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SEPTEMBER AWOKE WITH a start when the train finally pulled into the last platform. They’d reached Dallas.
Shadow stood, stretched, and yawned noisily. He’d slept heavily, too, with paws twitching and even a few tail thumps in doggy dreams. Her own sleep had been fitful. Every time she dozed off, she felt dirt shoveled onto her back once more, and startled awake. September feared if she succumbed to sleep, she’d suffer a PTSD episode. She couldn’t afford a meltdown now. She had no time to waste.
“Come on, Shadow, let’s go.” She stood, cracked her back, and gathered up his towel. Everything else resided in her coat pockets. She’d avoided using her credit card so far, but that wouldn’t fly with the rental car. Still, she’d reach Heartland in less than twenty minutes from the station, so felt the risk worthwhile. Besides, she had no choice.
The agent took her credit card, and typed into the computer terminal. “Proof of insurance, please.”
September blanched. “I don’t have it with me.” Her insurance was in her car, wherever Mr. Bleak had dumped it.
“You can call and have them fax you a copy. With no proof of insurance, you’ll have to purchase ours.” She eyed Shadow as he whined and leaned against her leg. “Is the dog riding with you? That’s extra. Do you have a crate for it?”
“He’s my service dog.” September put a hand on Shadow’s head.
“Let me see your driver’s license.”
September stepped away from the counter, kicking herself. How had she not thought of that? “Someone stole my bag with my phone, and insurance information. I was fortunate the credit card was in my pocket.”
“That’s terrible. I’m so sorry, you look pretty frazzled. Do you want me to call the police?” Her kindness nearly brought September to tears.
“Very kind of you, but no.” September thought a moment. She’d come this far without producing digital identification. She didn’t want to drag anyone into danger, but surely Lia wouldn’t be a target. They weren’t related, not directly. “Can you call my roommate? Hopefully she can pick us up.” September gave the woman Lia’s number, and held her breath. This time of day, Lia usually ran kennel duty for boarding clients, or took her dog out to train.
A half-hour later, September loaded Shadow into the rear of Lia’s old vehicle, and climbed into the passenger’s front seat. “Sorry for the short notice. Thanks for the ride.”
Lia stared long and hard at September. “What’s going on? Where’s your car, September? And where’s Macy?”
At the cat’s name, September’s throat clenched. “It’s a long story.” She prayed both Macy and Teddy survived the killer’s attack. “Can I borrow your phone?”
“Really? No car, no cat, no phone. You just abandoned everything and jumped on a train?” Her brow furrowed, and sparks lit her eyes. “Folks called looking for you. I got two messages from Jeff Combs, and I just got a chewing out from your mother. I’m not moving this car without an explanation.”
She couldn’t call Combs, not yet. “Mom called? When?” She’s okay. For now. “Is she at home? Drop me and Shadow off at her house.” She’d call the police from there.
“Your mom didn’t offer any details. But then, she rarely gives me the time of day. Just like Grandmother.” Lia drove the car out of the parking lot, and headed back to Heartland. “We’ve got time for a long story, September. So talk.” She glared at her. “You look all used up and wore out. Hungry?”
In the back seat, Shadow yelped at the word, and thumped his tail. September smiled ruefully. “Not much of an appetite. But Shadow could use some food.” They’d shared a couple of sandwiches on the train, but nothing since late last night.
Lia grinned. “I’ve got some Corazon Candy dog treats in a baggy in the glove box. There’s a couple of power bars in there, too, unless you want the treats. They’re not bad, if you like dried liver and fish.”
September opened the glove box. Next to the dog treats she saw Lia’s handgun, the twin of the one she’d left behind in South Bend. She’d need to let the South Bend police know about her gun. She offered Shadow a handful of the liver treats, and took one of the power bars for herself. Fatigue made it hard to think. She could either go to protect Mom, or convince the police to do the same thing. She didn’t have time to do both.
“So spill. What happened in South Bend? Look, I don’t mean to pry...wait, yes I do. I’m dying of curiosity! I mean, you took off like some secret agent on a mission, and now you’re back here without a ride, your phone, and you left Macy behind.” She paused. “Are you in trouble?”
“Yes.” September rubbed her arms, and stared out the window. “But there’s no time to convince the police to help. I need you to trust me, okay?”
“I knew it! What can I do?” Lia pounded the steering wheel with excitement. “What’s the plan?”
“Whoa, hold your horses. You’re not a cop, Lia Corazon, not yet. And neither am I. But you go off halfcocked and you’ll never be accepted into the police academy.” And, you could get us all killed.
“I want to help. You called me for the ride, remember?” The younger woman huffed, clearly hurt. “So tell me what happened, and maybe I’ll surprise you.”
Even though they were half-sisters, and only a few months apart in age, Lia couldn’t be more different than Tee. Where Tee’s shyness and reticence made her seem older than her years, Lia’s brash exuberance had the opposite effect. September consciously slowed her own breathing, using the technique to calm herself. It wouldn’t help if she had a meltdown.
“I used to be married to a policeman.” She rushed on, giving Lia the bare facts. “Chris’s mother contacted me about an old investigation that had to do with my past. That’s why he was murdered.”
Lia whistled through her teeth. “Whoa, September. You sure are a lady with secrets.” She turned onto the interstate and accelerated. “So the old case, is that why you’re in trouble?” She cut her eyes sideways. “Er, what’s in your past? Can you say?”
“No!” September softened her tone. “Sorry, but that’s the problem. I don’t know. I went to make peace with Angela, my former mother-in-law. But then somebody killed her, attacked me, stole the case files, and everything went to hell—”
“Wait. Somebody murdered your mother-in-law?” Lia nearly swerved off the road in surprise.
Now that she’d begun to explain, the words spilled faster and faster. “Asking questions sure lit a fire. I’m scared they might hurt my family or other people.” She didn’t have time to explain everything. This had to be enough.
“That’s why you ditched your car and phone, didn’t want to use a credit card. So they couldn’t track you.” Lia nodded understanding.
September hugged herself. “I couldn’t tell anyone else and put a target on them, too. I never would have called you...” She blinked, hoping she’d not put the younger woman in danger.
Lia scoffed. “Don’t be silly. I’m a nobody. Just ask Grandmother, she’ll tell you.” Her bitter laugh spoke of her own personal pain and betrayal. “We need to go to the police.”
September knew Lia still blamed her Grandmother for many things, and hoped they’d find a path to mutual forgiveness. She’d learned from her own past trauma that blame only hurt the blamer. “I need to find my Mom first, make sure she’s okay. Meanwhile, you need to bring the police.” She rubbed her eyes. “There’s someone else in danger, Latana Ojo. I don’t know who that is, but the police can get out a protective order or something.”
“Latana Ojo? Are you sure you heard right?” Lia turned into the neighborhood where September’s parents lived. “I can drop you in front of the house. Are you sure you don’t want me to stay with you?”
She shook her head. “Drop Shadow and me a block away. It’s better that we go in on foot, in case...” In case the killer beat her home. She waited until the car slowed to a stop. “Do you know that name? Latana Ojo?” September climbed out of the car, and held the door for Shadow to hop out.
Lia rolled down her window. “No, I don’t know anyone named Latana. That’s Spanish for some kind of flower, I think. But Ojo—that’s not a common surname. Grandmother’s maiden name was Ojo.” She cocked her head. “You do remember that your mother and my grandmother are sisters, right?”
