Page 47 of Warped

Only a couple of people would have that number, and both of them were connected to my father’s court case.

I moved to clamber out of the bed, but another dizzy spell hit me, forcing me to stop.

X had already reached the phone and he handed it over to me, frowning as he caught my expression. “Everything all right?”

I nodded as the vertigo cleared. “Yeah, I just sat up too quickly.”

I reached to take the phone out of his hand and answered it.

“Ms. Guerra?” A female voice.

“Yes, hello. Who’s speaking?”

“It’s Caroline Bailey.”

It was the prosecuting lawyer from my father’s case. Her tone was cool and sent ice prickling through my veins. My stomach churned and I flicked a worried glanced to X, who stood with his fingers pressed to his lips, watching me with concern.

“Everything okay?”

“Can you come in today? Something has come to light, and I need to speak with you about it urgently.”

“What’s this about?”

“I’m afraid I can’t discuss it over the phone. Are you able to meet me in the next hour?”

I glanced at the LED clock on the television. It was only eight in the morning. If she wanted me to meet her at nine, I’d struggle to somehow make myself presentable and get across the city in time.

I wanted to get this over with, so I said, “Can we make it ten?”

“Of course. I’ll see you soon.”

She hung up, and I lowered the phone from my ear. My hands trembled. “She wants to see me about my father’s case. Something has happened. I don’t think it’s good.”

“Okay, I’ll drive you.”

I looked down at my sweats. “I can’t go like this.”

“We’ll get you some clothes on the way.” He studied my face. “It will be all right.”

I nodded miserably and went to the bathroom to wash my face, brush my teeth, and use the toilet. I also put my bra back on, but stuffed the dirty underwear into the trash. I didn’t want to wear them. If I could buy clothes to wear to the courthouse, I could buy new panties as well.

I waited for X to get himself ready then we went out to the car.

We stopped by a store on the way, purchasing a smart shirt, and pants, and black court shoes. I used the makeup counter to sneakily apply some gloss to my lips and a little blusher so I didn’t look quite so tired, my face leached of color like a corpse left in water too long. I felt like a homeless person, my mood worsened by the impending dread that filled me at my meeting with Caroline. What was she going to say? Her need to see me had to do with what had happened at Tony’s place, I was sure. Was Nicole all right? Had something happened to my sister? No, I was sure the detective would have contacted me himself if that had been the case. He knew how worried I was about her. I wished I had an answer, but I had to wait.

I changed in the car, using the back seat to wriggle out of my clothes and put on the new ones. I felt better being smartly dressed again, more able to cope with things, but it didn’t stop the churning in my gut. My hands still shook, and when I climbed back into the passenger seat, X pulled me into a tight hug.

“It will be fine,” he said against the top of my head. “Take a breath.”

“You don’t know that.”

He didn’t answer, and I knew I was right. Without saying anything else, he drove me to my appointment at the courthouse. The last time I’d been here, I’d been flanked by Tony’s men. Now, not having them with me made me feel incredibly vulnerable. Though I hated to admit it to myself, a part of me missed having them here to protect me.

“I’ll be right out here,” X said as I climbed out of the car. “And I’ve still got Harvey’s cell phone, if you need me. The number is already programmed into your phone.”

I didn’t like the idea of him having a dead man’s phone, worried the number might be traced, but I figured that was a conversation we would have once I was done with the meeting.

I entered the court, went through security, and then was led through to the same meeting room where I’d thrown up a couple of days earlier.

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