when walking alone in Chicago at night was always quite high.
She kept up her quick clip as she left the bar music behind and strained to hear past the cold wind that singed her ears.
The fading music was all that was audible for several minutes.
Wait. There it was. The same sound behind her.
Footsteps.
Her pulse sprinted. Adrenaline and cold fright flowed into her bloodstream. Better to face an enemy head-on than be attacked from behind.
She stopped and turned around, gripping the strap of her bag with one hand. Maybe she could use it as a weapon.
But only the shadowed, empty sidewalk met her scrutiny.
She slowly released her held breath. This was ridiculous. She would never make it on time to Dad’s if she kept checking for a phantom.
She aimed forward again, determined to control her imagination and reach her car before her fingers froze. Perhaps she should speak with Treese about finding a different location for her fitness studio, one that had an adjacent parking lot.
The sight of traffic at the stoplight ahead was comforting. Even though she had to wait at the corner for the traffic to pass through, it meant people were present. A deterrent to anyone who might have nefarious intent.
As she waited, hands sheltered in her pockets, a man and woman walked up to the light on the opposite corner and also waited to cross. They’d arrived separately, so didn’t seem to be together. But the presence of fellow pedestrians who appeared harmless was also a balm to her nerves.
The light changed, and Victoria crossed the street, nodding to the other pedestrians as they passed.
Only a short distance left now. She pushed a little faster as the traffic sounds faded and the number of cars on the road dwindled. She would park in the most isolated area.
Clip, clip.
The unmistakable sound reached her ears.
She stopped herself from swiveling her head to look. Wouldn’t that only make her appear afraid? Or perhaps it would be a good thing to show she wasn’t an unsuspecting victim. Yes, that sounded correct.
She kept walking but turned her head to look over her shoulder.
Something dark moved.