Sinister Winds (Storm Series Book 2), page 7
Chapter Eight
Abby paced the floor, waiting for Jefferies to return. She debated calling Kevin but knew he would only bombard her with questions she couldn’t answer and insist she ask for an attorney, who would likely tell her to remain silent. Knowing Eva sent the man gave her comfort and added to her anxiety all at the same time. Why would she send him if she were no longer in danger? Though she didn’t look forward to reliving the past, she hoped that doing so would help them both find the answers they were seeking and somehow lead to a way of keeping her child safe.
“Knock knock. I would have used my hand, but they are both full,” Jefferies said as he came into the room carrying multiple bags and a whole pizza box, plus a cardboard carrier with two drinks, all of which he placed on the small round table that sat between two chairs near the window.
“Holy smoke,” Abby said, eyeing the bounty. “I hope you don’t expect me to eat all of this.”
Jefferies reached into the bag, pulled out a package of paper plates, and handed her one. “If my sister is any indication of what a pregnant woman can eat, you’ll eat all of this and then some. But to help you save face, I’ll help you down some of it while we chat. Don’t worry; I cleared it with your doctor, who assures me you’re not on a restricted diet.”
Abby reached into the box and pulled out a slice of pizza. She giggled her delight as most of the cheese from an adjoining slice broke free and landed on top of the slice.
Jefferies eyed the box. “You’re not going to put that back, are you?”
“What is it they say about possession being nine-tenths of the law?” Abby said, biting into the slice.
“You’re pretty smart, Mrs. Buckley. So I have to ask how it is you ended up with a man who used you like a punching bag?”
“Wow, you don’t pull any punches, do you?” Abby shrugged off the comment. “I mean…”
“I know what you meant, and being direct is normally one of my virtues except when dealing with things I cannot explain. So, I’ll ask you again, what attracted you to the man?”
“Do you want the long version of the story or the one I told myself?” Abby took a bite of pizza and waited for his answer.
“Perhaps you should start at the beginning,” Jefferies replied.
“I was born in California.”
“Okay, maybe not that far back.” Jefferies chuckled.
“Oh, but that is the beginning. I was not aware of it until a few days ago. It is a fascinating story, Mr. Jefferies. I’m sure it would make an intriguing movie of the week.”
He lifted a slice of pizza from the box. “I’m listening.”
“Jacob, that’s my husband, was in love with my mother, and thought her to be in love with him as well right up until she married someone else. My mom got pregnant right away, and apparently, I was a carbon copy of the woman. Still furious by the rejection, Jacob saw this as the perfect opportunity to exact his revenge. He burned our house, rescued me, and placed me with another family in Indiana.”
“You didn’t realize your parents weren’t your parents?” Jefferies asked.
“Old memories fade over time. When I think of the fire, I recall being scared, but anytime it was brought up, my parents would praise Jacob for his heroics.” She wiped at a tear. “They would tell me how lucky we were to have him in our lives and how, if it weren’t for Jacob, I wouldn’t be there with them.”
Jefferies handed her a napkin. “And what, you just remembered all of it?”
“No, shortly after our wedding, it became apparent Jacob was hiding something. That thought was confirmed when Pearl told me I couldn’t leave until I knew the truth. So, I waited until he was gone and snooped,” she said, omitting Kevin’s part for the moment. “I found the newspaper articles and my birth certificate hidden behind a false wall in the desk.”
“And you hadn’t seen these things before?”
“Jacob kept his office locked and forbade me to go in there.”
“I don’t assume you managed to bring the documents you found with you?”
“No, but the authorities knew I was missing. There were newspaper articles, rewards, and everything. You’re the FBI; my birth name was Clarissa Rodgers, and my birth parents’ names were Todd and Clarice Rodgers. I’m sure you can verify my story. I mean, don’t you have a database for this stuff?”
“We’ll find it,” Jefferies said, jotting in his notebook. “Please continue with your story.”
“As I said, Jacob was a friend of the family, always coming around and bringing me gifts.”
“How convenient,” Jefferies muttered.
“Yes, well. I didn’t think a lot of it. I mean, I liked him, but that’s because he was always nice to me, and who doesn’t like presents? Then, when I grew older, my dad started talking him up and saying what a good guy Jacob was and how maybe I should consider marrying him.”
“Your dad didn’t have a problem with the age difference?”
She stopped chewing and looked him in the eyes. “Jacob paid my parents to groom me for him.”
“What a sick son of a …” Jefferies held up his hands. “Sorry.”
“No, you’re right. I think Mom realized it at some point because she quit talking him up. She was thrilled when I met Brian.” Abby saw the question in Jefferies’s eyes and continued. “Brian was everything Jacob wasn’t. He was loud, spontaneous, and had a playful sense of humor. I guess he was a bit of a bad boy, and to be honest, that was what I loved about him.” She rubbed her hands along her arms. “I can still recall Jacob’s face when I told him. He was furious. So was Dad. He said I’d ruined everything. They both ganged up on me and tried to pressure us into getting an annulment. But Brian wouldn’t hear of it.”
“Where is this Brian now?”
“Dead. Jacob killed him.”
“You knew this and still married the man?”
“I came home from work expecting to find Brian asleep because he’d worked the night shift. Instead, I found him sitting in the recliner.” She blew out a breath to steady herself. “I didn’t even know he did drugs, then to find him with a needle in his arm and foaming at the mouth… My dad started talking up Jacob once more, but my mom seemed different. Looking back, I think she was scared.”
“Did you ask her about it?”
Abby sighed. “I didn’t have a chance. I was a mess after Brian died, and it seemed as if my dad never wanted me to talk to her alone. My parents had died from carbon monoxide poisoning a couple of months later, and sure enough, Jacob was there to pick up the pieces. He was so kind and helped me wade through the paperwork. He convinced me to go back to my maiden name, Turner, and wanted me to move to New Orleans with him. It was too soon. I just needed time to think. However, the apartment had too many memories, and Jacob was persistent. By the time it was time to renew the lease on my apartment, he’d convinced me that my only chance of happiness was with him.” She laughed to keep from crying again. “I second-guessed myself the whole drive down here. I can’t tell you how many times I considered turning around.”
“Why didn’t you?”
“Because when I ran through everything bad that had ever happened in my life, the one consistent person was Jacob. He was the only thing solid, the only person who’d always been there, and he made me feel safe.” She was trembling and worked to keep the anger from overcoming her.
“When did that change?”
“The day I married him, but I’ll get to that in a minute.”
“Okay, take your time,” Jefferies said softly.
“I came to New Orleans with everything I had left stuffed into my car. I also had Ned, my Quaker parrot, and Gulliver, my cat. Jacob hated animals, but I’d told him it was a package deal. He agreed, saying it was worth the price to have me. I bought his lies, and because of him, Ned is dead. Can you believe it, he killed my freaking bird? He blamed it on the cat, but Gulliver would never have hurt Ned.” She sniffed, remembering. “Sorry, I really loved that bird. He didn’t have to kill him. He could have just opened the door and let him fly away. How could a man who proclaimed to love me want to hurt me that way?”
“Did he kill the cat too?”
Abby sniffed and shook her head. “No, Kevin took him to Virginia when he left. He wanted me to come too, but Pearl told me I couldn’t go.” She held up a hand to ward off his questions. “I’ll get there.”
Jefferies remained silent.
“There were red flags, but Jacob was good at explaining everything away. He was short with me a couple of times when I pressed the issue, like why I wasn’t allowed in his office or why he didn’t trust me enough not to lock the door. But he didn’t raise a hand to me—not yet, anyway. We lived together for a few months and never shared anything more than a kiss. Oh, I tried, but Jacob refused. He was old-fashioned that way—at least that was what he told me. It was endearing in a way, that he respected me so much. I didn’t so much as leave the yard for the first couple of months. I didn’t mind all that much; I was still in mourning and it didn’t dawn on me to care. Then one day, Jacob came in and told me we were going to town. It was such a lovely day. We walked through the French Quarter with Jacob showing me the sights. I was having a grand old time and then someone stole my purse. Jacob ran after the guy and told me to stay there. But then he didn’t come back right away. I got scared and went after him. That’s when I met Eva.”
Jefferies frowned. “You said you didn’t know her.”
“I didn’t, not in the way your question implied. I went after Jacob to make sure he was okay. I got turned around and started to panic because I had no clue what I was supposed to do if he never returned. All of a sudden, Eva was there.”
“You’re saying she just appeared out of nowhere?”
“I don’t know. I hadn’t seen her before and then she was standing in the doorway. She called me over, and my feet started moving. She took hold of my hand.” Tears started to flow once more. “She tried to warn me, but I was scared. Then she started speaking in French and spat on the ground. I don’t speak French, but I guess she scared me enough that I remembered her words. Il est le fils du diable. She followed it up with L’homme a un coeur noir. She was so angry. She terrified me. I ran, and when I reached the street, Jacob was there. He was scared, and I was scared. I repeated what the woman said, saying it in French the best I could. He told me…”
“She told you he was the son of the Devil and you were marrying a man with a black heart,” Jefferies said, cutting her off.
“I could have used you a few months ago,” Abby replied. “Only that is not the way Jacob interpreted it. He told me she’d said I was marrying an old man. Anyway, the whole purse snatch thing was a setup. By taking away my purse and keys, Jacob managed to break down the last of my defenses. That night, I agreed to marry Jacob, and by the next day, he’d arranged everything. I found it, you know.”
“Found what?”
“My purse. It was in the cabinet with everything else. Another reminder that the man who I thought was there to protect me had orchestrated every detail and was controlling my whole life.”
“When did the abuse start?”
“On our wedding day.” Abby laughed, though nothing about the situation was funny. “I was his property, and he had the paper to prove it.”
“Why didn’t you leave?”
“I told him I was going to. He reminded me that I had nowhere else to go. He’d taken everything. I had no identification, no money, no car keys. The next day, it was as if nothing had happened, and I found myself wondering what I’d done to provoke him. I was feeling off and thought it was from the beating. But when he beat me again, I threatened to go to the police.”
“What’d he say?”
“He told me he had friends in high places and that I had enough drugs in my system to have me locked away. So I stayed, and you pretty much know the rest.”
Jefferies’ nostrils flared, then recovered. “So what you’re telling me is Eva Radoux was killed for trying to warn you about Jacob?”
“Yes.”
“Then why is she trying to protect you?”
“I asked Pearl the same thing.”
“Pearl? That’s the sister you spoke of?”
Abby nodded.
“How did you two meet?”
“She found me in the cereal aisle of the grocery store and introduced herself.” She noticed his frown and started from the beginning. “I convinced Jacob to allow me to go to the grocery store. I was walking through the aisles, making plans to leave him, and then Pearl showed up.”
“What did she say?”
“She said Eva and she were the same and that they talked in the dream world. They are voodoo priestesses.”
“So I’ve heard.” Jefferies’ voice held doubt.
She continued without trying to convince him. “She said Eva knew it wasn’t my fault, and she gave me a pouch for protection.”
“Pouch?”
Abby debated for a moment before showing him the small leather pouch she’d hidden behind her in the chair. She handed it to him and watched as he opened the bag.
His eyes grew wide. Then he closed the bag without touching its contents. “I’ve heard a chicken foot holds powerful magic,” he said, returning the bag.
“That’s what my neighbor said.”
“Your neighbor. That would be one Kevin Bishop?”
Abby closed her eyes briefly. She’d hoped to keep Kevin out of the conversation. “Yes.”
“What is your relationship with Mr. Bishop?”
Abby smiled. “He is a friend.”
“How good of a friend?”
“We are not having an affair, if that is what you are asking.”
“I didn’t say that.”
“You implied it. No, Mr. Jefferies, Kevin and I are not having an affair. Kevin is a friend and nothing more.”
“You said earlier that he asked you to come with him.”
She took her time debating her answer. Finally, she decided to tell him the truth. “Yes, when he was, what do they call it, bugging out? He took Gulliver to keep him safe, but I refused to go.”
“How come?”
She started to tell him that Pearl told her not to but decided against it. “Because everyone I come in contact with ends up dead.”
“You said you were going to leave. What changed your mind?” Jefferies asked, circling back.
“I spent too much time talking to Pearl, then I was talking to Kevin.”
“So this Kevin guy just happens to show up in the store at the same time you were thinking about leaving your husband? Are you sure the two of you hadn’t planned this all along?”
Abby recalled the first real conversation she’d had with Kevin and laughed.
“Care to share what you find so amusing?”
“The grocery was the closest to Dumas Street. Before that day, Kevin and I’d spoken briefly in the yard, and I assure you neither of us enjoyed the conversation. Nor did we hit it off. He thought I was a dumbass for being with Jacob, and I thought he was a pompous bitch.” Abby shrugged. “I’d taken some rosemary from his bush, and he called me on it.”
“Rosemary?”
“The plant.”
“I know what rosemary is, Mrs. Buckley.”
“He and Jacob had had words before, and Kevin didn’t like the fact I was associated with him.”
“What kind of words?”
“My husband didn’t like his kind.”
Jefferies arched his brow. “His kind?”
“Kevin Bishop is gay, Mr. Jefferies. Yes, I love him. He has been there for me ever since he found out that Jacob was abusing me. I consider him a dear friend, but we are not, nor will we ever be, romantically involved.”
Jefferies shook his head in subtle understanding. “That day in the grocery, why didn’t you leave?”
“Jacob called. He wanted to know why I was taking so long in the store and told me he and Gulliver were having a nice time together. I knew if I didn’t go home, he would kill him. Then, when I came out of the store, Merrick was in the lot waiting for me. It drove home the point that Jacob wasn’t ever going to let me leave.”
“Did you ever see Pearl again?”
“Yes, she showed up several times over the course of the next few months. Always with a warning or instructions.” No trust stranger. Abby recalled a conversation with Celie while in the ER. The nurse had told her Eva had visited her in her dreams and told her the same thing. She swallowed and looked at the man sitting before her. What if he wasn’t who he said he was? He hadn’t actually shown her a badge, and how hard was it to print up a card? She reached her hands to her temples. “Mr. Jefferies, I’m suddenly feeling unwell. Would it be all right if we continue this conversation another time?”
Jefferies rose from his chair. He looked from her to the door. “Should I call the nurse?”
“No,” she said, shaking her head. “It’s just a headache. I’ll be okay if I lie down for a while.”
“Of course. I’ll come back and check on you later.”
“Can we make it tomorrow? Sometimes, these migraines take all day to go away.”
He frowned. “Okay, I’ll stop in tomorrow.”
“I’ll be here,” she said, knowing it was a lie.
Chapter Nine
Abby waited until she was sure Jefferies was gone before dialing Kevin’s number. “Kevin, he was here!” she sobbed into the phone the second he answered.
Kevin’s gasp was audible. “The Dick is still alive? Where are you?”
“No…Mississippi. It wasn’t him. I’m still in the hospital, and the man came to see me. He says he’s with the FBI.”
“Wait. What do you mean, he says he’s with the FBI? Don’t you believe him?”
“I’m not the best judge of people.”
“That’s true.”
“You don’t have to agree with me.”
“Sunshine, you know I’d never lie to you. Now tell me what happened and how the FBI got involved.”
“He came to my hospital room and started asking all these questions.”
“And you answered his questions?”
“He brought food. It’s not funny,” Abby said when Kevin’s laughter floated through the phone. “I’m pregnant and was craving pizza and a milkshake. He wanted to know everything. At first, he said it was off the record, but then when I told him about Jacob, he said we should probably make it official.”
Abby paced the floor, waiting for Jefferies to return. She debated calling Kevin but knew he would only bombard her with questions she couldn’t answer and insist she ask for an attorney, who would likely tell her to remain silent. Knowing Eva sent the man gave her comfort and added to her anxiety all at the same time. Why would she send him if she were no longer in danger? Though she didn’t look forward to reliving the past, she hoped that doing so would help them both find the answers they were seeking and somehow lead to a way of keeping her child safe.
“Knock knock. I would have used my hand, but they are both full,” Jefferies said as he came into the room carrying multiple bags and a whole pizza box, plus a cardboard carrier with two drinks, all of which he placed on the small round table that sat between two chairs near the window.
“Holy smoke,” Abby said, eyeing the bounty. “I hope you don’t expect me to eat all of this.”
Jefferies reached into the bag, pulled out a package of paper plates, and handed her one. “If my sister is any indication of what a pregnant woman can eat, you’ll eat all of this and then some. But to help you save face, I’ll help you down some of it while we chat. Don’t worry; I cleared it with your doctor, who assures me you’re not on a restricted diet.”
Abby reached into the box and pulled out a slice of pizza. She giggled her delight as most of the cheese from an adjoining slice broke free and landed on top of the slice.
Jefferies eyed the box. “You’re not going to put that back, are you?”
“What is it they say about possession being nine-tenths of the law?” Abby said, biting into the slice.
“You’re pretty smart, Mrs. Buckley. So I have to ask how it is you ended up with a man who used you like a punching bag?”
“Wow, you don’t pull any punches, do you?” Abby shrugged off the comment. “I mean…”
“I know what you meant, and being direct is normally one of my virtues except when dealing with things I cannot explain. So, I’ll ask you again, what attracted you to the man?”
“Do you want the long version of the story or the one I told myself?” Abby took a bite of pizza and waited for his answer.
“Perhaps you should start at the beginning,” Jefferies replied.
“I was born in California.”
“Okay, maybe not that far back.” Jefferies chuckled.
“Oh, but that is the beginning. I was not aware of it until a few days ago. It is a fascinating story, Mr. Jefferies. I’m sure it would make an intriguing movie of the week.”
He lifted a slice of pizza from the box. “I’m listening.”
“Jacob, that’s my husband, was in love with my mother, and thought her to be in love with him as well right up until she married someone else. My mom got pregnant right away, and apparently, I was a carbon copy of the woman. Still furious by the rejection, Jacob saw this as the perfect opportunity to exact his revenge. He burned our house, rescued me, and placed me with another family in Indiana.”
“You didn’t realize your parents weren’t your parents?” Jefferies asked.
“Old memories fade over time. When I think of the fire, I recall being scared, but anytime it was brought up, my parents would praise Jacob for his heroics.” She wiped at a tear. “They would tell me how lucky we were to have him in our lives and how, if it weren’t for Jacob, I wouldn’t be there with them.”
Jefferies handed her a napkin. “And what, you just remembered all of it?”
“No, shortly after our wedding, it became apparent Jacob was hiding something. That thought was confirmed when Pearl told me I couldn’t leave until I knew the truth. So, I waited until he was gone and snooped,” she said, omitting Kevin’s part for the moment. “I found the newspaper articles and my birth certificate hidden behind a false wall in the desk.”
“And you hadn’t seen these things before?”
“Jacob kept his office locked and forbade me to go in there.”
“I don’t assume you managed to bring the documents you found with you?”
“No, but the authorities knew I was missing. There were newspaper articles, rewards, and everything. You’re the FBI; my birth name was Clarissa Rodgers, and my birth parents’ names were Todd and Clarice Rodgers. I’m sure you can verify my story. I mean, don’t you have a database for this stuff?”
“We’ll find it,” Jefferies said, jotting in his notebook. “Please continue with your story.”
“As I said, Jacob was a friend of the family, always coming around and bringing me gifts.”
“How convenient,” Jefferies muttered.
“Yes, well. I didn’t think a lot of it. I mean, I liked him, but that’s because he was always nice to me, and who doesn’t like presents? Then, when I grew older, my dad started talking him up and saying what a good guy Jacob was and how maybe I should consider marrying him.”
“Your dad didn’t have a problem with the age difference?”
She stopped chewing and looked him in the eyes. “Jacob paid my parents to groom me for him.”
“What a sick son of a …” Jefferies held up his hands. “Sorry.”
“No, you’re right. I think Mom realized it at some point because she quit talking him up. She was thrilled when I met Brian.” Abby saw the question in Jefferies’s eyes and continued. “Brian was everything Jacob wasn’t. He was loud, spontaneous, and had a playful sense of humor. I guess he was a bit of a bad boy, and to be honest, that was what I loved about him.” She rubbed her hands along her arms. “I can still recall Jacob’s face when I told him. He was furious. So was Dad. He said I’d ruined everything. They both ganged up on me and tried to pressure us into getting an annulment. But Brian wouldn’t hear of it.”
“Where is this Brian now?”
“Dead. Jacob killed him.”
“You knew this and still married the man?”
“I came home from work expecting to find Brian asleep because he’d worked the night shift. Instead, I found him sitting in the recliner.” She blew out a breath to steady herself. “I didn’t even know he did drugs, then to find him with a needle in his arm and foaming at the mouth… My dad started talking up Jacob once more, but my mom seemed different. Looking back, I think she was scared.”
“Did you ask her about it?”
Abby sighed. “I didn’t have a chance. I was a mess after Brian died, and it seemed as if my dad never wanted me to talk to her alone. My parents had died from carbon monoxide poisoning a couple of months later, and sure enough, Jacob was there to pick up the pieces. He was so kind and helped me wade through the paperwork. He convinced me to go back to my maiden name, Turner, and wanted me to move to New Orleans with him. It was too soon. I just needed time to think. However, the apartment had too many memories, and Jacob was persistent. By the time it was time to renew the lease on my apartment, he’d convinced me that my only chance of happiness was with him.” She laughed to keep from crying again. “I second-guessed myself the whole drive down here. I can’t tell you how many times I considered turning around.”
“Why didn’t you?”
“Because when I ran through everything bad that had ever happened in my life, the one consistent person was Jacob. He was the only thing solid, the only person who’d always been there, and he made me feel safe.” She was trembling and worked to keep the anger from overcoming her.
“When did that change?”
“The day I married him, but I’ll get to that in a minute.”
“Okay, take your time,” Jefferies said softly.
“I came to New Orleans with everything I had left stuffed into my car. I also had Ned, my Quaker parrot, and Gulliver, my cat. Jacob hated animals, but I’d told him it was a package deal. He agreed, saying it was worth the price to have me. I bought his lies, and because of him, Ned is dead. Can you believe it, he killed my freaking bird? He blamed it on the cat, but Gulliver would never have hurt Ned.” She sniffed, remembering. “Sorry, I really loved that bird. He didn’t have to kill him. He could have just opened the door and let him fly away. How could a man who proclaimed to love me want to hurt me that way?”
“Did he kill the cat too?”
Abby sniffed and shook her head. “No, Kevin took him to Virginia when he left. He wanted me to come too, but Pearl told me I couldn’t go.” She held up a hand to ward off his questions. “I’ll get there.”
Jefferies remained silent.
“There were red flags, but Jacob was good at explaining everything away. He was short with me a couple of times when I pressed the issue, like why I wasn’t allowed in his office or why he didn’t trust me enough not to lock the door. But he didn’t raise a hand to me—not yet, anyway. We lived together for a few months and never shared anything more than a kiss. Oh, I tried, but Jacob refused. He was old-fashioned that way—at least that was what he told me. It was endearing in a way, that he respected me so much. I didn’t so much as leave the yard for the first couple of months. I didn’t mind all that much; I was still in mourning and it didn’t dawn on me to care. Then one day, Jacob came in and told me we were going to town. It was such a lovely day. We walked through the French Quarter with Jacob showing me the sights. I was having a grand old time and then someone stole my purse. Jacob ran after the guy and told me to stay there. But then he didn’t come back right away. I got scared and went after him. That’s when I met Eva.”
Jefferies frowned. “You said you didn’t know her.”
“I didn’t, not in the way your question implied. I went after Jacob to make sure he was okay. I got turned around and started to panic because I had no clue what I was supposed to do if he never returned. All of a sudden, Eva was there.”
“You’re saying she just appeared out of nowhere?”
“I don’t know. I hadn’t seen her before and then she was standing in the doorway. She called me over, and my feet started moving. She took hold of my hand.” Tears started to flow once more. “She tried to warn me, but I was scared. Then she started speaking in French and spat on the ground. I don’t speak French, but I guess she scared me enough that I remembered her words. Il est le fils du diable. She followed it up with L’homme a un coeur noir. She was so angry. She terrified me. I ran, and when I reached the street, Jacob was there. He was scared, and I was scared. I repeated what the woman said, saying it in French the best I could. He told me…”
“She told you he was the son of the Devil and you were marrying a man with a black heart,” Jefferies said, cutting her off.
“I could have used you a few months ago,” Abby replied. “Only that is not the way Jacob interpreted it. He told me she’d said I was marrying an old man. Anyway, the whole purse snatch thing was a setup. By taking away my purse and keys, Jacob managed to break down the last of my defenses. That night, I agreed to marry Jacob, and by the next day, he’d arranged everything. I found it, you know.”
“Found what?”
“My purse. It was in the cabinet with everything else. Another reminder that the man who I thought was there to protect me had orchestrated every detail and was controlling my whole life.”
“When did the abuse start?”
“On our wedding day.” Abby laughed, though nothing about the situation was funny. “I was his property, and he had the paper to prove it.”
“Why didn’t you leave?”
“I told him I was going to. He reminded me that I had nowhere else to go. He’d taken everything. I had no identification, no money, no car keys. The next day, it was as if nothing had happened, and I found myself wondering what I’d done to provoke him. I was feeling off and thought it was from the beating. But when he beat me again, I threatened to go to the police.”
“What’d he say?”
“He told me he had friends in high places and that I had enough drugs in my system to have me locked away. So I stayed, and you pretty much know the rest.”
Jefferies’ nostrils flared, then recovered. “So what you’re telling me is Eva Radoux was killed for trying to warn you about Jacob?”
“Yes.”
“Then why is she trying to protect you?”
“I asked Pearl the same thing.”
“Pearl? That’s the sister you spoke of?”
Abby nodded.
“How did you two meet?”
“She found me in the cereal aisle of the grocery store and introduced herself.” She noticed his frown and started from the beginning. “I convinced Jacob to allow me to go to the grocery store. I was walking through the aisles, making plans to leave him, and then Pearl showed up.”
“What did she say?”
“She said Eva and she were the same and that they talked in the dream world. They are voodoo priestesses.”
“So I’ve heard.” Jefferies’ voice held doubt.
She continued without trying to convince him. “She said Eva knew it wasn’t my fault, and she gave me a pouch for protection.”
“Pouch?”
Abby debated for a moment before showing him the small leather pouch she’d hidden behind her in the chair. She handed it to him and watched as he opened the bag.
His eyes grew wide. Then he closed the bag without touching its contents. “I’ve heard a chicken foot holds powerful magic,” he said, returning the bag.
“That’s what my neighbor said.”
“Your neighbor. That would be one Kevin Bishop?”
Abby closed her eyes briefly. She’d hoped to keep Kevin out of the conversation. “Yes.”
“What is your relationship with Mr. Bishop?”
Abby smiled. “He is a friend.”
“How good of a friend?”
“We are not having an affair, if that is what you are asking.”
“I didn’t say that.”
“You implied it. No, Mr. Jefferies, Kevin and I are not having an affair. Kevin is a friend and nothing more.”
“You said earlier that he asked you to come with him.”
She took her time debating her answer. Finally, she decided to tell him the truth. “Yes, when he was, what do they call it, bugging out? He took Gulliver to keep him safe, but I refused to go.”
“How come?”
She started to tell him that Pearl told her not to but decided against it. “Because everyone I come in contact with ends up dead.”
“You said you were going to leave. What changed your mind?” Jefferies asked, circling back.
“I spent too much time talking to Pearl, then I was talking to Kevin.”
“So this Kevin guy just happens to show up in the store at the same time you were thinking about leaving your husband? Are you sure the two of you hadn’t planned this all along?”
Abby recalled the first real conversation she’d had with Kevin and laughed.
“Care to share what you find so amusing?”
“The grocery was the closest to Dumas Street. Before that day, Kevin and I’d spoken briefly in the yard, and I assure you neither of us enjoyed the conversation. Nor did we hit it off. He thought I was a dumbass for being with Jacob, and I thought he was a pompous bitch.” Abby shrugged. “I’d taken some rosemary from his bush, and he called me on it.”
“Rosemary?”
“The plant.”
“I know what rosemary is, Mrs. Buckley.”
“He and Jacob had had words before, and Kevin didn’t like the fact I was associated with him.”
“What kind of words?”
“My husband didn’t like his kind.”
Jefferies arched his brow. “His kind?”
“Kevin Bishop is gay, Mr. Jefferies. Yes, I love him. He has been there for me ever since he found out that Jacob was abusing me. I consider him a dear friend, but we are not, nor will we ever be, romantically involved.”
Jefferies shook his head in subtle understanding. “That day in the grocery, why didn’t you leave?”
“Jacob called. He wanted to know why I was taking so long in the store and told me he and Gulliver were having a nice time together. I knew if I didn’t go home, he would kill him. Then, when I came out of the store, Merrick was in the lot waiting for me. It drove home the point that Jacob wasn’t ever going to let me leave.”
“Did you ever see Pearl again?”
“Yes, she showed up several times over the course of the next few months. Always with a warning or instructions.” No trust stranger. Abby recalled a conversation with Celie while in the ER. The nurse had told her Eva had visited her in her dreams and told her the same thing. She swallowed and looked at the man sitting before her. What if he wasn’t who he said he was? He hadn’t actually shown her a badge, and how hard was it to print up a card? She reached her hands to her temples. “Mr. Jefferies, I’m suddenly feeling unwell. Would it be all right if we continue this conversation another time?”
Jefferies rose from his chair. He looked from her to the door. “Should I call the nurse?”
“No,” she said, shaking her head. “It’s just a headache. I’ll be okay if I lie down for a while.”
“Of course. I’ll come back and check on you later.”
“Can we make it tomorrow? Sometimes, these migraines take all day to go away.”
He frowned. “Okay, I’ll stop in tomorrow.”
“I’ll be here,” she said, knowing it was a lie.
Chapter Nine
Abby waited until she was sure Jefferies was gone before dialing Kevin’s number. “Kevin, he was here!” she sobbed into the phone the second he answered.
Kevin’s gasp was audible. “The Dick is still alive? Where are you?”
“No…Mississippi. It wasn’t him. I’m still in the hospital, and the man came to see me. He says he’s with the FBI.”
“Wait. What do you mean, he says he’s with the FBI? Don’t you believe him?”
“I’m not the best judge of people.”
“That’s true.”
“You don’t have to agree with me.”
“Sunshine, you know I’d never lie to you. Now tell me what happened and how the FBI got involved.”
“He came to my hospital room and started asking all these questions.”
“And you answered his questions?”
“He brought food. It’s not funny,” Abby said when Kevin’s laughter floated through the phone. “I’m pregnant and was craving pizza and a milkshake. He wanted to know everything. At first, he said it was off the record, but then when I told him about Jacob, he said we should probably make it official.”
