The Last Invitation (48)

First shot fired. Didn’t take long, not that the rapid speed surprised Jessa. “You’re still a sweet talker, I see.”

“Oh, I’m sorry. Are we pretending you’re not a liar?”

Jessa schooled her reaction, sending fake signals that the word didn’t bother her, that Gabby’s perception meant nothing. Jessa used most of her energy to give off a cool and unconcerned vibe. “Gee, why wouldn’t I want to help you?”

“Fine. You’re right. Maybe you’ve changed.”

After getting out from under the Darren mess, Jessa wasn’t looking for a new problem. She didn’t want to go backward. She’d made some bad choices. Relied on learned survival skills that she hid even from Faith for fear of scaring her off. “You don’t know me, Gabby. You didn’t back then, and you don’t now.”

“Just because you wrote that in an affidavit during my divorce doesn’t make it true.”

Jessa grabbed her bag and started to stand up. “Goodbye, Gabby.”

Even with the uncharacteristic jumpiness, Gabby didn’t ruffle. “I know things about you. Things you don’t want others to know. Corners you cut so tight I’m surprised you aren’t still bleeding.”

Jessa hated that Gabby could see her. “Are you threatening me?”

“Whatever it takes.”

“What do you want?” Jessa sat back down as a familiar pounding started deep inside her. A whirling need to run and deny, to lash out . . . to get out from under a pile of lies by adding one more to the heap.

Gabby balanced her elbows on the table and leaned in as her voice dipped to a whisper. “Baines didn’t kill himself.”

Okay. Another curveball. “That’s not what I’ve heard.”

“What if I told you there’s a group of people—looking at their targets, probably powerful, professional women—who believe they are the law and have handed down sentences?”

Oh, shit. Retta hadn’t warned her about how to handle this sort of thing. “I’d say you should get a job and stop watching so much television.”

“Loretta Swain.”

Shit, shit, shit. “What about her?” Laugh it off. The thought floated into Jessa’s head, and she went with it. “Wait, you think she’s an assassin? I would love to see her swing a sword like some sort of avenging angel.”

No amount of sarcasm or amusement seemed to throw Gabby off. She didn’t break eye contact as she pushed on. “Do you know anyone who would want to kill Baines?”

Jessa gave in to an eye roll. “Yeah, you. Isn’t the former spouse always the presumed guilty party?”

Gabby shook her head, clearly annoyed that Jessa wasn’t spilling whatever she knew. “Did anything come up during the divorce? Something he said, maybe a piece of information you found, to suggest Baines was in danger?”

Jessa’s fingers tightened around her coffee cup. “Gabby, really. Hear me when I tell you I didn’t work on the case.”

A sharp snap of silence traveled between them.

Gabby slumped back in her chair. The frenetic energy bouncing off her slowed. She seemed to regain control of whatever had her in a mental spin. “We both know that’s not true.”

“I signed a—”

“Stop,” Gabby said loud enough for a few of the other people in the coffee shop to turn around. Then Gabby lowered her voice. “Before I figured out who you really were, before your law school antics, we were friends. Back then we studied together. Ate together. Then one night I drank too much and told you about Liam.”

“About how you were engaged to the wrong brother? I remember.” The tidbit Jessa knew that no one else did. It was the moment in law school when she realized Gabby thought they were much closer friends than they were. That unequal affection had given Jessa the upper hand.

“And years later, you told Baines, or at least told his attorney,” Gabby said.

If it was a guess on Gabby’s part, it was an educated one. And correct. Telling Covington had earned Jessa points, but not enough. She’d still ended up on his bad side and too many steps away from a partnership offer despite the risk she’d taken to divulge the news. “Why would I do that?”

“Because you’re awful?”

Jessa didn’t want to hear this. Not now, when her life was finally taking the right turn. She stood up. “We’re done here.”

“If I’m right, someone killed Baines. Maybe one person. Maybe a group. Then they attacked me. In my own home. Either way, Loretta Swain’s name keeps popping up.”

Jessa forced out a laugh. She’d heard about the home invasion but tried to pretend it was one of those horrible living-in-the-metro-area things and not a warning from the group. “I really hope you publicly accuse an appeals court judge of murder. That will work out great for you.”

“Your name keeps showing up, too.”

Jessa rested her hands on the table and leaned down, face-to-face with Gabby. “I know we’re not friends, but I’m going to give you some advice.”

Gabby sighed. “I can hardly wait.”

“Stop this. Stop digging or looking for a better answer to what happened.” Jessa refused to let Gabby derail her progress. “Your ex is dead, and I’m sure you have some feelings of guilt, but he’s gone. Hanging out with a disgraced reporter and making outrageous claims that anyone can see are a bizarre overreach will lead you to a dark place. Get help for the attack and move on.”