Page 57 of Obsession

Evidently he had no answer, and she slipped a sidelong glance at him. The muscle in his jaw worked furiously. “I trust you to keep me safe,” she said. “Do you have a bottle of water? I’d like to take something for my hand before we get there.”

“Afraid not, but I can pull off at the next fuel station.”

He seemed to be glad to get off the subject of Ryan. While he went inside for the water, she used the wadded glove over her jeans, surprised at how well it worked. When he returned, she took out her pill bottle and downed two pills, wishing she’d taken them earlier.

“What are we waiting for?” she asked when Sam didn’t put the SUV into gear.

“Are you going to be all right seeing your mom and not telling her about Ryan?”

Instead of answering, Emma put the pill bottle in the small purse.

“Well?”

“I’ll have to be.” She zipped the bag shut, then looked up to find him studying her. “It won’t be easy, though. Since Ryan disappeared, I feel like I’m walking on eggshells when I’m around Mom.”

“But you two were always so close.”

“A lot of things changed after that night.” She rubbed the top of her bandaged hand. “Mom was so unemotional through it all. And she practically agreed with Sheriff Carter that Ryan could have killed Mary Jo since the two of them had an on-again, off-again relationship, and Mary Jo knew how to push Ryan’s buttons.”

“Your mom actually said she thought Ryan killed Mary Jo?”

Emma stilled her hand. “Not in those words. But Mom always called a spade a spade. I think she was prepared for the worst.”

“She and your dad had been through a lot with Ryan.”

“Yeah, and she sees everything as black or white.”

His forehead wrinkled in a frown. “But she hired a private investigator to find him.”

“I’ve been thinking about that. Mom’s a lawyer ... what if she wanted to find him and bring him back to defend himself? She would have stood by him, but she also wanted to get rid of the cloud hanging over him.”

“Have you talked to her about the way you feel?”

“Are you kidding? Did you forget I’m the kid who never rocked the boat? I’m not sure how to approach her about it, anyway. My mother isn’t the kind of person you disagree with. I learnedthat when I was a kid.” She checked her watch. “Uh, we need to go or I’ll be late.”

Sam pulled out into traffic. “Have you talked to your dad about this?”

“No. He’s coming to supper tomorrow night. Maybe I’ll talk to him then.”

A few minutes later they pulled up to the gated entrance. “Nice place,” Sam said. “I always liked this area of Jackson.”

“Me too, especially Fondren after 5.”

“What’s that?”

“Block parties—first Thursday night of the month from April to October. It’s a blast,” she said and gave him the code to get in. “And it’ll be the same coming out.”

He parked in front of her mom’s condo. “Want me to come in with you?”

“Not tonight. I don’t know what kind of mood Mom is in since I’ve asked for the investigator’s report. I’d hate for you to walk into a hornet’s nest.” Or for her mom to quiz him about his intentions.

“Gotcha.” He put the SUV in park and hopped out to come around and get her door.

“Thanks. I’ll call you from the restaurant and let you know when I’m ready to leave. You know where Ricco’s is, don’t you?”

“Yes.”

When she reached her mom’s door and looked back, he still stood at her side of the car, and she waved. It would invite too many questions if her mother knew that Sam had brought her, so Emma waited until he drove away before she took a deep breath and rang the doorbell. And waited. She’d lifted her hand to ring it again when her mom opened the door.

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