Page 110 of The Morning After (Savannah 2)

ad a couple of drinks, martinis, and bought a lemon drop for her friend who never showed up. Left the drink on the table. Was that you?”

“Yes.” Nikki’s heart plummeted.

Reed stepped forward, opening his wallet and showing his ID. “I’m Detective Pierce Reed. Was the woman with anyone?”

The waitress’s mouth dropped open and she nearly lost her tray. “You’re a cop?” she asked, righting the wobbling cups of coffee.

“Yes. Did anyone meet her tonight?”

“No. She just waited, watching the clock.”

Nikki cringed inside.

“She drank two martinis, then left the lemon drop on the table and took off. She was pretty upset though…at you…” Round eyes rotated to Nikki. “If you were the one who stood her up.”

“What time was that?” Reed asked.

“I dunno…an hour and a half ago…around seven, maybe a little before.”

Nikki felt dead inside. Simone had been here. Had left her car. Because she’d been lured by someone posing as Nikki. Then, she hadn’t made it to the gym. What had happened? Had someone pulled her into a car at gunpoint?

Reed asked a few more questions, again left his card, with instructions to call, then eased Nikki out of the restaurant.

“Do you think she’s with him?” Nikki asked.

“Don’t know.” He guided her toward the parking lot as he dialed his phone again.

“But she could have gone somewhere else. This doesn’t mean that she’s with the Grave Robber….” She nearly stumbled with her next terrifying thought. Simone’s name. A derivative of Simon. Another apostle. Don’t get ahead of yourself. Reed doesn’t think that there’s a connection. Then, what else? Twelve apostles…what the hell else? Her head was pounding as they reached Simone’s car again just as a police siren cut through the night. Within minutes a cruiser sped into the lot and stopped inches from Reed’s Cadillac. Detective Morrisette flew out of the car. “Still nothing?” she asked, and slid a scathing look at Nikki.

“No,” Reed said. “We left several messages on her phone.”

“Then, let’s rope this off. You been to her house yet?” Morrisette asked.

“On our way.”

“Hold up a second. You know the address?”

“Yes.” Nikki rattled it off.

Morrisette glanced around the deserted parking lot with its cement pillars, tire marks and a few oil stains. Two other cars were parked. “I’ll get someone to rope this off, but we really can’t do anything more because we don’t know that a crime’s been committed. I’m sticking my neck out on this one, Reed.”

“But not too far.”

Another police car entered the lot. Morrisette instructed the plainclothes to cordon off the vehicle and stay with it until she had more information.

“Okay, I’m going to Ms. Everly’s house. I know I can’t persuade you to stay away, so keep it at a distance.”

Reed didn’t answer.

“Oh, hell. You just don’t get it, do ya?” she asked Reed, then asked Nikki, “I don’t suppose you have a car here?”

“No.”

“She’s with me.”

Morrisette raised a studded eyebrow, but didn’t say whatever it was that was on her mind. “Then let’s go. Follow, but keep it low-key, okay?”

“So where’s your new partner?” Reed asked, and for the first time Nikki realized that Cliff Siebert was missing.

---