I drove to the police station before going to meet Tabitha. The sun was beginning to set and I got to witness another beautiful dusk in Leavensport. I loved the seasons here in Ohio and Leavensport had always been such a beautiful town. I’d not been enjoying the scenery as much lately with so much turmoil.
I jammed on my breaks as some moron ran a stop sign in front of me and the folder Mick gave me to take to the station slid to the floor and the papers inside scattered everywhere.
“Great,” I mumbled to myself as I found a spot in front of the station to park.
I pushed my body up and my legs out from under the wheel after I turned the car off and leaned over the seat, to get a better reach under the passenger seat, feeling for loose papers. I hoped these weren’t in any particular order.
I thought I’d found everything and texted Tabitha, letting her know I’d be there in a few minutes. I got a thumbs-up emoji back.
I picked up the last stack of papers, thinking I’d have to explain this to Teddy or Nancy and I knew they’d think I was snooping. And for once, I wasn’t. I know I could be bad about that, but I’d never do something like—
I was shoving papers back into the file when I saw Darrell and Lia’s names, both in bold and highlighted in pink. I turned the interior light on in the car as the sun was setting to read more. I was searching around for my glasses when there was a knock on my window.
I jumped up and hit my head on the ceiling of the car.
“Sorry,” Tabitha said, holding out both hands.
“I was just dropping this file off, then I was on my way to meet you at the park. Did you get my text just now?” I smiled up at her.
Tabitha stared at me, flabbergasted.
“You have no clue what I’m talking about, do you?” I asked, squinting my eyes.
Tabitha eyeballed me.
I held up the phone to show her the text and tilted my head, watching her carefully.
Tabitha’s face contorted into different expressions of doubt, questions, and finally an uncanny glint hit her eye as an eyebrow lifted.
“I thought I’d lost my phone. Someone took it. Probably Janelle’s killer,” she said.
“They’re waiting on me. Let me call Mick,” I said, reaching for my phone.
“No! I’ll handle this.” Tabitha turned and dashed back to her car.
“Ooooh,” I said to myself as my cell fell to the floor. I got out, leaving my tote and everything behind in my car, and sprinted after her. I yanked open the door and jumped into the passenger seat right as Tabitha hit the gas.