Page 57 of The Next Wife

“I’m at Lane Avenue shopping center,” Ashlyn says. I can hear her crying. “My car is totaled. Chief Briggs is driving me home. Be there in a few.”

“Wait, what happened?” I ask, but she’s hung up. My head spins, and my heart beats so fast I can feel it lifting into my throat, choking me. I touch my chest with my hand and tell myself to calm down. Life can change in an instant, and does, all the time. I say a little prayer, thanking god that she isn’t more injured.

“What is happening?” Bob asks.

“She’s been in an accident. Sounds like she’s going to be OK. I have no idea what happened,” I say as we both hurry to the front door. “She totaled her first car, texting while driving. If she’s done it again, I’m going to kill her.”

CHAPTER 44

ASHLYN

I’ve never been in the back of a police car. That’s all I can think when Chief Briggs helps me into the back seat. That, and my arm hurts. My whole body hurts but especially my left elbow.

“All set back there?” he asks as we pull away.

“I sort of feel like a criminal,” I say. “But yes, all set.”

I want to ask Seth to come over, but I need to figure this out first and make sure the coast is clear. I don’t want to draw attention to him, point Tish in his direction, although I’m afraid I already have by going to his house. I pull out Dad’s phone and open Find My Friends. Tish is at home. I let out a sigh of relief.

“You were lucky no one was out and about in the parking lot,” Chief Briggs says. “And you missed that utility pole.”

“I didn’t have time to think of all of that. I just couldn’t keep going down Lane Avenue and plow through that intersection. Nothing on my car worked. Not the brakes, not the steering,” I say, and the tears spill out.

“Oh, we know something happened,” he says as we pull into my driveway. “The detectives are on it.”

My mom runs out the front door followed by Bob. Chief Briggs opens the door, and Mom gives me a big hug before I warn her not to.

“Ouch, stop, Mom,” I say. “My arm.”

“What happened, Chief?” Mom asks. Her hand rests on my shoulder. I lean against her and feel safe. For a minute.

“We should go inside,” I say, looking around.

We make it to the front door and Chief Briggs says, “It could have been much worse. Looks like the entire electrical system short-circuited somehow. We have investigators on it. They’ll work with BMW.”

My mom locks eyes with me. I nod.

“I think it was her,” I say.

Chief Briggs says, “Do you want to tell me what’s going on here?”

Bob clears his throat. “There’s been some strife since John Nelson’s sudden death. A bit of a power struggle between the first and second Mrs.Nelson. I’m sure it’s totally unrelated to what happened to Ashlyn’s vehicle. We’ll circle back with you in the morning, Chief, if that’s OK?”

My mom puts a fake smile on her face. “Yes, good idea. Ashlyn’s been through a lot tonight. We’ll let her rest and talk in the morning?”

“We’ve had her car towed to the dealership. They’ll give me an official diagnostic report of what happened to the car as soon as possible. You’ll all be OK tonight?” Chief Briggs looks at me and then at my mom. “We could have a squad car add extra surveillance.”

“Oh, thank you, but we’ll be fine. Why don’t you call me when you have the report from the dealership and we’ll go from there? You have my number.” Mom opens the door. “Thank you for taking care of her.”

“No problem. You should get that arm checked out, Ashlyn,” he says. “Talk tomorrow.”

My mom shuts the door and locks it. The look on her face tells me she’s as scared as I am. But there’s something else. Rage. I can feel it pouring out of her, I can see it in her eyes. I guess I can feel that anger as well.

How dare Tish do this to all of us?

Mom yells, “Get that paperwork here, Bob. Now!”

What is she talking about? “Mom, calm down. We don’t know for sure if she had anything to do with my car. What paperwork are you talking about?” I realize how upset my mom is because she never yells. This is not just about my accident. Maybe Mom knows even more than I do about what Tish has done? I saw her eyes when she almost ran me over. I know what she’s capable of. She’s evil. “Mom, what’s happening?”

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