Or suspicion?

What had Matt meant when he'd said she didn't know Hunter as well as she thought? When he had warned her to be careful?

Moody and aggravating as Hunter could be, she hadn't felt threatened around him. Even when they had clashed. The only thing that had seemed in any imminent danger had been her reputation.

So why his real, nearly palpable concern?

CHAPTER 23.

Spring Fest was much as Avery remembered it. The atmosphere of celebration, the sound of children laughing mingling with the smells of good Louisiana food and the warmth of the sun on the back of her neck.

She and Matt did it all: rode the Ferris wheel and Tilt-A-Whirl; sampled foods from all the vendors, so much that she longed to un-snap the top button of her shorts; wandered through the arts and crafts booths; and from the blanket they'd spread under the canopy of the square's biggest oak tree, listened to the various bands scheduled throughout the day.

The day should have been perfect, Avery told herself. She should be relaxed, totally content. Hard to be either, however, when news of Luke McDougal's car being found in Tiller's Pond and the St. Claire murder was on everyone's lips. Hard to feel carefree when she couldn't shake her suspicions about her father's death. When she couldn't discount what Gwen Lancaster had told her about The Seven and the disproportionate number of suicides in Cypress Springs. Or that she believed her dad had been killed because he had known too much about The Seven.

Avery found herself trying to read people's expressions, trying to see beyond what they were saying to what they weren't. Every glance from one person to another became a signal of some sort. She found herself listening to the conversations around her, hoping to recognize the voice of her anonymous caller.

She hated feeling this way, suspicious and on edge. Distrustful to the point of paranoia.

"Thirsty?"

Avery turned and found Mart's gaze on her. They sat on the blanket; the sun had set and the final band of the day had just finished their first song. "What did you have in mind?"

"Beer?"

"Why not?"

He frowned slightly. "Are you all right?"

"Fine. A little tired."

He opened his mouth as if to say something further, then seemed to change his mind and stood. "Don't

disappear on me."

"I won't." As he walked away, her smile faded. Luke McDou-gal had disappeared. According to Gwen

Lancaster, so had a number of Cypress Springs citizens, picking up and moving in the night. No word to anyone.

"Where'd that no-good kid of mine go?"

Avery looked up at Buddy and smiled. Dressed in his uniform, complete with service weapon and

nightstick, there was no doubt he was on duty. "Beer run."

"A cold one sure would hit the spot right now."

She made a sound of sympathy. "No rest for the wicked, I see."

"Love Spring Fest. And hate it. With so many visitors in town and so much drinking going on, there's

always some sort of commotion." He looked in the direction Matt had gone.

Avery patted the blanket. "Have a seat."

"I'd rather dance. Care to cut a rug with an old man like me?"

She smiled affectionately and stood. "I'd love to."

He led her toward the makeshift dance floor, in front of the bandstand. He held out his arms. She took

his hand and they began to move in time to the music, a Cajun two-step. "I've been waiting for a chance

to get you alone. Matt's not left your side all day."

"Matt's grown into a good man," she said. "You must be proud."He shifted his gaze, a sadness crossing his features. Sensing he was thinking of his other son, shemurmured, "Hunter's going to be okay. He will, I'm certain of it."

He met her eyes once more, the expression in his gentle. "Thank you, Avery. That means the world to

me."

The music's pace shifted, Buddy adjusted smoothly. For such a big man, he was light on his feet, graceful. She told him so.

"Lilah made it clear when we were dating, if I wanted to win her hand, I had to know how to dance. So I

learned. It wasn't easy, let me tell you." He chuckled. "Two left feet is my natural inclination."

She smiled at the story. "Where is Lilah tonight? I haven't seen her or Cherry."

"Lilah's home. Under the weather. Cherry elected to stay with her."

"I'm sorry to hear she's not feeling well."

"She suffers horribly this time of year with her allergies."

"Is there anything I can do?"

"Pay her a visit." He smiled, the picture of fatherly affection. "I'm so pleased you're home, Avery."

She kissed his cheek. "I am, too, Buddy. I didn't realize how much I missed this place. The people."

"It's a good place. Good people."

Anyone whose actions fell outside what was considered right, moral or neighborly was singled out.

Her smile faded. "What's wrong?" he asked.

"Buddy, can I ask you something?"

"Sure, baby girl."

"You ever heard of a group called The Seven?"

His steps faltered; he drew his eyebrows together. "When you asked about her, I was afraid this might

happen."

"Who?"

"That Gwen Lancaster."

"You know her?"

"Of her," he corrected, expression tight. "She's been going around Cypress Springs spreading lies.

Starting rumors."

"So the group never existed?"

"They existed, all right. Just not the way she's portraying them. To hear her talk, they were a bunch of

hatemongers and murderers." He let out a heavy-sounding breath. "They called themselves Seven Citizens Who Care. The group organized in an attempt to stem the tide of social ills that had beset our town. Their feeling was, stop crime before it happened. They began a drug and alcohol awareness program in the schools. They organized a chapter of Planned Parenthood. They arranged counseling for families in crisis. They began a campaign to get families back to church."

Avery remembered suddenly being required to take sex education in the tenth grade, remembered the addition of films about the dangers of alcohol and drugs in health class-subjects that had never been broached in school before.

"They weren't high-profile. They weren't in it for acclaim or notoriety. They were simply citizens willing to take a stand for this community. Lilah belonged. So did Pastor Dastugue."

"I feel like an idiot. I didn't know."

"I wish they had been more public. Then people like Gwen Lancaster couldn't spread their lies."

"What's going on here, Dad? You trying to steal my girl?"

Buddy's expression cleared. "I think your mother would have something to say about that, son."

A commotion by the bandstand interrupted their banter. Buddy glanced in that direction, then swore softly. "Excuse me, kids. Duty calls."

They watched him go. The band struck up another tune. "Dance with me?"

Matt held out his arms; Avery stepped into them. Her talk with Buddy had changed everything, she

realized. She felt as if a thousand-pound weight had been lifted from her shoulders. How could she have trusted a stranger over people she knew and loved?

"You and Dad have a nice talk?" he asked.

"Really nice."

"He loves you a lot, you know. As much as me or Cherry."

But not Hunter. Never Hunter.

"You're thinking of my brother, aren't you?"

How did he so easily read her mind? Did he know her so well, still, after all these years?

"Yes," she said.

"He did this to himself, Avery. He removed himself from our lives."

"But why? I guess I just...don't understand. We were all so close."

"I wish to God I knew what went wrong. You can't imagine-" He looked away, then back, expression