Forgotten Lullaby by Rita Herron

Dirt and soot stained the edges, probably from the accident. But who would have sent it to her wrapped like a gift? Surely Grant wouldn’t…
    â€œOh, my goodness!” Kate gasped. “The locket Grant gave you on your wedding day.”
    Emma’s fingers trembled. “He said I wore it all the time. But I didn’t have it on in the hospital.”
    Kate’s voice squeaked in affirmation. “I know. Grant was really upset. He asked all the nurses about it.”
    Emma fumbled with the clasp, working furiously to open it, anxious to see the family picture Grant had been so eager to show her in the hospital. But when she pried open the dented heart-shaped locket, her chest constricted. She immediately saw the picture of Grant and Carly, but her photo was missing.
    â€œThere’s a note,” Kate said in a low voice.
    â€œWhat does it say?”
    â€œI can’t read it out loud.” Kate’s hands trembled as she handed the neatly typed message to Emma.
    Emma’s breath became lost somewhere deep in her chest as she read the warning: Your perfect family is falling apart. Soon it will be destroyed.
    Â 
    G RANT WAS FRUSTRATED with the police and their lack of clues. His day deteriorated even more when he walked into the office and saw Pete, ready to go to the airport.
    â€œYou have the perfect family,” Pete said. “Take care of them while we’re in Paris, and we’ll take care of this deal.”
    â€œI am taking care of my family.” Grant studied Pete,wishing he hadn’t confided in Priscilla. She’d obviously told Pete about the threats.
    Priscilla leaned up and kissed his cheek. “Take care of yourself, Grant. You look exhausted.”
    Grant ran a hand through his hair. “I’m fine. I just want the police to find the person who hurt Emma.”
    Pete straightened his tie. “Do they have any clues?”
    Grant shook his head. “Not yet. This morning I gave the police a list of everyone we know so they can start checking around.”
    Priscilla gasped. “You don’t really think it’s someone you know, do you?”
    Grant shrugged. “I hope not. Detective Warner’s hoping someone might have noticed a stranger hanging around outside the house lately.”
    â€œYou think someone was stalking her?” Priscilla asked.
    â€œShe didn’t mention anything before the wreck.”
    â€œWell, don’t worry,” Priscilla said. “I’m sure the police will figure it out.”
    She checked her watch and indicated it was time to go. Grant said goodbye and watched Pete and Priscilla head to the waiting taxi. A surge of resentment swept over him. He should be the one closing this deal, going to Paris and showing off his designs, not Pete. Once Emma regained her memory and the creep who’d caused her accident had been caught, their lives would return to normal. He wanted to take care of his family financially the way he’d always planned. He sighed and thought about Pete’s high ambitions and cutthroat tactics. He just hoped that by staying in town to protect his wife he wasn’t kissing his career goodbye.
    Then shame hit him for thinking about his job.Emma’s safety was the most important thing in the world. And he couldn’t forget it.
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    â€œD ID YOU PAGE G RANT ?” Emma asked, still shaken by the locket and the note.
    Kate nodded. “Three times. But he hasn’t called back yet.”
    â€œMa’am, I’ll have this dusted for prints. I’ve phoned the florist to see if they know who sent it.”
    Emma twisted her fingers in her lap, her gaze straying to the box. Who was doing this to her, and why?
    The phone jangled and she jumped, then snatched up the receiver. “Hello?”
    â€œKate?”
    â€œNo, it’s me, Emma,” she said, relieved at the sound of Grant’s voice.
    â€œWhat’s wrong? You paged