Part 7 (2/2)

”I guess that leaves us with a more personal motive.”

”And when we find the motive, we'll find our killer.”

Lisa Templeton had only just learned to pour her emotions into her art. Ellis's comment about the victim sifted through Jess's mind. Since Templeton had her coming out, was her murder, as well as her lover's, a hate crime?

Jess needed air. The smell in here was beginning to overwhelm her. She sure hoped this queasiness didn't last the duration of the pregnancy.

”I have to make a couple of stops before going back to the office, Walmart and my apartment. Will that be a problem?”

”I'm available for as long as you need me.”

”Good answer, Lieutenant.”

8.

9911 Conroy Road, 6:45 p.m.

Hayes insisted on going in first.

Jess carried a badge and a gun too, but apparently that was irrelevant.

Thankfully her place was just one big room, not counting the bathroom, so his look around didn't take longer than the allotted time she had to enter the security code before the cops were summoned. Like she didn't have enough cops around already.

As soon as the system had stopped singing its annoying tune, she produced a smile for the man standing in the middle of her s.p.a.ce. ”I realize it's late but I'll be a few minutes more, Lieutenant. Feel free to call home. Check in with your girlfriend.” She waved her hand in dismissal. ”Whatever you need to do.”

The idea of going to pee with nothing but a thin wall between them just didn't work for her.

As if he'd abruptly realized she needed some privacy, he came to attention like a soldier falling into formation. ”I don't have anyone waiting for me at home, but I'll step outside and check in with Detective Wells.” He started backing toward the door. ”I'll see if there's anything new.”

Jess kept her smile tacked in place until he was on the landing and closed the door behind him.

”Finally.” She took a deep breath, closed her eyes and savored the smell of home. It was funny how fast this little garage apartment had become home to her. She stared longingly at her bed before letting go another sigh.

One day her life would be peaceful and normal. Ha! Now she was delusional. She hugged the overfilled Walmart bag a little tighter. Any hope of normalcy in the next couple of decades was long gone.

The bathroom made her smile again. She loved this little bathroom with its antique fixtures. After shutting and locking the door, she shouldered off her purse and let it drop to the floor. Hands shaking she dumped the array of feminine products she'd purchased on the floor and picked out the three test kits from the pile.

”Okay. Let's do this.”

One by one she opened the three boxes, removed the test sticks and placed them side-by-side on the sink. She stared at the seemingly harmless plastic sticks for a whole thirty seconds. It wasn't as if she didn't know the answer already. This exercise in futility was totally pointless.

”Just get it over with.”

She a.s.sumed the position and did the required business, returning each stick to the sink ledge as she finished. Accomplis.h.i.+ng the job was a little awkward, but she managed. Then she washed her hands and waited.

Three minutes felt like a lifetime sprawling before her.

She bent down and fished her cell from her bag. She might as well do something while she waited. Thumbing through her contact list, she paused on Buddy Corlew's name and gave him a tap. During the three rings that followed, she shoved the test boxes and pamphlets back into the bag. That reminded her, she'd hidden the first test she'd used in the toilet tank. She should dispose of it, too.

As she reached for the tank lid Corlew croaked a h.e.l.lo. ”What's wrong with you?” she asked. He sounded sick or like he had a h.e.l.lacious hangover.

”Flu or some such nonsense.” He coughed. ”What's up, kid?”

As she stood there holding the evidence of her latest secret, she had a moment of deja vu. She'd called Corlew yesterday morning just before she'd had to make that unexpected trip to Tennessee. She wondered why it was that her first instinct was to call him. Definitely not because she trusted him... not by a long shot. Maybe because they'd known each other since grade school and he was from the same neighborhood as her. As kids they had lived a world away from Mountain Brook and Dan's crowd.

”Did you go to the doctor?” She sank onto the toilet seat. If Corlew was sick, he probably hadn't been able to look into that other business she didn't want to talk about.

”Vanessa took care of me.”

Another coughing jag echoed in Jess's ear. She made a face. He sounded terrible! ”Who's Vanessa?”

”Quincy. We went to school with her. She's a doctor.”

Oh yes. Jess remembered her. ”The girl who stole my pink purse in sixth grade.” The one her mother had given her for her tenth birthday. ”The same girl who poured paint in my hair before the soph.o.m.ore dance!” The freshman cla.s.s had been tasked with painting a backdrop for the dance. The guy Vanessa liked had asked Jess to be his date. Vanessa had not been amused. Jess couldn't believe that pesky girl was a doctor.

”That's the one. As a matter of fact, she asked me about you.”

Jess peered at the test result windows. She frowned, wished they would hurry. ”Why would she ask about me?”

”She wondered if you were married and had any kids. Pediatrics is her specialty.”

Twisting away from the incriminating evidence, Jess made a sound of disbelief. ”Did you tell her no on both counts and that my career has kept me busy?” But that was all about to change. Jess chewed her lip. ”Does she have any?”

His laughter turned into another coughing jag. ”I told her all about you and, yes, she has four kids.”

Jess's jaw dropped. ”She's a doctor and she has four kids?”

”Yep.”

If Jess was lucky he didn't hear her scoffing sound. ”More power to her.” Her frown deepened. ”Why in the world did you call a pediatrician?”

”She's the only doc I know who makes house calls.”

”For you maybe.” Every female in school had been enamored with Buddy Corlew. Except Jess. She had been in love with Dan. Most of the time. She and Buddy had their moments. But nothing ever came of a single one. Thank heavens.

”What's up, Jess? I know you didn't just call to see if I was still breathing.”

She stood, put her hand on her hip. ”If you're trying to make me feel guilty for not rus.h.i.+ng over with chicken soup you can forget about it, Buddy Corlew.”

”A guy can hope.”

Jess rolled her eyes. Why the heck had she called him? Oh yeah. Stop skating around the issue. ”I guess since you're sick you haven't had a chance to look into the accident that killed my parents?”

”I started some preliminary searches,” he said, surprising her. ”But it'll take some time, Jessie Lee. You only asked me to do this yesterday, you know.”

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