When the Bough Breaks (Rose Gardner Investigations #6) - Denise Grover Swank Page 0,95
how I know it,” I said softly as I took a couple of steps closer. “What matters is why you’ve tried to contact me multiple times.”
“I didn’t mean to run over your dog.”
That sent a spike of pain through me, but I’d assumed as much. “I know. She’s gonna be okay.”
She looked scared to death, and I worried I was about to send her running. Dermot could likely catch her, but I suspected that wouldn’t get us answers. I needed her to volunteer the information. “I’m not upset. I just want to help you.”
She started to laugh, but it sounded a bit hysterical.
The hair on the back of my neck stood on end and I considered running back to the truck, but instead I stood in place, waiting for her next move.
“You’re not here to help me, you stupid twit,” she said through her laughter. “I’m here to help you.”
I wasn’t sure I believed that. In December, she’d told me she was in more trouble than I’d know what to do with. Her note had said she could help me find the kids, but what if that had just been a ploy to get me to meet her? I was starting to reevaluate Vera’s level of threat.
Trying to quell my expectations, I took a step forward. “Okay. Then help me.”
She stopped laughing, staggering over to the picnic table closest to the creek and leaning against it. She was unbalanced and unpredictable. The smart thing to do would be to leave, but I wasn’t ready to let this go yet. She’d been the one to reach out to me. She wanted to talk to me. I just needed to let her work her way to it.
I sat down on the bench seat, my back to the tabletop, and waited. I didn’t want to scare her off, and the more I talked the more I put this whole discussion in jeopardy. She was close enough now that I could see bruises on her face like someone had hit her.
“Why do you care what happens in this county?” she asked.
Her question caught me by surprise, but back in December, she’d said she knew I was the Lady in Black. “Because I live here.” I placed my hand on my belly. “I’m gonna raise my baby here. I have friends and two businesses. But I want everyone to be safe—not just the people I care about, everyone. I would hope everyone else feels that way.”
“Everyone else doesn’t go traipsing around in a hat and veil,” she sneered.
“I haven’t worn a hat and veil in over a year.”
She started to say something, then stopped and took a seat at the opposite end of the bench, facing outward like me.
“The boy you had with you in December,” I said. “Is that your son?”
She hesitated, then nodded.
“And a daughter?” She’d been hiding in a closet with a little girl in my vision.
Her eyes flew wide. “How’d you know?”
I shrugged. “Lucky guess, but I’m sure you want them both to be safe too. Just like I want my baby to be safe.”
“It ain’t always that easy, you know?” she asked, her hands shaking in her lap. “You make bad decisions, and suddenly everything is spiraling out of control.”
“I know a thing or two about that,” I said. “We can’t change what we’ve done, but we can control what we do goin’ forward.” I paused and lowered my voice. “If you need help, I can give it to you. I’ve helped others. Just tell me what kind of trouble you’re in.”
She was quiet for a moment, staring out at the creek.
“How did you find out that I’m Lady?” I asked.
“People talk.”
“People in the criminal world. I’d never seen you before last December.”
“I know people, and I ain’t just talkin’ about Mark.”
“Mark?” Then it hit me. She was talking about Mark Erickson. Riviera—Vera.
Vera was Mark’s girlfriend.
I tried to temper my excitement. She might actually be able to help find Ashley and Mikey. “Do you know anything about my niece and nephew?”
“I can take you to them.”
“Then let’s go,” I said, getting to my feet.
“Not so fast.” She got up and came toward me. When she was only a couple of feet away, she reached inside her sweater and pulled out a handgun. Grabbing my arm, she pointed the gun at my belly. “I know one of you’s in the truck and the others are in the trees,” she shouted.
My breathing turned fast and shallow. My head was faint. “Vera, I