CHAPTER TEN

Haddie pulled into the driveway of Liz’s house and pulled out her phone. The heat on the RAV4 had kicked in during the drive and whirred quietly.

Her small, odd-shaped house on a corner had a single peak high to the front that slanted from the small third floor to the second. It sat nestled in yellow cream siding amid pine trees on one side and oaks on the slope that drifted into the woods. The side street dead-ended unfinished at the woods.

“Here,” she texted to Liz.

Scrolling down to Andrea’s message from 4:40 a.m., she twisted her lips, reading it yet again. “I’m sure they will arrest Mel Schafer today for the second murder. I’ll want to be prepared. When you come in today please focus on the tasks I’ve assigned and not your own agenda. I don’t have time to redirect you today. Please, focus.”

The most recent prior message from Andrea had been from ten days ago when she’d praised her for work put into a DUI case. The drastic difference in tone made Haddie cringe. She would do nothing but Andrea’s list today, no matter what came up.

Then, she needed to get on her paper — due in five days. She still had the weekend, but two days would give her almost no time to research. The rest — the murders, Colman’s finances, and Dad, had to wait. Dad. She’d spent the last twelve hours, waking and sleeping, in turmoil. The birth years made no sense, and she couldn’t let it go. Thinking about him made her physically ache. She swallowed, trying not to hear Terry’s admonishments. Maybe she did get a bit obsessive, here or there.

Liz texted back with a thumbs-up emoji, and Haddie waited, running through her schedule for the day. Andrea’s text had been a slap first thing this morning and made Haddie’s morning cereal taste sour in her mouth. Wednesday she had a late class, so any time at the library would have to be done in the afternoon. She purposefully had not texted Terry to see what he’d learned about any spontaneous human combustion fires.

Liz came dashing out with a jean jacket covered in random patches from heavy metal bands. She wore sunglasses though the clouds kept the morning light soft. It had rained overnight.

“It’s freezing.” Liz jumped in with a breath of cold air and the scent of orange shampoo.

“Fifty-eight.” Haddie corrected.

“If you’d like to get technical, fifty-eight is well below the melting point for most of your frozen car.” Liz clustered her satchel on her knees as she clipped her seatbelt. “So let me whine. I’m freezing.”

Haddie chuckled and turned up the heat. “Benny says your car will be ready tomorrow.”

“How much?” Liz clutched her satchel against her chest, as if it had some warmth.

“A few hours of free legal advice. I charge him 450 an hour.” She turned as Liz had gone silent with her face wide-eyed and mouth open. Haddie laughed. “He charges me 225 an hour. We have an understanding.”

Haddie pulled out onto the street and checked her phone. In order for her to get to work on time, she had to get Liz to the lab early. In this neighborhood, few cars were leaving yet. The street was empty except for a gray SUV that pulled out behind them.

“I appreciate everything, Haddie. I hate my car.”

“Because your Avenger is a crap.” Haddie headed for I5; she’d jump off at Franklin, passing the spot where the Dodge had stalled.

She stifled a yawn. It had been a late night. Terry’s message about the dogfighting gang had her looking up the police blotter and then tracking the man she’d outed, along with his cohorts. Petty gang activities.

Her dad’s revelation had caused her more trouble. Sleep had been nearly impossible. It wasn’t something she’d ever spoken to Liz about. How could she?

A minute of silence sat in the car with them before Liz spoke. “Your case at work — anything new?”

“Nope. Still working on the alibi.” She turned on Brackenfern and the gray Outback with deep tinted windows followed.

Swallowing, she thought about Terry’s warning. It was likely just another commuter heading for I5, but she kept glancing back. She had been a little obsessed about the dogfighting ring. Terry had suggested a couple options that might have taken longer, but she’d been driven to out this gang from the moment the first dead dog had hit the news. Now, she might have gotten herself and her friends into something she couldn’t handle.

Haddie put on her blinker at the upcoming left. “Just going to flip through here.”

Confused, Liz looked at the motel at the corner; the opposite lot was empty. “Everything okay?”

“I’d imagine we’re fine.”

The Subaru slowed behind her, but through those deep tints, Haddie couldn’t make out anything. Slowly she turned left onto the street. The SUV continued straight. Just an overactive imagination.

“What’s going on?” Liz looked down the street they’d just turned on.

Haddie turned through the motel parking lot and came back out to get back on track. “Nothing. I’m a little jumpy. The dogfighting ring got picked up and Terry got me spooked. Thought someone followed me. It’s nothing.” She gave Liz a wry smile. “So, what’s up on the fire analysis?”

Liz swiveled in her seat, glancing around them. “Todd is going back to the car. Something odd in the dispersion at the house fire. I’ll let you know what he comes up with.” She held back her hair as they turned, and she watched a car pass. “You really think this gang might be following you? You need to be careful.”

“Just my imagination. I haven’t slept enough the past few days,” Haddie said. She should have talked with her dad. He obviously was opening up — a little. Next time she’d try not to overreact.

There was no sign of the SUV ahead of them. She took a deep breath and made for I5. Andrea would not appreciate it if she was late this morning.