Justice Delayed (Memphis Cold Case #1)(79)

“What are you taking?” Barbara Hollister asked.

She dropped the bottle, and it rolled to her mom’s feet. “Something for my back.” She bent to retrieve it, but her mom was faster.

“Lortab? How long have you been taking these?”

“Since I hurt my back.” Andi reached for the bottle, and her mother reluctantly released it.

“That’s strong stuff. What’s wrong with your back?”

Andi shrugged. “Something about a disc. Do you still have Jillian Bennett’s address?”

“Somewhere . . . in my Christmas list, I think. But changing the subject won’t work this time. You don’t need to keep taking those pills.”

“Mom.” Andi stretched the word out to two syllables. “I know what I’m doing. I won’t take these any longer than I absolutely have to, but right now, they’re getting me through the day. I can’t take time to have the operation the doctor wants to do.”

“There are other options, like physical therapy. Have you tried that?”

“Not yet. I just want to get through this thing with Jimmy, then I’ll see about it.”

Her mother opened her mouth to say something then seemed to think better of it. “I’ll look for Jillian’s address in the morning, after I get your father home.”

“Thanks. Are you sure you don’t want me to stay with you?”

“Brad has already insisted, and there’s no need for you both to stay. You’ll sleep better in your own bed, anyway.”

After getting her mother to promise to call if she needed anything, Andi drove home, blinking as lights from oncoming cars blinded her. After every turn, she kept watch in her rearview mirror for anyone turning with her. Had she set the alarm at her apartment before she left today? She couldn’t remember.

When she pulled up behind the house, the area was lit up like Christmas. Treece must have turned on all the outside lights. No one could find a shadow back here to lurk in. She climbed out of the car, and the warm night wrapped around her. She loved April—when it wasn’t storming. Andi tilted her head. Was that music? She searched for the source, but it seemed to float on the soft breeze that touched her cheek. Swaying to the beat, she danced up the steps. She felt good.

A minute later, she fumbled with the key. Why wouldn’t it fit the lock? There. Finally she had the door open, but now something was beeping.

She sang, mocking the sound. “Beep, beep, beep, beep—”

The alarm. What was the code? Her mind blanked. How long did she have to put the code in? She couldn’t remember, but it wasn’t long. Her nose itched, and she rubbed it. Oh yeah. Stephanie’s birthday.

“Thank you, Mr. Alarm,” she said when the beeping ceased. She flipped off the outside lights and plopped on the couch. Her eyes drooped. Maybe she’d just sleep here.



At eleven JD had almost decided Andi wasn’t coming home when she pulled into the drive and parked in her usual spot behind the house. He pressed his back against the wall away from the light flooding the yard, his dark clothing blending with the brick. He waited as she took her time getting out of her car.

Is she singing?

Andi climbed the steps to the back door and unlocked it. The steady beep of the alarm alerted him that she was getting better about setting it.

She closed the door, and a few minutes later the outside lights went out, then the apartment went dark. He forced himself to wait a good fifteen minutes before he eased to her car and knelt beside the wheel. Where to put the magnetic transponder so he could track her? The wheel? No. It might accidentally be seen. He placed it under the front fender.

Now, if she went looking for Jillian and found her, he could take care of his last problem. He might even get back the diamonds she stole. Scratch that. Jillian had probably sold them years ago. But he could have his pound of flesh.

He froze when Andi’s back door opened and she hurried down the steps. Thank goodness he was on the passenger side. She never saw him. As soon as she pulled out onto the street, he started to leave, then looked back.

Her door stood slightly open.

She hadn’t set the alarm.

He sneaked up the steps, his black clothing making him almost invisible, since Andi had killed the outside lights. Inside the apartment, he used his cell phone for a light and quickly and systematically searched the living room for anything the diamonds could be hidden in. And not just the diamonds.

If Andi had the diamonds, she probably had the missing journal pages. Unless one of the others had given her details, the only information on those pages could be the names of who was involved in the smuggling. That was enough to put him in jail, even though Andi probably wouldn’t know what she had.

He glanced around the room. What he was looking for could be anywhere. He tapped the fireplace mantel to see if it had a false board, but no, it was solid. He was batting zero for the night. First he hadn’t found anything at the studio, and now nothing at Andi’s apartment.

He clenched his jaw and flipped open a pocketknife, slashing the cushions and chairs. They had to be here somewhere. He stormed into the bathroom and grabbed a lipstick container. He jerked the shower curtain back and left her a message.

He wanted those diamonds.



See, God, I don’t need you to help me. I can do it myself. And just watch me. I’m going to save Chloe.