Betrayed (Rosato & DiNunzio, #2)(37)

“No, that’s what I would’ve done. It wasn’t yours to take.”

“But I don’t think we should leave it there, especially with my aunt going into the hospital and leaving the house unattended.” Judy’s mouth went dry. “They could get broken into.”

“It’s possible.”

“What should I do? Call and tell them?”

“No, not over the phone.”

“Go get it?” Judy checked the dashboard clock, which read 7:35. “And do what with it? Tell my aunt, the day before her operation? How much more can she take?”

“Hit the gas, and we’ll figure it out on the way.”





Chapter Seventeen

Judy steered the car onto her aunt’s street, driving past a quaint cluster of older brick homes. Everything was quiet and still, now that the rain had stopped. The trees dripped water, humidity grayed the air, and the asphalt shone with wetness. Warm light glowed from the mullioned windows of the houses, from behind spiny evergreens and tall oak trees.

Mary shifted up in her seat, looking around. “I’m not moving to the suburbs, even when we have kids. There’s not enough graffiti.”

“Ha.” Judy cruised toward her aunt’s house, noticing that her mother’s rental car was taking up the driveway, so they’d have to park on the street. She scanned for a space, and Penny popped her head between the front seats, panting.

“Whoa, does the dog know where we’re going?”

“Yep, she comes to life on this street, every time.” Judy spotted a parking space in front of the house next door to her aunt’s and made a beeline for it. “She loves Aunt Barb.”

“Judy, don’t worry, I really think your aunt will pull through this.”

“Thanks, I hope so.”

“Also I put my mother on novena patrol, and she’s got the juice.”

Judy smiled. “So how much are we going to tell her and my mother about the money? I don’t love the idea of upsetting Aunt Barb before her operation, but by the same token, I don’t like hiding things from her.” Judy braked and reversed into the parking space, then cut the ignition. Penny started skittering back and forth in the backseat, wagging her tail in excitement.

“So you’re going to come clean?”

“Yes, and my aunt might be able to help. What if she gave Iris the money or knows how she got it? In fact, for all we know, my aunt could know that the money’s in her garage, but isn’t telling me.” Judy slid the key out of the ignition, engaged the emergency brake, and popped off her seat belt, which triggered Penny’s whimpering and pawing at the window of the backseat.

“You really believe that?”

“No,” Judy answered, talking louder to be heard over Penny. “But I’m trying to keep an open mind. Let’s get outta here. The dog’s about to explode.”

“Is she always like this?” Mary glanced back, and Penny began barking at the car window, her attention riveted on the house.

“Not really, but I haven’t taken her here in a while.” Judy could barely hear herself over Penny’s barking, reverberating in the small car. “Can you get my purse, and I’ll get the dog?”

Mary reached into the seat well and picked up the handbags, while Judy pocketed the keys, climbed out of the car, closed her door, and went to the backseat.

“Penny, settle down! Settle!” Judy opened the back door and reached for Penny’s leash, but the dog shot out of the car and raced down the sidewalk to her aunt’s house, her leash flying behind her. “Penny, no!”

“Wow, she’s fast!”

“Penny, come!” Judy jogged after the dog, surprised. It wasn’t like Penny to run off unless she’d seen a squirrel. “Penny, no!”

“Penny!” Mary called behind her, sounding distant.

Judy tore down the sidewalk and across the neighbor’s wet lawn, giving chase. Luckily the neighbors weren’t home and their house was dark, but the lack of lights made it hard to see.

“Penny!” Judy followed the noise of the dog’s frantic barking, reached her aunt’s driveway, and bolted past her garage to her backyard, praying that Penny wasn’t destroying the beds of Aunt Barb’s roses. Judy raced into her aunt’s backyard, which plunged her into darkness. The kitchen lights weren’t on inside the house, so there was nothing to illuminate the backyard. She lost sight of Penny, and the barking sounded farther and farther away.

Whoomp! Judy startled at a rushing sound, a rapid movement in the air around her, too fast to be anything natural. A large figure zoomed into her, a shadowy blur streaking from the darkness.

Judy felt a sudden blow to her head, stunning her. She cried out in confusion and fear. Pain arced through her skull. She heard a grunting sound. She caught a whiff of beer.

Judy whirled around, knocked off-balance. Her arms flew upward reflexively. She collapsed to the ground. She hit hard on her side, unable to break her fall. The shock of the impact traveled throughout her body and rattled her bones. Her face planted in the cold, wet grass.

The shadow vanished. She heard heavy footsteps splashing through the grass, running off. Penny’s barking sounded far away, echoing in the night. The air went still around Judy. The only sound was her own panting. Her heart beat wildly.