Page 106 of Love Me Fierce

Slow it down, Ev.I’m making too many assumptions here.

I glance up. “You’re sure?”

She nods.

I eye Vivian’s trailer through the rain-streaked window, imagining a maroon station wagon cruising past. Why did nobody else see it? And was it parked somewhere in The Meadows during the break-in, or did Mrs. Ovenell witness a cruise-by so Jordy could check if Vivian was gone, then later, he came back on foot?

What about Shawna? Are she and Jordy working together?

My brain is going haywire.

“Can you look at a picture for me, Mrs. Ovenell?” I ask while scrolling my phone for a picture of the Taurus.

“Beverly,” she insists.

“Right.” I show her my phone screen. “Did it look anything like this?”

She cups the phone with both hands and leans back, her eyes fixed on the image for the longest two seconds of my life. “Yes. It was exactly like this.”

I bite back the curse rolling off my tongue with a hard swallow.

Jordy Clarke’s stolen Taurus was here the day Vivian’s trailer got trashed.

Was Shawna with him? Is Jordy her new boyfriend?

When I chased the Taurus to the boat ramp, I saw only one person in the car. Sure, it’s possible Shawna was driving, or even that she was a passenger, maybe sunk low in the seat, but it’s hard to imagine a scenario where, after trashing Vivian’s trailer, Shawna would take off like that. She would have returned to work, not gone on a joyride to Montana.

But even more convincing is that I saw Shawna with my own two eyes when I got to the middle school to pick up Logan. I had to wait for the tow truck, which would have given her a few extra minutes to get there before me, but her being in that Taurus is the least likely conclusion.

Unless JordyandShawna trashed the trailer, then Jordy went his way and Shawna went hers?

It’s also possible Shawna had nothing to do with vandalizing Vivian’s trailer. Which would put Jordy at The Meadows alone.

That day at Glory Holes, he was alone in the Taurus. I know that from the footage Nate shared.

What the hell is going on?

Are Jordy and Shawna tormenting Vivian? If they’re in some sort of relationship, that could tie into a motive.

But if Jordy’s working alone, I’ve got nothing.

Why would Jordy torment Vivian like this?

This isn’t adding up. I’m missing something.

A detail scratches to the surface. “You said ‘again’,” I ask Beverly. “What did you mean by that?”

She returns my phone, and I tuck it back into my pocket.

“I saw it the Friday before that,” she says.

I write this down. “You’re sure?”

“Yes.” She gives me a full head nod, her eyes sharp.

“Did the car park in one of the slots here?” Each trailer has a narrow parking strip next to the front door. Guest parking is available at the end of the park, next to the laundry facility.

“No, it came by then left again almost as quickly.”

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