Justice Delayed (Memphis Cold Case #1)(80)

The blaring of a car horn jerked her out of her thoughts.

Disoriented, Andi looked through the windshield. Red light! She slammed the brakes, skidding the car sideways into the intersection. The other car whizzed past on the wrong side of the road, the driver bearing down on the horn.

The car had almost creamed her. Shaking, Andi moved her Corolla out of the intersection and pulled into a vacant lot.

Where was she? She shook her head to clear it, and her focus sharpened. The clock on the dashboard read 11:45. She was in her car, gripping the steering wheel. She opened the door and tried to get out, but the seat belt held her tight. She bent over, fumbling with the catch, and sweat dripped off her forehead onto her hand. Finally the seat belt came loose and she stumbled out of the car.

The night air hit her clammy skin, and she shivered. Not because she was cold but because she had no idea where she was or how she got here. Unless it was the Lortabs. How many had she taken? She couldn’t remember. Her hands shook, and she wrapped her arms across her body, tucking her fingers under her arms. She was so thirsty.

Andi reached back in the car for a bottle of water to wet her dry mouth. The other car had missed her, which was a miracle. She scanned the area. Which way was home?

She felt in her pocket and almost cried when her fingers closed around her phone. Andi climbed back into the car. She pushed the center button on her phone, and a message popped up. What can I help you with?

“Directions home.” Thank goodness she’d programmed her home address in the phone.

When she pulled into the driveway, she was a total emotional wreck, and by the time she climbed the stairs to her apartment, she was a physical one. Without turning on a light, she set the alarm and went straight to bed.

She’d deal with this in the morning.





26


AT FIVE THE NEXT MORNING, Will’s alarm went off, and he crawled out of bed. He’d fought the bed all night, at times dreaming about diamonds.

Will had a hunch that the four flight attendants were involved in smuggling. Jillian had disappeared, Stephanie and Lacey were dead, and Laura refused to help with the stay of execution. If this were true, it would blow the case wide open. But he had to find evidence linking the diamonds to the deaths.

His first stop of the day was Stephanie’s studio. There hadn’t been enough time yesterday to really go over it, and it made sense that if there was any evidence still lying around, it would be there.

More than likely no one would be home, but unless things had changed, a key to the house was under a planter on the back porch. He could retrieve the key to the studio from the keys hanging on a peg in the washroom off the kitchen and not bother anyone.

At seven, Will pulled into the Hollister drive. What was Brad’s car doing here? Maybe he was staying with his mom. Will wouldn’t blame him with everything that was going on. He looked for the Hollisters’ sedan. Not here, which meant Mrs. Hollister had already left for the hospital, or it was in the garage. He hoped she wasn’t here. Other than Andi, Barbara Hollister was the last person he wanted to see after last night.

He’d always had a close relationship with her, mostly because she was so involved in her children’s lives, and he was always with Brad. Will didn’t remember her ever missing a ball game or an award ceremony when they were in school. She’d even come to a couple of his games when Brad wasn’t playing.

Why hadn’t Cass loved him? The question caught him off guard, before he could block it or the pain it brought. He steeled his heart against more pain, but it was too late. The floodgates had opened.

What was wrong with him that his own mother hadn’t loved him? And if she couldn’t love him, no one else would. Probably not even God. No. He knew that was a lie. Will’s problem was with people on earth.

He had to get out of the car and away from these thoughts. But they followed him as he went to get the morning paper in the drive, only now his thoughts were focused on Andi. Before her father’s outburst, he’d actually harbored a hope that she might care about him, and not like a brother.

Last night when she walked into her mother’s kitchen and smiled at him, she lit up his world. For the first time, he fully realized he wanted her in his life.

His cell dinged a text, and he checked his phone. His mother.

I need to see you today.

He texted her back.

Can’t today. Going to Nashville.

She’d be disappointed, but how many times had she disappointed him? Why couldn’t she have been more like Barbara Hollister?

Can you give me five minutes on the phone?

I’m sorry, but I’m really busy.

His finger hovered over send. When he was a kid and so angry with Cass, he’d dreamed of this day. Her wanting to spend time with him and him getting even for all the times she’d been too busy for him.

Her gaunt frame flashed in his mind’s eye, and his body stilled. Getting even. Was that what he was doing? He lifted his gaze. Light, hazy clouds streaked the morning sky, and the sun warmed his face. Maybe he could meet her halfway. He deleted the text.

Can I call you in about an hour when I’m on the road? Shouldn’t have any distractions then.

He hit send.

A second later, a smiley face popped up.

He picked up the paper and started to the back door when Barbara rounded the corner from the back of the house.

Her hand flew to her chest. “Oh my goodness!”