She finished with her face, then took off her earrings and set them down on the countertop. Staring at the mirror, she now found herself thinking about Kline.
She’d questioned him in the car, trying to act casual, but she wasn’t sure about his replies. Lydia laughed to herself. They’d been sparring with each other, each not sure of the other’s answers, neither saying what they really thought. She knew Kline covered for JD, but the question was, covered what?
She continued to stare at her reflection, seeing the unhappiness on her face. What was really going on with her husband? He wasn’t himself lately. Something was definitely not right. She exhaled loudly. She’d been putting on a front, trying to deny what she suspected. It was like that time . . . how many years ago? Things had been said then, and they were being said now. She’d chosen not to address them, to take the high road. It was getting to the point, though, where she would have to figure out exactly what was going on.
As she took off her bra and donned a nightgown, she continued to mull things over. She frowned as she walked into the bedroom, not liking what was going through her head, what she saw coming. It all left her in a foul mood.
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
Something stirred Jo, and she was suddenly wide awake, staring into the dark room. Then she heard a noise. It took her a second to orient herself. It was still dark, with no light coming from the living room window. Jo strained her ears, then realized what she’d heard.
Sabrina was moving in her bedroom.
Jo glanced out the living room window. All quiet. She hurried to Sabrina’s door and tapped lightly.
“Everything okay?”
The door opened seconds later. Sabrina still wore her clothes from the previous evening, her feet bare, and her hair was disheveled. Dark circles ringed her eyes. She yawned and held up her phone.
“I just heard from Detective Holton. He said he’d meet me at the station in an hour.”
She looked sad and scared. Jo reached out and lightly touched her arm.
“It may not seem like it, but you’re doing the right thing,” she said.
“I want to get this over with, but I’m scared.”
“I know.”
Sabrina glanced around. “Everything was okay last night?”
Jo nodded. “Yes.”
“What if that man is around?”
“I’ll make sure you get to the station without any problems.”
Sabrina breathed a sigh of relief, though a look of disbelief remained on her face. “I can’t believe you’re doing this, but thanks.”
“Let me check your room,” Jo said. “Stay in the hall.”
Sabrina stepped past her, leaned against the wall, and ran her hands through her hair. Jo moved into the bedroom and looked around, then peeked out the windows. Faint light was burgeoning outside, and she studied the deep shadows that it cast. The neighborhood was still. She moved to the other bedroom, then checked again in the living room and kitchen. One car drove by, stopping at the corner before it turned. Everything seemed okay, but Jo wasn’t taking any chances. She glanced down the hall.
“I’m going outside. If you hear anyone other than me, call the police.”
Sabrina nodded. Jo slipped through the kitchen and out the back door. She stayed low and scanned the yard, then trotted to the alley for a look before circling to the front of the house. A few lights were on in other houses, and two more cars drove down the street. The neighborhood was waking up. Jo watched her car for a minute but saw no one nearby, so she ran back to Sabrina’s house and let herself in the back the door, locking it behind her. Sabrina was still in the hall, her phone at the ready.
“Everything’s okay,” Jo pronounced.
“I’ll take a quick shower,” Sabrina said.
She kept the bedroom door cracked open, and Jo waited in the hall until she’d finished washing off and had gotten dressed. They went into the kitchen, where Sabrina grabbed a Diet Coke.
“I need the caffeine,” she said.
Jo nodded and explained what they would do. “You drive me to my car, and I’ll follow you to the station. You’ll go inside, but I’ll be watching.”
“You won’t come with me?”
Jo took a second to answer. “They don’t need to know that we talked.”
“Okay,” Sabrina said softly, still trusting her. “But what if that guy’s around?”
Jo thought it over for a minute, making sure the plan made sense. “When you get close to the station, have Holton meet you out front.”
“Okay.” Sabrina sighed. “Let’s get this over with.”
Jo accompanied the woman to the detached garage, and Sabrina took her to her SUV. Rush-hour traffic was heavy, and Jo kept a close tail as they drove to the police station.
Sabrina parked the silver Lexus in a spot across from the station, and Jo pulled into a space down the street. Seconds later, Holton emerged from the station. Jo ducked down as he looked in her direction. Then he crossed the street, and Sabrina got out of the Lexus. He stayed close as they hurried into the building. Jo drove a few blocks away, then stopped and googled Trent Fontenot’s address.
On the way there, she plugged her phone in to charge it, then called Dack to update him.
“You’re okay?” he asked when she finished.
“Yes. But after talking to Sabrina, I have more questions than answers.”
“Do you think the people Sabrina talked to might be after you?”
