Page 91 of The Last Invitation

“Let me help.” Faith used her fingernail and took out a tiny memory card. “This?”

Jessa snatched it out of her hand and ran to the bathroom. She flushed it.

“Jessa, what the hell?” Faith stood in the bathroom doorway with her hands over her mouth. Terrified, confused. Her expression suggested she was a few seconds away from calling for help.

That couldn’t happen. Jessa could almost hear the clock ticking as her time ran out. “I can’t be here. It’s not safe for you.”

“I’m fine.” Faith motioned for Jessa to come out of the bathroom. “Let’s sit down and talk.”

“I need a new phone.”

“Do you want mine?”

She’d already put Faith in danger. That had never hit Jessa until right now. Taking her phone would only compound the problem. “No, I can buy one.”

“Wait.” Faith disappeared for a few seconds.

Jessa used the time to grab her bag and a few things she needed. “I’ll call you as soon as I’m safe.”

“Here.” Faith held out a phone. “I have a stack of these. We give them to abused spouses. It’s a way for them to have an emergency line and to speak without their abusers watching or tracking them. But you need to stay here and—”

“No.” Standing there, talking, only made Jessa more anxious. Her knees and cheek ached, but she didn’t have time to baby the injuries. “It’s better this way. You won’t know where I am.”

Faith’s mouth dropped open. “I want to know where you are!”

“I’ll tell you everything, things you really don’t want to know about some powerful women in the area, but not yet. I need to do something first.”

“Jessa, I’m begging you. Stay here and rest. We’ll snuggle on the couch and—”

Jessa grabbed Faith and wrapped her in a tight hug. She never cried but could feel her control slipping away. “Trust me. I just need a few hours. Please don’t call the police or anyone else.”

Before Faith could hold her or argue, Jessa pulled away. She could hear Faith calling for her as she stepped into the hallway. One glance at her hand and Jessa texted Gabby.

It’s me. Jessa. Meet me where it’s safest.

They’d talked about this so briefly. She’d made a side comment about not seeing each other in the open, about going where no one should be. Now she had to hope Gabby got the hint.

Chapter Seventy-Two

Jessa

The front door was unlocked by the time Jessa arrived at Baines’s house. She stepped into the grand foyer, expecting Gabby to be right there to greet her for their clandestine meeting. She didn’t know her way around the dark house, but she saw a light in one of the rooms.

“Gabby?” Jessa whispered the name, but the marble floors caused her voice to echo.

She slipped into a room with a desk. Probably an office or library. The space looked inviting enough, with a big leather desk chair and shelves lined with books and personal photos.

She picked up one of Baines and Kennedy sitting by a pool. Kennedy did look like him, but now Jessa knew that was due to him being her uncle. She did not in any way envy Gabby dealing with that messed-up family situation.

Jessa’s head thumped, and the adrenaline shooting through her had her a little out of breath. She wanted this over, and fast. They didn’t know who they could trust, but Jessa knew whothey couldn’t rely on—Retta. And Darren could be anywhere, so Gabby needed to stop rattling around this gigantic house and show her face.

The creak behind her filled her with relief. Being excited to see Gabby was a first, but Jessa welcomed the sensation. “It’s about time. I thought...”

A man stood there. A familiar one. Taylor or Tom. Something like that. They’d met outside of Retta and Earl’s house that night with the reporter. His being here didn’t make sense. No one knew she was here. She didn’t have her phone. She’d changed bags. She didn’t say or type the address anywhere.

“What are you doing here?” But she feared she knew the answer. She’d said too much, dug around in the wrong places.

She saw the knife. He held it low, right against his leg, but the light bounced off the blade.

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