What you can do is work
with me to try to remember.”
She huffed. “What is that supposed to mean?”
“You said you had counseling. What about hypnosis?”
Lani shot off the wicker seat, wincing at the pull in
muscles that had to be sore as hell. “Hypnosis, what a joke! I tried
hypnotherapy a couple times, for the nightmares. The damn therapist couldn’t
take me under. I stayed just as alert as I am now.” She stalked into the house.
“There must be a way.” He followed her into the
shambles of the living room.
She stopped and rounded on him. “And that was my plan.
To find the facts of what happened that night. What do they say? The truth
shall set you free?’
“Lani, come on.”
“But no, I’m supposed to sit with my bandaged hands in
my lap? Not gonna happen. I can’t wait for you to—” she made air quotes with
her bandaged hands “—share. When they find my cold, dead body by the side of
the road, see how that hits your conscience.”
He laughed, but without humor. “Whoa, you play dirty.”
She marched out the door. “If you change your mind,
you know where I am. Then I’ll be happy to share with you what I find
out—from my sources.”
Chapter 6
Jake had spoiled her dramatic exit by insisting he
drive her home, but the next morning, Lani was ready to charge ahead. She had
coffee ready when Nora arrived.
A short denim skirt seemed easier to manage than
capris throughout the day, topped by a camisole and T-shirt. Dressed and her
hair brushed, she felt better, alert after forgoing the heavy-duty meds last
night. No nightmare for a change either, she realized as they descended the
stairs.
Nora poured the coffee and they sat at the kitchen
table. The rich French roast aroma blended with her fresh-scrubbed scent. She
sighed over her steaming mug even as she tsked her disapproval. “You should’ve
waited for me to make the coffee. Better yet, I should’ve brought coffee.”
“I can’t just sit around. I’ve done the invalid thing.
No more. I’m okay.” She had too much to do and no time to waste. Looking at the
scabs as Nora dabbed antiseptic ointment on her palms, Lani figured she was
healed enough to drive.
Nora finished taping the gauze. “Not too bad. Scabbed
over nicely. You won’t need bandages in a couple of days. But I’m worried about
you out here all by yourself. If your suspicions are right and someone killed
Gail, the danger won’t end with that hit and run. You could stay with us until
Jake finds answers. The boys would love having you there.”
Really. Not all the boys, definitely not Kevin. “I’m fine and I’ll stay here. No problem. I love your sons but I need to be
here to organize the work on the place.”
“Can’t that wait a few days?”
It could, but she took a different tack to respond to
Nora’s real concern. “And with the police looking into the hit and run, no one
will try anything. It’d be too obvious.” Not that she really believed Galt and
his little staff were doing much. She summoned a confident smile.
Nora held up her hands in defeat. “If you change your
mind, the spare room is yours.” She snapped her fingers. “I almost forgot.
Tomorrow’s Thursday. I can’t make it in the morning. Dentist appointments for
both my little guys. I could stop by later?”
Later wouldn’t work, not if she achieved what she
wanted today. “If you leave me some bandages and stuff, I can do it myself. By
tomorrow, I should be self-sufficient.”
Nora looked dubious but agreed. They chatted a few
minutes more—about the upcoming town festival—as they finished their coffee.
She stood and deposited their mugs in the sink. “Got
to get back to the boys. Mom’s there for a bit. She’ll take over when I go to
work. Kevin has a campaign something tonight.”
“I appreciate the help, Nore.” Lani popped up. “Can
you give me a ride into the village?”
“Again?” Her friend’s eyes narrowed as she arranged
bandages, tape,
with me to try to remember.”
She huffed. “What is that supposed to mean?”
“You said you had counseling. What about hypnosis?”
Lani shot off the wicker seat, wincing at the pull in
muscles that had to be sore as hell. “Hypnosis, what a joke! I tried
hypnotherapy a couple times, for the nightmares. The damn therapist couldn’t
take me under. I stayed just as alert as I am now.” She stalked into the house.
“There must be a way.” He followed her into the
shambles of the living room.
She stopped and rounded on him. “And that was my plan.
To find the facts of what happened that night. What do they say? The truth
shall set you free?’
“Lani, come on.”
“But no, I’m supposed to sit with my bandaged hands in
my lap? Not gonna happen. I can’t wait for you to—” she made air quotes with
her bandaged hands “—share. When they find my cold, dead body by the side of
the road, see how that hits your conscience.”
He laughed, but without humor. “Whoa, you play dirty.”
She marched out the door. “If you change your mind,
you know where I am. Then I’ll be happy to share with you what I find
out—from my sources.”
Chapter 6
Jake had spoiled her dramatic exit by insisting he
drive her home, but the next morning, Lani was ready to charge ahead. She had
coffee ready when Nora arrived.
A short denim skirt seemed easier to manage than
capris throughout the day, topped by a camisole and T-shirt. Dressed and her
hair brushed, she felt better, alert after forgoing the heavy-duty meds last
night. No nightmare for a change either, she realized as they descended the
stairs.
Nora poured the coffee and they sat at the kitchen
table. The rich French roast aroma blended with her fresh-scrubbed scent. She
sighed over her steaming mug even as she tsked her disapproval. “You should’ve
waited for me to make the coffee. Better yet, I should’ve brought coffee.”
“I can’t just sit around. I’ve done the invalid thing.
No more. I’m okay.” She had too much to do and no time to waste. Looking at the
scabs as Nora dabbed antiseptic ointment on her palms, Lani figured she was
healed enough to drive.
Nora finished taping the gauze. “Not too bad. Scabbed
over nicely. You won’t need bandages in a couple of days. But I’m worried about
you out here all by yourself. If your suspicions are right and someone killed
Gail, the danger won’t end with that hit and run. You could stay with us until
Jake finds answers. The boys would love having you there.”
Really. Not all the boys, definitely not Kevin. “I’m fine and I’ll stay here. No problem. I love your sons but I need to be
here to organize the work on the place.”
“Can’t that wait a few days?”
It could, but she took a different tack to respond to
Nora’s real concern. “And with the police looking into the hit and run, no one
will try anything. It’d be too obvious.” Not that she really believed Galt and
his little staff were doing much. She summoned a confident smile.
Nora held up her hands in defeat. “If you change your
mind, the spare room is yours.” She snapped her fingers. “I almost forgot.
Tomorrow’s Thursday. I can’t make it in the morning. Dentist appointments for
both my little guys. I could stop by later?”
Later wouldn’t work, not if she achieved what she
wanted today. “If you leave me some bandages and stuff, I can do it myself. By
tomorrow, I should be self-sufficient.”
Nora looked dubious but agreed. They chatted a few
minutes more—about the upcoming town festival—as they finished their coffee.
She stood and deposited their mugs in the sink. “Got
to get back to the boys. Mom’s there for a bit. She’ll take over when I go to
work. Kevin has a campaign something tonight.”
“I appreciate the help, Nore.” Lani popped up. “Can
you give me a ride into the village?”
“Again?” Her friend’s eyes narrowed as she arranged
bandages, tape,
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