“Honesty sometimes sucks,” I said, finally getting a laugh out of her. I pushed myself to my feet. “Did you drive here?”
“No. My boyfriend dropped me off. The flower shop is just around the corner, so I figured I’d walk to work.” She stood and brushed dust off her butt.
I reclaimed my laptop bag. “Boyfriend, huh? When did that start?” I’d wanted to ask about the purple condom, but it hadn’t pertained to her case, and I could only be so nosy.
“Not long,” she said, smiling. “He’s a good guy.” She reached down and picked up her purse. “I’m sorry to be hanging out in your building. I just didn’t know what to do, and it’s warm and quiet here.”
It really was. “These old buildings have a good feeling to them, don’t they?” We should probably get a bench or two to put along the hallways, although each office was complete on its own. Potted plants positioned throughout couldn’t hurt. The environment was perfect for plants. “How about I give you a ride home?” I’d been to her house a few weeks previous during a case. It wasn’t on my way home, but it wasn’t too much out of the way, either. “I’m happy to.”
“Okay.” She looked blindly around. “Thanks.”
We walked down the steps and into the warm August early evening. Petunias scented the air, even in the alley. They overflowed planters all down the streets of Timber City, and this late in the summer, they filled the early evening with fragrance. My steps were light as I walked around a couple of cars and tossed my bag in back after opening the door for Kelsey.
She slid inside and tucked her purse at her feet.
Maybe I should ask her to dinner. She really did seem lonely. I crossed around the car to reach the driver’s side door, wondering if Tessa was working at Smiley’s. We could pop by there for a burger and shake.
A truck zoomed down the alley and skidded to a stop.
I jerked around. Crap. The driver was one of the Lorde’s women from the other day, and a quick look at the passenger confirmed it was the other blonde. I jumped into my car and ignited the engine. Whatever they wanted wasn’t good.
The blonde lifted a muted gray pistol to her window.
Kelsey turned around. “What is happening?”
I gunned my car and shot down the alley, away from the truck and the gun. “Um, hold on.” They were blocking my way to Justice Road and thus the police station, but I could still get out the other end of the alley. “Call Aiden,” I yelled at Siri on my phone.
“Calling Aiden Devlin,” Siri said in the male Australian accent I’d chosen. He sounded so calm.
Kelsey slammed her hands against the dash.
My heart raced as I reached the end of the alley and zipped right on Acorn Road. I punched the gas, my mind spinning. Crap. The truck careened behind me, its brakes squealing.
“Hey, Angel,” Aiden said over the phone.
“The Lorde’s old ladies are chasing me in a truck and one has a gun,” I yelled, my hands gripping the steering wheel so hard it hurt. “What is going on? Aren’t you still the president of whoever is left in that stupid motorcycle club?”
“What? Just a second.” He muffled the phone and yelled something unintelligible. Male voices came back. “Which old ladies?” he snapped.
Kelsey’s mouth dropped wide open and she stared at me.
“I don’t know. One blonde and one brunette. They were both with Sasha the other day.” The light was turning red ahead of me. I glanced quickly to the sides to see cars coming, so I had no choice but to slam on the brakes.
Kelsey screamed.
My car lurched and I fell against the steering wheel. “Ouch! Seatbelt, Kelsey!” There wasn’t time to get out of the car. Fumbling, I grabbed my seatbelt and secured it, looking frantically in the rear-view mirror as Kelsey did the same.
Hopefully they’d stop.
I could see the brunette’s eyes widen. She must’ve pounded on the brakes because the truck hitched. It skidded loudly at the last second. Then her jaw tightened, and the truck sped up.
My instincts kicked in, and I grabbed the wheel but didn’t have time to hit the gas and somehow get out of the way. The vehicle hit my car with a loud crunch of metal against metal. My body smashed against the seatbelt and then back, my head hitting the headrest. My ears rang.
The impact pushed my car into the intersection. Horns blared as cars swerved to get out of the way. I tee-boned a compact blue car, spinning both it and my Fiat around in a circle. The last thing I saw was a blond man slump over his steering wheel in that car. Oh no. Was he dead?
“Kelsey?” I whispered weakly. My ears rang and my vision went dark from the outside in. Then I fell into unconsciousness.
Chapter 13
