FanStory.com - From Danger to Dangerby davisr (Rhonda)

Background
Years after a fire took her parents lives and devastated her home, Echo works at a small town newspaper as an investigative reporter. Very soon, her past and present are destined to collide.

Summary of the book so far:

Young Echo Jones is overlooked by First Responders as she hides in a wheat field during a house fire. Both parents killed in the fire, she escapes into an ancient forest behind her home. Alone and afraid, she meets up with a young boy from mysterious origins that tends to her while searching for help.

20 years later, Echo is working for a newspaper called the Taylorville Sun. Among other duties, she investigates a serial killer who has now struck in her small town, and covers the opening of a new mega-store, Super Handyman.

After gathering all she needs on the store opening, she meets up with Bessie, an elderly columnist from the Sun who has an inside scoop on the death of the woman killed in their town. Bessie tells what she knows about the night of the murder, and sends Echo off to go back to work.

Echo arrives at the Newspaper, where the Christmas party has already begun. Before going in, she finds an envelop addressed to her. In it are pictures of the dead woman and Echo. The newest member of the police department, Tony Bradley, shows up to take her statement. He is, immediately, suspected of being the serial killer Echo is investigating.

End of last post:

Another dramatic knock on the door shattered her euphoria. Once again, Claude answered it, and once again, he let in a stranger.

"I'm Officer Tony Bradley," the stranger said. He was tall, muscular and wore dark clothing. A woolen hat was pulled down to his ears.

"You're the man who found Sherry's body, aren't you?" Echo blurted out. Enough was enough for one day. First, the pictures and now, the very man Bessie suspected of murder.

The officer hesitated, his head bowed, his face hidden in shadows. He turned slowly toward her. Blue green eyes bore into hers.

"It wasn't my finest moment," he replied.

"Why, because you found a dead body," Brian asked, "or because you got caught?" He reached out a hand and touched Echo's. Her skin felt clammy and her face was as pale as snow.

New Chapter:

Officer Bradley lowered his eyes, then slowly removed his hat and coat. He placed both on Bessie's vacant desk. His dark wavy hair, though not untidy, looked in need of a proper trim.

Without the coat, Echo noticed he had on a light colored vest woven of a fibrous plant or wool. Beneath was a white shirt, accenting olive skin. His slacks were police blue. The visage of a killer? Who could tell?

He took a deep breath and looked pointedly at Brian.

"Sir, have you ever been responsible for another person's life?"

"Directly?" Brian asked with a shrug.

"Yes."

"Not really, I don't suppose." Brian was known for being honest as well as direct.

"Well, when such a day comes, you can ask me that question again. Until then, I repeat, it wasn't my finest moment. As far as your implication I might have committed the crime, do you really think if I was the perpetrator, I would be stupid enough to walk in here around all of you?"

"People do foolish things." Brian maintained eye contact. "Like, coming over here on official business and not being dressed for duty. How do you think that makes you look?"

"Tired," Officer Bradley said. He stroked his face absentmindedly. "I was about to leave for the night when the Captain asked me to come over and take a statement about photos one of you received. His eyes flicked over at Echo and then away. He knew it was her, Echo thought, but how?

"We appreciate you showing up on your own time," Frankie said. She stood and walked over to the pair of combatants, leaving her husband munching on food and talking to Claude's wife. "How about something to eat?"

Frankie deftly guided him away from the simmering Brian and toward food. Sara Beth cut her eyes over as he walked by, but, for once, didn't try to intervene.

Slowly, things went back to normal. Family and friends of the office personnel chatted, laughed, danced and ate lots of catered barbecue. Even Brian and the officer seemed to relax, though in separate corners.

Just as the party was wrapping up, Officer Bradley took Echo's statement, bagged up the photos and headed for his hat and coat.

"Echo," he said. "I want you to be very careful. These pictures aren't a threat, they're a promise. Get someone to follow you home."

"Like you?" Brian asked, rising to his feet.

"Or you," he replied; "someone who cares about her safety. This might be a perfect opportunity for you to be responsible for another person's life."

"So I can re-ask my question?"

Officer Bradley lowered his head. "Let's hope it doesn't come to that."

"We know why we care about Echo," Claude said, raising his eyebrows, "but why do you, Bradley? You two had never met before tonight."

Frankie started to protest her brother's rudeness, but stopped when Officer Bradley shook his head at her.

"It's a fair question," he said. "Echo belongs to Taylorville, Mr. Baker, and I'm sworn to protect its citizens. It's my job and calling to do so. Echo has been targeted, so here I am."

Brian squinted his eyes as though he felt the explanation a bit trite, but held his tongue.

"It's my own fault this guy is after me and everyone knows it," Echo said. She glanced down at her hands. "I'm the one who started writing those articles. I drew him here."

This time, Officer Bradley looked directly at Echo, turbulent eyes drawing a shiver. "Yes, you attracted him, but not because of your stories. I suspect you were his target all along."

"Seriously?" Echo folded her arms across her chest. "Why me? I'm not special."

"That's a very long story."

"And how would you know it?" Brian asked. He took a step forward.

Officer Bradley held up a hand as though in peace. "Just follow her home, and if you can't, I will."

"We'll take care of her," Claude assured him. "Goodnight."

"Goodnight." Officer Bradley headed for the door. He paused as he heard a voice behind him.

"I'll go with her," Junior said standing.

Sara Beth looked at him in shock. "I thought you'd take me home. I might be a target, too, you know."

"Is your house on the way to hers?"

"Sort of."

"Okay, we'll follow you first, then Echo. How does that sound?"

"Great," Claude agreed. "Brian, are you okay with it?"

"Sure, as long as I'm in the procession. But what about when she gets home? Will there be police protection around her apartment?"

"Yes," Officer Bradley said. "It's taken care of."

"By who?" Frankie asked. "We don't have that many people on our force. Is Atlanta getting involved?"

"Among others." Officer Bradley said vaguely. He opened the door and went out. The stage was set and he knew what he had to do.

~~~~~~~~

The first vehicle to fall out of line was Brian's Ford Explorer. Snow had started to fall while they were at the party and his SUV slid on a slick spot and hit a pot hole. His tire blew out, forcing him to swerve off the road. He texted the others to go on without him; he'd call AAA. So much for his opportunity to protect another person's life. He guessed he'd have to wait to ask his question.

The next to leave was Sara Beth. The group pulled over and watched her park her car and go to the door. She hesitated a bit, then with a wistful look, turned and went inside. Echo figured if it hadn't been snowing, Junior would have escorted her in. She could tell Sara Beth thought he should have anyway.

Next to go was Claude and his wife, and Frankie and her husband, who had all ridden together. They lived next door to each other, and down the street from Junior.

That left only Junior and Echo to brave the elements and any murderous villains that might attack. They drove until Echo felt a bump on the back of her car. She looked into the rear-view mirror and saw only Junior. He raised his hands like he didn't know what happened. She sped up to get more distance between them in case he skidded again.

And, it did happen again, and then again. Echo increased her speed as she glanced into the rear-view mirror. She saw glowing red eyes where there had been brown. The shock made her hit her accelerator pedal a little too hard, spinning the car out of control.

Around and around the Impala whirled until it hit the shoulder and flipped over. The rear-view mirror flew off and hit Echo on the forehead, cutting a gash just above her left eyebrow. She could feel warm blood trickling down her face.

Even though her head was reeling and she hurt all over, she managed to crawl from the driver's side window onto muddied snow. She heard a car pull over and a door creak open, and then another car did the same.

"Are you okay?" the clear voice of Junior called out. "What happened?"

"You ran me off the road," she said. Her whole body was trembling.

For a moment, neither one of them moved. Echo had set her eyes on the edge of the forest a few yards away and planned to run there as soon as she could.

"You look injured. Let me help you," Junior said. He started moving forward, the sound of his feet crunching in the snow. "It was an accident. I was hit from behind."

Echo didn't reply. She knew what she had seen, and no amount of gaslighting from Junior could convince her otherwise.

She bolted toward the trees, slipping and sliding precariously as she went. Her thick coat and high heeled shoes were impeding her progress, so, cold as she was, she shed both.

When Echo was almost to safety, she noticed two dark figures approaching from the side. They must have been in that second car. Red eyes glowed from beneath dark hoods. She tried to twist out of their reach, but to no avail. She felt cold hands clamp her arms and vile nails dig into her skin.

"Where're you going, honey?" one of them drawled. Putrid breath oozed out of his mouth and bathed Echo in filth.

Again, Echo didn't answer, but instead, relaxed against him. A ploy of the hunted.

The second man spoke up. "Not talking, hunh? You've sure had a lot to say in your newspaper about our work."

"Your work?" Echo spat out. "What do you mean?"

The second man leaned forward, adding his foul breath to the mix. "You thought what we've been doing was accomplished by one man? What an ignorant fool."

"There were three of us," another voice said. Junior had joined the group, his party clothes now covered with a black cloak.

Echo turned her head and glared. "I guess I'm going to be the next victim. Nice. So, where are you going to dump my body?"

"Nowhere," the first man said, his red eyes starting to fade to a light hazel color. "We're taking you with us. Our boss wants to meet you."

Echo was stunned. Officer Bradley had been right. The attacks were aimed at her all along. But why?

Echo lowered her eyes as though in submission, leading the minions to relax their grip. Their mistake.

With a burst of adrenaline, Echo employed another tactic of prey. She dropped to the ground and lunged between one of the men's legs. Just before she was through, she lurched upward toppling the creature over.

Energized by her success, she ran, barefooted and bleeding, to a towering tree at the edge of the forest. She paused a fraction of a second, then, mustering resolve, reached a hand out to grasp the closest limb. Everything Theo had taught her about walking in trees came flooding back. She leapt upwards.

A huge clawed hand caught her ankle just as she landed on the lowest limb. She grabbed another branch above her head and pulled. She felt nails rake her exposed leg as the hand yanked her back. She kicked and squirmed, but knew she was losing the battle. The culmination of weeks of research and journalism had come to this. Once and for all, her young voice would be silenced.

And then from above, a strong, gentle hand grasped hers. She gazed upward and recognized the face of a young man. Could it really be Officer Bradley? He had the same dark, wavy hair, and the same olive skin, but his eyes were a brilliant shade of emerald green. Those she'd seen only once before in her life.

"Who are you?"

"I think you know who I am." He pulled her closer even as the specter let go of her leg and fled from beneath the tree.

"But your eyes?"

"They were a different color earlier, I'm sorry. I wore contacts because I figured you'd recognize me, but we can talk about it later. We need to get you out of here now."

"To where?"

Theo looked down at her gently. "My home."

"You mean I finally get to meet your family?"

Theo gave her hand a squeeze. "It's time."

For one hurried moment, Echo melted into the arms of her Forest Boy, a boy who had since grown into a man. As years before, Theo arrived when she needed him most. What challenges lay ahead were forgotten in a brief, beautiful reunion.