Page 112 of Finding Amanda

She stiffened. "Fine. How's Annalise?"

He sighed loudly into the phone. "She was asleep when I got back to the apartment. I woke her up and sent her home. You should be thankful someone was there to keep the girls."

"Oh sure. Tell her how much I appreciate her."

"Whatever. I need to talk to you about Sheppard."

His name inspired a knot in her stomach. "Okay. What?"

"I have some new information. Remember he was accused of”—he dropped his voice to a near-whisper—“statutory rape, but it never went to trial?"

"Of course I remember."

"Chris found out today that it didn't go to trial because the girl disappeared."

She gasped. "What do you mean? Did she run away?"

"The detective who worked the case thinks Sheppard had her killed. He has a solid alibi, but he has to be connected."

Gabriel, amurderer? "I can't imagine?—"

"Amanda, you have to realize this guy is dangerous."

She couldn't fathom it. A pervert, sure. But that he wouldactually kill someone . . . a young, defenseless girl. It seemed impossible. "I never thought . . ."

"I know this is a shock." Mark's voice was gentle, soothing. "Unfortunately, there's more."

She covered her mouth with her free hand, wishing she could cover her ears instead.

"We don't think Baxter McIlroy is the link. Apparently he and Sheppard had a run-in. McIlroy hates him. He swears he isn't feeding the guy information."

"That's good, right?"

"Maybe for him and Roxie, but it means someone else is giving Sheppard information about you, and we don't know who."

"Right. Of course." Amanda took the off-ramp into Concord and signaled for a left turn, pushing down the rising fear.

"Will you please consider skipping the book signing and coming home?"

"I can't. What would I tell the bookstore manager?"

"Um, maybe that there's a murderer on the loose who wants you dead."

She stopped at a stoplight. "I can't drop out of life, Mark. I have commitments. I understand now that Gabriel is dangerous. But if he wanted to hurt me, why wouldn't he just go to my house? Why would he come to Concord?"

"Why did he go to New York to confront you the first time? I think it's likely?—"

"You have no idea what he's going to do."

"You're right."

She could feel his fury through the phone connection.

"And neither do you. I want you to come home so I can keep you safe."

Amanda straightened in herseat. "I'll be fine."

A pause. "I knew you'd say that, so I'm taking the girls to my mom's house so I can join you."

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