Page 104 of Over the Edge

You’ve promised a lot of things, but I’m still waiting for most of them to happen. I’m tired of skulking around in the shadows. I want this over.

It will be soon.

...

Hello? You there?

...

Message received. You’re not happy. But please don’t do anything rash. We’re too close to the finish line to take risks. Let’s discuss next steps together. One foolish mistake could put all our plans in jeopardy. Sleep on that thought tonight, and we’ll talk tomorrow. Okay?

...

Twenty-Two

THIS COULDN’T BE HAPPENING.

Not again.

Lindsey stared at the spot where she’d parked for the cooking class, a dozen yards from the door.

It was empty.

Squeezing the strap on her tote, she scanned the dark lot as the cold wind battered her face, the mounds of snow from the storm last weekend hunched like malevolent white specters on the black asphalt.

Nada.

Her car was gone. No question about it.

Keeping an eye on the empty expanse, she retreated to the church hall, slipped back inside, and locked the door.

Now what?

She could call the police—but what if her car was parked around the corner, like it had been last time? They’d really think she was nuts if she reported it missing again.

Should she make a circuit of the streets on the perimeter of the church property, see if she could locate the car herself?

But what if she did find it? Was she supposed to simply drive away like this had never happened? Tell no one?

No. That would be foolish. For two reasons.

First, this wasn’t the best neighborhood to be wandering around in at night, even armed with pepper gel. And second, if this was another attempt to undermine her integrity as a witness, to convince her and the police she was losing her mind, someone ought to know.

Someone like Jack.

She pulled out her cell. There was a risk in telling him, of course. It could erode the credibility she’d built up with him, renew his doubts about her memory of the events related to the murder as well as her potential as a romantic interest.

But someone had taken, or moved, her car. There was zero doubt in her mind about that.

Bracing, she tapped in his number.

He answered on the first ring. “Hi. I was just thinking about you.”

On any other cold night, the warmth in his tone would have chased the chill from her bones. But who knew how he was going to react to her news?

She leaned back against the wall. Closed her eyes. “You’re never going to believe this.”

“What’s up?” His manner switched at light speed from easygoing to dead serious.

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