“Hi, Huck,” she said, her voice clear.
He pulled onto a main thoroughfare. “You sound wide awake.”
“I am. More nightmares.”
“About what?” He passed a slow-moving shipping truck.
She sighed. “I’m walking in a snowy field and people I’ve helped to catch, all killers, are pelting me with frozen black dahlias. I can’t get away. I’m sure it’s because we’re running in circles on this case. The symbols fit.”
“Well, it’s going to get worse.” He updated her on Rachel and her attacker. “This time it isn’t my fault.”
“No, you’re right.” Laurel groaned. “If she goes public, that puts the spotlight on me. Not on the case or on the killer, but me. I’m the subject now.”
“I couldn’t stop her. Do you think that was the killer’s goal? Are we closer to somebody than we think?” The move didn’t make sense to him, but right now, he was just pissed. All over, from every direction, plain old pissed.
“It could be, or it could be something else.” Clothing rustled. “I have a bad feeling I know what this is.”
So did he. The hair on the back of his neck rose. “Tell me.”
“I angered Abigail yesterday, and this is something she might do in retaliation. It screws up our case, puts you back into protector mode with your ex-fiancée, and shoots me into the limelight. All the actions of a narcissist who thinks she’s been wronged.”
Huck tilted his head. “I don’t know. I do believe your sister could be dangerous, in the right circumstances, but this would be a huge risk. She’s a successful professor and entrepreneur, and she wants a relationship with you. What if she got caught? Rachel does know some self-defense and could’ve gotten a chance to fight back but didn’t. Somebody could’ve seen the attacker. The police are canvassing now and checking any CCTV from the area. This is too much of a risk for Abigail. Do you actually think she would’ve done something like this?”
“In a heartbeat.”
* * *
Early in the morning, Laurel hurried to dress, connections building and breaking in her mind. It was possible the killer had attacked Rachel, or perhaps a nutso fan of hers wanted notoriety and thought a good way to get it was to bring up the current case. Or maybe Rachel was being deceitful, but Huck had seen the bruises. In addition, Laurel couldn’t banish that last look on Abigail’s face from her mind. Her expression had been both angry and calculating.
She carried her boots into the living room, where her phone rang. Seeing it was her mother, she accepted the video call. “How modern of you to use the video calling. How is the spa?”
“Wonderful.” Deidre’s eyes were tired but bright. She was knitting. “I had several of my women from the business come up yesterday. We performed the moon ceremony over the new tea, and I was so full of light that I didn’t want to sleep. It’s going to be a lovely healing gift for so many people.” She squinted to see better through the phone. “Where are you going at this hour? It’s early.”
“I’m on a case.” Laurel slipped on her boots.
“Laurel. Where are you going?”
Laurel straightened. “I have a lead and am checking it out. There’s no danger. I promise.” Even if Abigail had been the attacker, she wouldn’t hurt Laurel. Not yet, anyway.
“This doesn’t have anything to do with Abigail Caine, does it?”
Laurel jolted. “Why would you ask that?”
Deidre went back to her knitting. “She called my cell phone twice yesterday, offering a partnership in her marijuana growing operation. Says we’d make a fortune adding it to some of our teas. She’s correct, but I am not working with that woman. I felt that she was just making herself known, trying to get my attention, since I’ve already refused her offers before.”
“She does enjoy a good mind game,” Laurel muttered. It would make sense that, if Abigail were Rachel’s attacker, she’d want to be on everyone’s mind. Even Laurel’s mother.
But had it been Abigail?
“I have to go, Mom. Enjoy your spa appointments.” She pulled on a thick parka. The clouds had moved on during the night, leaving the earth unprotected and freezing. “Try to get some sleep by taking a nap later today.”
“I will. Be careful, honey.” Her mom frowned and pushed several loud keys on her phone. Then the screen finally went blank.
Laurel stepped outside and ran to her SUV, then had to scrape a layer of ice off the windows. She used the drive to practice deep breathing so the oxygen flowed freely through her blood to her brain. Calm and rational thinking would keep her in control of the situation.
The lights were off at Abigail’s. The sun was starting to rise over the mountains, but it was still dark. Laurel rang the bell several times, a sliver of impatience filtering through her calm.
Lights flickered on to illuminate the interior of the home. A minute later the door opened to a sleepy-looking Abigail dressed in a black nightie with matching silk robe. “Laurel? What the hell are you doing here?” She stepped back and pulled Laurel through. “What has happened? Are you all right?” She pushed her messy hair over her shoulder.
