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“That’s her,” Gray said. He stepped from the sheltering trees and started across the lawn. Barrie followed with trepidation.

The woman was slim and attractive. After placing the posters in the backseat of her Jeep Cherokee, she straightened up. That’s when she spotted them. To her credit, she didn’t turn and run or demonstrate apprehension of any kind. She stood her ground.

As they came closer, Barrie saw that her expressive dark eyes seemed troubled. They shifted from Barrie to Gray, then back to Barrie. Before either she or Gray could begin to explain why they were there, Amanda Allan said, “Thank God you’ve come.”

Chapter Thirty-Five

She led Barrie and Gray through the large, homey kitchen, past a gracious dining room, and into a cozy living room. A low fire was burning in the grate. The room smelled faintly of apples and cinnamon. Framed photographs of two young boys, Dr. George Allan, and Amanda were scattered around the room, documenting their family history and the children’s growth. The furnishings were tasteful and beautiful, but comfortable. The atmosphere was inviting.

Barrie envied the other woman the beautiful room, the children, and the home she’d made. Not so enviable was the tension in Amanda Allan’s face and carriage, which portended doom.

It had occurred to Barrie last night that Mrs. Allan might be agreeable to discussing her husband’s work, especially if there was disharmony between the couple, as Howie had said. She’d thought of it as a long shot but worth a try. Never would she have expected Amanda to appear so relieved to see her and Gray. Nor would she have expected this woman, who seemed to have everything one could desire, to look so miserably unhappy and stressed.

When they were seated, Amanda addressed Gray first. “How are you? A lot has happened since we last saw each other.” He nodded, then introduced her to Barrie. “I know who you are, Ms. Travis.”

“And I know who you are,” Barrie said. “At least I do now. You called me at WVUE and alerted me to what was going on at Highpoint.” The moment Amanda had spoken to her outside, Barrie had recognized the voice and identified her as the anonymous tipster.

“I apologize for being so mysterious. I felt I had to do something, tell someone, but wasn’t sure how to go about it. You came to mind because of your interview with Vanessa.”

“You knew something untoward was going on at your lake house?”

“I sensed something was wrong, but I didn’t know what. George…” She rolled her lips inward. Amanda wasn’t the kind of woman who would weep in front of strangers. She didn’t continue until she had regained her composure. “George doesn’t confide in me anymore. But I believe if that nurse hadn’t suffered a fatal heart attack when she did, Vanessa would also be dead.”

“I’m afraid you’re right,” Gray confirmed.

She looked at Barrie with barely controlled desperation. “Once you left the TV station, I didn’t know how to contact you.”

“Why were you trying to reach me?”

“To tell you something you obviously already know. David Merritt isn’t the man that everyone’s been duped into believing. He’s an unconscionable villain. He must be stopped.” She fixed her dark eyes intently on Barrie. “May I ask you something?” Barrie nodded. “You burst into the morgue at Shinlin Hospital because you believed it was Vanessa’s body under the sheet, right?”

“Right.”

“And you also believed that my husband brought about her death?”

Barrie looked at her sadly. “I’m sorry. That’s precisely what I thought. And so did Gray.”

Amanda folded her hands together in her lap. “I see.”

“Vanessa’s manic-depression and the medications required to keep her mood swings under control offer a physician lots of room to maneuver. Wouldn’t you agree?”

“Yes,” Amanda replied thickly. “I would imagine so.”

“We have several good reasons to believe that Vanessa is still in grave danger,” Gray said.

“From George?”

“From David.”

“But through George.”

He didn’t need to answer. His expression made it clear.

Barrie knew they weren’t telling Amanda anything she hadn’t already figured out. Still, having her worst fears confirmed couldn’t be easy. But she retained her dignity, which won Barrie’s admiration.

“I realize how extremely difficult this must be for you, Mrs. Allan,” she said. “I’ve never met him, but based on what I know of your husband, I don’t believe he’s acting maliciously.”

“I know him,” Gray said. “I think he’s as much David’s victim as Vanessa is.”