Page 66 of The Morning After (Savannah 2)

Because they were weak. And stupid.

He left the album on the table and walked to the bureau. Inside the second drawer were more pieces of lingerie. Some old, some new…but nothing as pretty as Bobbi Jean’s slip or Nikki Gillette’s panties. He opened the bags and touched his treasures, then closed the drawer firmly. He had no time for this. He touched the drops of dried blood on the dresser top and reminded himself of his mission.

It would all be over soon.

He would prove himself strong.

And then he could rest.

CHAPTER 16

“Do you know what the hell time it is?” Cliff Siebert grumbled, his voice sounding as if he’d just woken up.

“Yeah, I know, and I’m sorry,” she said, driving toward his place south of the historic district. The car was running fine now that her slashed tires had been replaced with retreads she’d bought after her car had been towed to a local garage. The whole process of locating four tires she could afford and that would fit on her car had taken several hours, but she was up and running again and just burned that some thug had vandalized the Subaru and now her credit card was maxed out. Worse yet, she felt certain that her car was targeted on purpose. The crime was unlikely indiscriminate because of the notes she’d received…. Someone knew which car was hers, as well as where she lived. That thought chilled her to the bone. The fact that she’d used all the credit left on her card also ticked her off. “I still need to talk to you,” she insisted, holding onto the cell phone as she took a corner a little wide.

“Whoa, honey. You had your chance and you stood me up.”

“I left a message on your cell and explained all that,” Nikki said. She glanced in her rearview mirror. Headlights appeared as a car swung around the same corner she’d just negotiated. “Someone slashed my tires, Cliff. And I think I apologized and groveled enough that you could forgive me.”

He sighed and muttered something unintelligible under his breath about hardheaded career women.

“I really need to talk to you and I could be at your house in fifteen minutes.”

“No!” he said emphatically. “I can’t take the chance that someone sees you or your car here.”

“Then meet me where we originally planned. Weaver Brothers truck stop.”

He hesitated, but she knew that he lived only minutes from the place.

“Please, Cliff. I don’t want to print something that’s not right.” The car behind her turned off and she let out a sigh.

“Something wrong?”

“You could say that.”

“What?”

“I’ll tell you when I see you.”

“I should be shot for even listening to you. Okay. I can be there in half an hour.”

“I’ll owe you.”

“Oh, darlin’, you’re in debt to your eyeballs as it is.”

“I’ll see you in a few.” With the police band crackling, she turned around and headed toward Weaver Brothers and told herself to be wary, just not so paranoid that she was paralyzed. She thought about the three-year-old Mace in her purse, the kickboxing lessons that she was always missing, the alarm system she didn’t have, and made a mental note to improve the security in her life.

Even after a quick stop at an ATM, she made it to the truck stop in less than half an hour.

Cliff’s truck was parked near the back entrance, between a semi and a van. It was after midnight, there was only one solitary rig in the parking lot. As Nikki entered, she noticed a few patrons who idled at the counter, or sat at a sprinkling of tables. Cigarette smoke vied with the aromas of sizzling steaks and day-old grease from a deep-fat fryer.

Nikki spied Cliff in a high-backed booth near the swinging doors to the kitchen. He was wearing a baseball cap pulled low over his eyes, a jean jacket with the collar turned up and glasses that were tinted a light gray. He pretended to examine a menu that nearly covered his face.

“Hi.” She slid onto the tufted faux-leather bench across from him.

“I shouldn’t be seen with you.”

“So, who’s seen you?” Her gaze swept the restaurant. It was nearly deserted. Not even the waitress glanced in their direction. She was too busy flirting with two customers up front. “Besides, we’re old friends.”

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