Part 31 (1/2)
”I can explain it all, but you have to meet me. Tell me where and when, tomorrow.”
”I can't. I have work.”
”I'll meet you there. How about noon, for lunch?”
”No, the only time I'm free is in the morning. I'll message you a place to meet me, on Facebook.” Nina tensed as Martin got closer, panting and puffing, his T-s.h.i.+rt dark with perspiration. ”Go now. I'll tell Martin I cried because I twisted my ankle.”
”Wait, what time in the morning should I meet you?”
”Ten o'clock. I'll say I have a doctor's appointment.”
You do, Jill thought, but didn't say.
It was until she was back in the car that she remembered: Rahul.
Chapter Forty-eight.
A thunderstorm broke on the way home, the rain pounding on the roof of the car, and Jill struggled to hear on the cell phone. ”Padma, are you there?”
”Yes, h.e.l.lo?”
”I'm so sorry, but I have to cancel our appointment tomorrow morning.” Jill cringed. She hated doctors who canceled, and now she was one. ”I'm so sorry. Can you meet me later in the day? How about noon tomorrow?”
”I can do that.”
”Good, let's make it then. I'll have the bloodwork. How is Rahul?” Jill switched lanes, keeping an eye on the rearview. Behind her was a FedEx truck, and the traffic was heavy, moving fast despite the fact that visibility was poor, the sky prematurely dark, and everything grayed out with rain.
”About the same. He's sleeping now.”
”Fever?”
”Yes, but low.”
”Eating and drinking?”
”Still not so great.”
Jill made a mental note. ”Okay, hang in. See you at noon. Again, my apologies.”
”Good-bye,” Padma said, hanging up.
Jill fed the car gas and checked the rearview, but the truck behind her had moved, showing a gray sedan. She pressed END, then M, to call and check on Megan, who would be home from practice by now, probably foraging in the refrigerator. Jill kept her eye on the road while the call connected, then said, ”Hi, honey!”
”Hey, Mom, I was just about to call you.”
”What's up?”
”I'm not home, I'm at Courtney's. We have to do our scene tomorrow, and we're almost ready, but I need to stay over one more night.”
Jill groaned. ”No. Megan, it's too much. It's an imposition on Carol.”
”I knew you'd say that, and she's right here. She wants to talk to you.”
”Good, put her on.” Jill heard a shuffling on the other end of the line. ”Carol, that you? Don't you need a break?”
”No, not at all.” Carol sounded bright and cheery. ”How have you been?”
”Fine, busy, and thanks for letting my daughter take up residence.”
”Not at all. She's a dream, you know that. Let her stay here tonight. They're working so hard, you'd be proud of them, making costumes and all.”
Jill felt so guilty. ”But you're even doing the driving.”
”You've done your share, plenty of times before. Don't worry about a thing, I swear. I'll be out of town next week, and you can be the chauffeur then.”
”Okay, thanks.” Jill felt grateful. ”You're a saint.”
”Aren't we all? Take care, and here's Megan. See you.” There was a pause, and Megan came back on the line. ”Okay, Mom?”
”Okay, honey. Don't forget to thank her for everything, and get some sleep tonight, okay?”
”I will. Love you.”
”Love you and miss you, too. Bye-bye.” Jill pressed END and set the phone aside, spotting the gray sedan, still behind her. Its driver was a shadow of a man, and the sedan stayed to her left, on her b.u.mper.
She accelerated, and a minute later, so did he. She didn't like to drive fast when it was raining, so she decelerated. So did he. She switched to the slow lane and let her speed decrease to fifty miles an hour. So did he, which set her heart thudding. She hit the gas and picked up her phone, in case she had to call 911.
Suddenly a sign came up for the service area, and the gray sedan split off, taking the ramp leaving the highway. Still, Jill didn't let off the gas, her hand holding the phone, and she sped all the way home in the storm.
Chapter Forty-nine.
It was dark by the time Jill got home, and she let Beef out in the backyard and lingered at the door. She scanned the privacy fence for anything suspicious, but there was nothing, and Beef was acting normal, burying his muzzle in the wet gra.s.s. Mist wreathed the air, which smelled musty and thick, and steam curled from the pool. It had stormed here, too, leaving the night sky oddly bright in patches, with particles of light hidden in the dark clouds, like vermiculate in potting soil.
Jill stood in the doorway, and her silhouette stretched across the lawn, a human taffy pulled out of shape, taut enough to be dangerously brittle. Sam hadn't called her, and she thought about calling him, but she still couldn't tell him what he wanted to hear. Her head was swimming since her meeting with Nina. Beef trotted out of the gloom, his movement fluid as a daisy-cutter, even at his age. Jill opened her hand at her side, and he slipped his head under her palm, which was their secret routine. His skull felt furry and damp, and she scratched behind his ears, where there was a knot.
Suddenly her phone started to ring, and she reached for her pocket and slid out her new BlackBerry. The screen showed KATIE FEEHAN, and Jill picked up. ”Hi, girl.”
”What happened with Nina?” Katie asked, nervous. ”Are you okay? Why didn't you call?”
”I had to talk to a patient, and the rain was bad all the way home, so I stayed off the phone.” Jill was about to start the story about Nina when the boys started yelling on the other end of the line, at Katie's house. ”What's going on over there?”