Vindicate (Recovered Innocence #1)(55)

“It was nice to talk about it with someone. Most people just want to sensationalize the gruesome parts. Cassandra was my friend. She deserves more than to be reduced to a notorious headline.”

Nodding, I take out my wallet and hand her two twenties. “I know you’re going through a tough time.”

She hesitates, then accepts it. “Thanks. Normally, I wouldn’t take the help, but…”

“We all need help every now and then. You helped me.”

As I watch her drive away, Cora joins me. “I saw that. That was very nice of you.”

I shrug.

“Did she tell you anything useful?”

“And then some. We need to go back to the office. I want to check on something Zelda said about the trial and I think I might know where Mrs. Wheeler is.”

“What did she tell you?”

“I’ll fill you in on the way.”

We climb into the car and take off. There’s a buzz running through me, making my skin itch. This is it. I can feel it. This is the lead we’ve been looking for. I can tell Cora feels it too. She’s animated in a way I’ve never seen her, gesturing with her hands and moving nonstop. I’m glad I got to be the one to give her this moment.

We finally arrive at the office. It’s dark, darker than normal. I look up at the sky, wondering if the clouds are covering the moon, and realize that the lights in the parking lot are all out.

Cora must’ve noticed that something was off too, because she doesn’t move to the stairs right away like she usually would. She stands by the open car door, her head cocked to one side like she’s listening. I’m listening too and scanning the building and the empty parking lot. Nothing moves. Our gazes catch across the top of the car. I put my finger to my lips. She nods and reaches into the car, shutting the interior light off. I wish I’d thought to do that.

I pull the gun Dad gave me from between the seats and motion for Cora to stay where she is. Creeping toward the stairs, I listen hard for any odd noises. A hand grips the waistband of my jeans and I nearly jump. Damn Cora didn’t stay put. I glare at her. She glares back. I should’ve known she wouldn’t listen. I motion for her to stay quiet. She rolls her eyes at me like “no duh.” Damn stubborn woman.

We edge up the stairs, careful not to step on the one board we know always creaks. I stay low as we reach the top. Cora does the same. The walkway is empty. And dark. The lights are off up here too. Unless there’s a power outage in the area, something’s definitely wrong.

Cora tugs on my waistband and whispers, “Should we call the police?”

“And tell them what?” I whisper back. “The power’s out?”

“You think it’s just an outage?”

No. “Probably.”

We creep along the walkway, past the front window of the agency. The blinds are drawn over the blackened window. The only sound comes from the occasional car passing by. It’s too late for anyone to still be working in any of the other offices. Most likely we’re on our own here. I’m starting to think Cora’s idea about calling the cops might be a good one. We reach the door to the agency and pause. It doesn’t look disturbed in any way, and yet…I push on it and it swings open. Just like at Cora’s house.

Cora jerks me back. I stumble into her, knocking her down. She’s still got ahold of my pants. I pinwheel my arms, but it’s not enough, and I go down too, landing on top of her. She makes the sickest noise I’ve ever heard—a grunt mixed with the rush of air leaving her body and a crack that sounds like a broken bone. She pushes at me. I roll off and look down at her. Her hands go to her throat. In the dimness I can see the panic in her eyes as she tries to catch her breath. Just then there’s a loud swooshing sound. Light flickers in the open doorway, but it’s not the right kind of light.

Fire.

I scoop her up and run down the stairs. Bending, I lay her down in the grass. I take my phone out to call 911.

KABOOM.

The building explodes behind me, knocking me on top of Cora. Fiery debris rains down around us. There’s a burning on my back. I roll to put it out. When I’m sure I’m not on fire anymore I go to Cora. She’s trying to reach her pants leg. I pat her leg, dousing the ember. Running my hands over her, I check to make sure she’s not on fire anywhere else.

“Are you all right?” I ask her.

“No.” She winces as she tries to sit up. “You landed on me. Twice.”

“Did you break anything?”

“I didn’t.” She points to my hand that’s resting on her thigh. “But I think you might have.”

I look down. The middle finger of my left hand is twisted, pointing in the wrong direction. My head swivels. The next thing I know I’m falling, then black.





Chapter 25


Cora


“Leo?”

I push at him until I finally roll him off me. Which isn’t easy. He’s a big guy. Oh, thank God. He’s still breathing. I can’t believe he fell on me three times tonight. And not in a good way. I glance up at the office building. It’s fully engulfed. Flames shoot out of the agency’s door and window. If Leo hadn’t picked me up and gotten us out of there, we’d be toast right now.

I pat his cheek. “Leo?”