Page 5 of Addicted in Blood
“April?”I answered.
A pause.“No, Cressa.It’s me.”
Mom.
And suddenly I was crying.“I’m sorry, Mom.So sorry.But you have to know it wasn’t me.I swear it wasn’t me.”
“I know.”
I wiped my nose.“You do?”
“Of course, I do.But April is very angry.She saw you with the necklace.”
I didn’t remember showing it to her.
“The police showed us a picture of the sketch that had been in the limo with Christopher.She said you showed it off the day of your graduation.”
“But I didn’t.”I would always remember that day.“I put it in my picture box right after you gave it to me.It was packed in my duffel.”I spit out a dry laugh.“She must have snooped.”
“Following in her big sister’s footsteps?”Mother quipped.She seemed rather cheery a day after her husband had been brutally murdered.“I suppose that was inappropriate.”
“For being honest about my thieving ways or because you don’t sound like a grieving widow.”I could have bitten my tongue for the rash comment, but her short laugh surprised me again.
“Did your friend tell you about our meeting?”
She was talking about Devon.“Yes.”
“And that I was aware of Christopher’s infidelities?”
“Yes.”
“You must have been aware of the dangerous men he’d been associated with.You’ve always mistrusted him.And for good reason.Over the last week he’d become frantic over finding the necklace, but he wouldn’t tell me why.I told the police Christopher was scared of someone who was searching for it.They know I gave you the necklace and that it belonged to you ever since your father gave it to me.”She sighed, the catch in her throat loud enough for me to hear.Maybe I was naive, but I didn’t think it had anything to do with Christopher.“It was the best I could do to make amends.”
I considered everything she said.“It’s enough.”
Her chuckle was self-deprecating.“Hardly.But it’s a start.”She whispered something I didn’t understand, then I realized she’d been talking to someone else, probably with a hand over the phone’s speaker.“I’m sorry, Cressa.There are people here.I don’t know what April might do, but you should destroy your phone.”
“It’s not traceable, but I’ll see about getting a different one.”
“I don’t know if the police know about your friend.Either way, it’s only a matter of time.Find yourself a good lawyer.The mayor is in a hurry to have this closed.”
“Thank you, Mom.”
“I couldn’t let you think the world was against you.”A long pause that I didn’t know how to fill.“I love you.”
And for the second time in less than an hour, I was listening to a dial tone.A long breath rushed out of me and the tears fell.She still loved me.
I replayed the conversation over and over.There wasn’t anyone who could tie me to Devon.But I was still in big trouble, and Mom was right—it wouldn’t take the police long to track me down.
Letty, who worked with Cook in the kitchen, brought me a tray with coffee and blueberry scones.It was a thoughtful gesture from Cook, and I placed the tray in front of the hearth.A comforter and my sweats weren’t able to stop the chills, so I started a fire and curled up on the sofa.
I sipped coffee and nibbled at a scone while I considered my options.Sergi was adamant about obeying Devon’s orders for me to go to New Orleans.Simone seemed to agree.If the police did find where I lived, they might think I ran.Even if this had been a planned trip, I’d been at the murder scene.The cops had seen me there with Devon and Sergi.There was one detective that knew Sergi.Would they keep their mouth shut?If they knew Sergi was a vamp, there was no doubt they would.No one wanted to end up like Sorrento.
On one hand, I didn’t want to leave town.Not with Devon out there somewhere.Was he scared, or was he already the mindless beast searching for blood?There had to be more to the Poppy addiction, and I needed someone to explain it.On the other hand, if Devon was as dangerous as they all claimed, it would be safer to let Decker and Simone handle it.
My indecision was interrupted when my phone chirped again.I didn’t think I had any more tears left until I heard Ginger’s voice.
“Oh my god, Cressa.Lucas just told me about Devon.Are you okay?”
