Page 82 of Guarding Glenda

“I’m seeking justice.”

Dr. Stanley waited a beat, then said, “That can be important for healing. Although the wounds don’t always heal completely, justice can provide a certain level of closure.”

Lydia gave a forced smile. The doctor asked if anyone else had anything to share.

After one other person spoke a little about the week they had and some ways they kept themselves grounded, our time was up. Everyone stood, some lingering by the refreshments. We learned last week to have coffee before we came.

“Did you want to talk to the doctor before we take off?” Linny asked.

I threaded my arm through hers. “No, I have an appointment with her next week already. No need to be social. Plus, Leigh said he’d come in after us if we took too long.”

We walked through the door and I noticed Lydia standing near the front, still inside. As we passed, I gave her a tight-lipped smile with a quick nod.

She didn’t smile back or say anything, but she looked at us both. Linny tugged at my arm and we left through the front door.

“What was her problem?” Linny asked. “Whew. That wind is picking up.”

Looking up at the sky, I said, “I dunno. Grief does weird things to people. Looks like a storm is coming. It’s still that time.”

“Still get a lot of storms this time of year?”

“Did you not?” I asked. “I didn’t think Georgia was much different than here.”

She shrugged as we got closer to the truck and Leigh was already waiting by my door. “I guess so, actually. We had plenty of thunderstorms even through November sometimes. And some tropical storms hit later in the season after hurricanes hit the gulf. Just my first fall here.”

Leigh pushed off the truck then pulled both doors open. “How was it, ladies?”

“Not bad,” Linny said as she climbed in.

“I still didn’t participate much,” I told him as he kissed my forehead.

“Hop in. I need to get y’all to the clubhouse.”

He shut the door then walked around to his side. I looked up the weather and sure enough, a storm was rolling in. “Bruce is gonna be nervous.”

“He’ll be alright.” Leigh looked up at the sky through the windshield. “If it’s bad out later, though, I may not have to go out.”

He put his hand out for me. Looking back out the window, I hoped a storm did come and stay, at least through the night. That way, he could stay curled up with me.

Glancing over at the door to the center as Leigh pulled away, I recounted that odd interaction. People act all sorts of ways when they’re grieving. I shouldn’t be judgy because I didn’t know her story, but Lydia didn’t seem very torn up, or even withdrawn like me.

And the comment about justice didn’t sit right with me. She didn’t say she hoped to bring the killers to justice. She said she was seeking justice. The stare-down in the hall only added to the feeling that something was off about her. I just didn’t know what.

Chapter 30

Leigh

I dropped the ladies off and headed to the shop. We were falling into a nice routine and Glenda hadn’t had any episodes since before the last therapy session. It was still up in the air if she was good to ride, but her safety was more important than my wants. Although she wanted to ride, too. Hopefully soon we could get some wind therapy together.

Me and some of the others had been scouting and were pretty confident we narrowed down where the Scorpions were hiding out. Sam let us know Manny woke up the day before, but was in a lot of pain and in no shape to be answering questions.

Hammer told me to swing by after work and check in. Even if he couldn’t tell us anything yet, we still wanted to check on the kid. Skeeter had been there when he woke up and he said it was rough.

Some of us had been by to check on him, but we had a member staying at the clinic at all times. Sam was sleeping there for the time being, so we needed to keep them covered. Sam didn’t stay there unless he had one of our unexpected guests. Plus, we didn’t know for sure if Manny’s attack was random or personal, so we couldn’t leave them unguarded.

After an easy but busy day at the shop, I washed up and headed over to the clinic. I called Glenda to check in on the drive over.

“Hey. You off work?” she asked.