Page 126 of Wicked Ways (Wicked)

In her bedroom again, she left the door ajar so she could hear Chloe should her daughter wake with some other bizarre statement. Figuring there was no way she’d ever fall asleep again, she found a paperback she’d started a couple months ago and nearly forgotten. She found the spot she’d left off, remembered the thread of the mystery and read for twenty minutes, before the book became as heavy as her eyelids. She finally snapped off the bedside lamp and drew the covers close to her neck. Within minutes, she fell into a dreamless sleep and didn’t wake until nearly seven o’clock.

Chloe, too, slept in, so Elizabeth took advantage of the quiet time to make a fresh pot of coffee, run through the shower, and get dressed. With the dawn came a fresh perspective, and surprisingly she felt herself ready to tackle the day. The worries of the night before faded. Thank you, God. It felt like she was out of time, and maybe she was. She wanted to get everything taken care of in case the worst-case scenario happened and Driscoll found a solid reason to arrest her.

She considered what to do at work. She needed to double-check with Amy Ferguson about meeting with her tomorrow at Mazie’s house. She also needed to deal with the Sorensons, and a few others who had called, and check on the Staffords’ home as they were still on their monthlong tour of Europe.

Through the window she saw shafts of sunlight splintering through a thin layer of clouds while the palm trees in the backyard moved gently in the breeze.

Another beautiful day in Southern California. Her throat caught as she imagined herself behind bars, unable to see it. No. That isn’t going to happen. It can’t.

Drawing a breath, she set her jaw. She would call the attorney Rex had told her about, and then, depending upon his advice, probably come clean with the cops about her sense of foreshadowing and her connection to Officer Unfriendly and GoodGuy. It was what it was. They could do with the information what they wanted.

Would they believe her? Well, probably not, but maybe it was time to lay all her cards on the table.

At least she had Rex on her side and at the thought of him, the sexual dream came to her and she felt herself blush. Yes, it had turned into a nightmare, but before that it had been really hot. Mentally reviewing it, she felt a throb of desire in her nether regions that had her shaking her head in disbelief.

After downing the first cup of coffee, she left the cup near the coffeemaker, and headed down the hall to Chloe’s room where she found her daughter rousing.

“Don’t want to get up,” the little girl grumbled.

“Sure you do.” Elizabeth sat on the edge of her daughter’s bed and rumpled her curls. “We have a big day today.”

“Is Ravinia coming back?”

“I don’t think so. I was talking about school.”

“Oh.” Chloe wrinkled her little nose. “Don’t want to go.”

“It’s Friday. The last day of school for the week.”

“Don’t care.”

“Tell ya what. Why don’t you take a quick bath? We missed it last night and, oops, the night before. I’ll help.”

The bath, washing of hair, and brushing of teeth didn’t go all that easily, but a little over half an hour later Chloe was clean and dressed and plopped in front of a plate of peanut butter toast and sliced bananas. After a few bites, her sunny disposition returned.

“I’ll get the paper,” Elizabeth announced as she carried a second cup of coffee to the front door. She was determined to keep a smile on her face in front of Chloe no matter what her frame of mind truly was.

She stepped onto the porch and scattered a pile of envelopes left on the mat, then spent the next few minutes gathering them up. They were all addressed to her, just her name, Elizabeth, written in longhand on each one. Huh. Looking up and down the street, she cautiously opened the last one she’d picked up.

Elizabeth,

It’s all for you. Do you understand yet? I’ve been hiding my feelings for so long, but now finally, I can let you know. I’m sick, you see. Sick with love for you. Heartsick. Soul sick. I’m going to give you everything you desi

re. I am your slave, your genie in a bottle. Command me, and I will deliver. I grow stronger because of you. You don’t see me yet. I’m just a flicker in the corner of your eye. But you’ll see me soon, my love. Very, very soon . . .

She dropped the sheet of paper as if it had burned her. It fluttered off the porch and landed softly on the rolled up newspaper. She backed away, hand to her mouth, her eyes jerking back and forth, searching the quiet neighborhood.

“Mommy?”

Chloe’s voice made her gasp, and she stepped inside and slammed the door behind her. Her daughter was still sitting at the kitchen bar, leaning back and looking down the hall, trying to see her.

“Just a second, honey,” she called in a voice pitched several notes higher than her usual tone.

Were they all love letters? Sick, strange love letters?

Cautiously, she reopened the door. Darting glances all around, she stepped out and grabbed up the pile of envelopes, then ventured down the steps to where the newspaper and the first letter lay, snatching them up as well. She scurried back into the house, shut and locked the door, and stalked quickly down the hall to her bedroom. Chloe couldn’t read yet, but she sure as hell would see how shaken Elizabeth was. She needed to pull herself together.

“Mommy?” Chloe called again.

---