Page 35 of Tessa's Trust

The sheriff texted me on the way, and I read his message as I drove. Apparently Marilyn Brando had a solid alibi for her husband’s murder since she’d been on a plane headed our way. Darn it. Sheriff Franco had tracked that one down very fast. I could only hope he’d find the real murderer as quickly.

After several miles of driving on the windy backwoods road, careful of black ice, I noticed a car behind me. When I sped up, it did the same, and when I slowed, it kept perfect pace.

My heart hammered against my rib cage.

I was being followed.

Chapter 13

I took several deep breaths to calm myself and reached for my phone on the other seat, pulling it toward me and glancing down. Darn it. I was too far down the river road and didn’t have service.

Okay, I could handle this. My hands shook as I tried to calm myself into dealing with the moment. I was armed, and I knew this road like the back of my hand. I squinted into the rearview mirror to try to make out the vehicle. It was gray and pretty nondescript. Through the snowy day, it was difficult to tell more than that, and I wasn’t an expert on cars anyway.

I took the next turn slowly, carefully, and then sped up around the corner when I was out of sight. Within seconds, the car turned the corner, as well. I slowed down, forcing it to do the same, and then I waited. There was a turnoff about half a mile ahead that led to a campground.

My options were to either drive into the deserted campground and wait with my gun, or try to flip around on the ice and head right at the car. I didn’t know if the occupant was armed. I didn’t think that was my best option, so I drove cautiously, and at the last second, turned down the unplowed road toward the campground. It was winter, and nobody would be around.

I punched the gas, slid on the ice, and fought the thick snow, but I barreled down the road and then took a sharp left at the first camping spot. I spun around and then yelped as my car kept spinning. Finally, I came to a stop.

I instantly opened the door and jumped out, sinking to my thighs in the snow. Pulling my gun from my purse, I kicked through the powder as best I could and positioned myself behind a massive spruce tree.

Then I waited. I could hear the car behind me struggling against the thick snow, which had been part of my plan.

Finally, the vehicle pulled in behind me and rolled to a stop. The lights were on, and snow nearly covered the windshield. I steadied my aim and pointed it at the driver’s side, waiting. The car remained still for a moment, and then both doors opened.

Fear scissored down my spine, and I stepped slightly to the right of the tree for a better view. Could I really shoot somebody? I never had, and I wasn’t sure.

Two hands wrapped around the top of the window of the open driver’s side door, and it took me a second to realize there were pink-painted nails. A woman levered up, poking only her head out.

“Tessa,” she yelled.

Oh, holy crap. I instantly flicked the safety back on my Smith & Wesson Ladysmith and dropped my hand. “Nonna?” I asked incredulously, kicking my way through the snow and out from behind the tree.

“Oh, hello, dear. What in the world are you doing back there?” she asked.

I just stared at her, stunned. There were no words. For a second, there were no thoughts. And then I shoved the gun into the back of my waistband, not wanting to scare her. “Who’s in the car with you?” I asked, unable to think of anything else to say.

“Oh, it’s me, dear.” Georgiana Lambertini levered her impressive bulk over the top of the passenger-side door while still keeping most of her body inside.

My heart sank, not slow but fast, right to my abdomen. “Wait a minute. What are you two doing?” I moved toward their rumbling vehicle.

Nonna smiled. A silk scarf covered her hair, while wide Audrey Hepburn-style sunglasses hid her beautiful eyes. As I neared her, I could tell she wore an overlarge trench coat that had to belong to my grandfather.

“Nonna, what are you doing?” I asked again, my legs freezing, considering the snow was almost up to my waist.

“Well, we were tailing you,” she said honestly. “I don’t know if you knew this, but Georgiana, Thelma, and I have started our own private detective agency.”

Oh, God. I had to fight throwing up. Anna had told me they were talking about this, but I hadn’t truly believed it was true.

Georgiana nodded. She had dyed her hair light pink. I wasn’t sure if she’d been going for streaks or not, but it curled to her shoulders and contrasted nicely with the papery white hue of her face. “We’re pretty tough,” she yelled out.

I kept my cool and breathed through my nose. “Where’s Thelma?” She and Georgiana shared a home in a retirement community in Timber City. I had to know where all three of them were before I could figure out what to do.

“Oh, she’s back at headquarters, also known as our duplex,” Georgiana said. “She’s fighting a cold, and we thought she should avoid being in the field, as they say.”

I couldn’t believe this. It was beyond reality right now, and my life already belonged in a strange world only meant for Netflix thrillers. “Whose car?” I pointed to the nondescript gray sedan. I still couldn’t tell what kind of car it was.

Georgiana smiled. “It’s our work vehicle. It’s easier to track people in.”

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