Page 89 of Necessary Evil

“Expect a longer conversation.”

She frowned. “About what?”

“Their newest theory is that you asked the SOBs to help your brother out, either by helping him with the driving from coast to coast or in the actual murder of the eyewitness.”

Lucy’s mouth dropped open in shock and outrage. “On what evidence?”

“That you’re sleeping with Evil.”

“What’s the motive?”

“For him, a leg into the drug business. For you, a way to save your brother and to further your boyfriend’s goals.”

“This is ridiculous.” Lucy’s head was spinning. “Why haven’t I been charged, then?”

“Not enough evidence yet.”

“Of course there’s not. Because it’s complete fiction!” Was this how Bobby had felt when he was unfairly accused of something? “Like I said, you didn’t find any drugs at The Blue Line.”

“No,” Travis said. “And there weren’t any in your brother’s motel room either.”

“He has an alibi for the murders,” Lucy pointed out. “He was on the opposite coast when it happened.”

“Miles and Fitch have been trying to get hold of your paralegal for more questioning.”

“She’s out of the office today, but I’ll call them and schedule an appointment. I’m innocent, Travis, and so is Evan.”

“I believe you’re not involved in this,” he said. “But I’m still not sure about him and his crew.”

“This is a nightmare.” Lucy rose from her chair in a daze. “I can’t believe any of this shit.”

Travis walked her to the door. “If you see anything, if you need anything, call me. I’m your friend.”

Lucy wasn’t too sure about that, but she did know that he didn’t have to give her a heads-up, and she was grateful he had. “Thanks,” she said.

She should probably pay it forward and give Jenny a heads-up as well. Lucy drove around with the radio playing loudly until she felt calmer. She didn’t have any more appointments today, and it was tempting to just go home, grab her bathing suit, and hit Jones Beach. Fuck Albert and fuck Travis. But in the end, she stopped at a deli, picked up a quart of homemade chicken soup and some Ben & Jerry’s, and drove over to Jenny’s condo in Islip. By now, Jenny probably knew that Bobby had gone to Atlantic City without her, and Lucy thought she could use a little cheering up of the sort that only Chunky Monkey could provide.

She pulled into the driveway and called Jenny. No answer. Maybe she was playing hooky; if so, it would serve Jenny right if Lucy ate all the ice cream by herself. Knocking on the door, Lucy leaned against the house. It was a nice day and the sun felt good on her face. Maybe Jenny had gone to the beach. Lucy walked to the garage and stood on her tiptoes to look through the window and see if Jenny’s car was still there. It was, and it was running—and all the doors were closed. She couldn’t see if Jenny was inside the car or not.

“Jenny?” she called, banging on the garage door. “Jenny? Shit!”

Stooping down, she lifted up on the garage door, but it was locked. She went back to the front door and banged on it. “Jenny!” she screeched. It was possible that Jenny had just started the car and was on her way out, right? She didn’t have to be in that car with all the carbon monoxide filling the air. “Fuck!” Lucy dialed 911.

“Help! My friend’s car is running inside a closed garage and I think she might be inside it.” Lucy gave the address. If it turned out she was being hysterical, she’d take the reprimand from the first responders. Please let me be wrong. She went around the side of the building, trying to find another way in, but there wasn’t any. Feeling helpless, she kept ringing Jenny’s phone, hoping she would pick up.

She heard the sirens after ten interminable minutes of pacing, banging on the door, and calling. Moving her car out of the way, she went back to her vigil by the front porch. She recognized the police officers and firefighters who arrived, but she was too worried to do anything but stay out of the way.

The firefighters broke the windows of the garage and put on breathing apparatus. They were able to unlock the garage door bolts by reaching a pole through the broken windows, and soon they were able to haul the door up.

“Get back,” a cop told her, and put her behind a perimeter that they marked off with crime scene tape.

The ambulance crew was hot on the heels of the firefighters. Jenny had indeed been in the car. They brought her out on a stretcher and pronounced her dead at the scene.

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