Most Wanted

Chapter Thirty-two

The next morning, Christine crossed into New Jersey, glancing at the dashboard clock, which read 9:15. She’d gone to bed last night without another word to Marcus, who’d slept downstairs with Murphy and Lady. She’d packed some clothes and sneaked out at five thirty, with nobody even stirring, which didn’t surprise her. Marcus was the heaviest sleeper in history, with the dog a close second. She suspected the cat saw her go but didn’t care.

Rain pounded on the windshield, and the wipers flapped to keep it clear. Her stomach had finally stabilized after a bout of morning sickness, and she was making excellent time driving south on I-95 in remarkably light traffic. Marcus hadn’t texted or called, and she wasn’t about to contact him. But she had some bases she had to cover.

Her phone was on its holder on the dashboard, and she waited until it was safe to dial, then pressed the phone screen for her mother’s number. The phone rang only once, and her mother picked up. “Hey, Christine, how are you this morning?”

“Great, I just wanted to see how you guys were.”

“Your dad’s having some breakfast. We’re out of ketchup, so he’s not a happy camper.”

“But how are you?” Christine asked, making it a point. Her mother had become such an excellent caregiver that she routinely placed her needs second.

“I’m fine.”

“Did you sleep okay?” Christine knew her mother had been having trouble sleeping.

“Great. We had the air conditioner on. So what are you doing? You sound like you’re in the car already.”

“I’m having fun.” Christine felt a twinge of guilt but let it go. She had to keep lying or her mother would worry. “I’m going back down to Lauren’s family’s house for a few more days. She had to go back, but I’m staying to decompress after school.”

“That’s a wonderful idea! Good for you! You do so much, you need the break. Is Marcus going to join you?”

“No, he has to work, and Lauren can’t leave the kids.”

“So you’re all by yourself?”

“Yes, but I’m looking forward to it. I bought a bunch of books and I’m going to read myself into a coma on the beach.”

“Oh that does sound wonderful,” her mother said, and Christine could hear the wistfulness in her tone.

“I wish I could’ve brought you, Mom.” Christine realized her parents hadn’t taken a vacation since her father had been diagnosed, five years ago. Changes of scenery and routine disturbed her father, so they stayed home.

“Another time.”

“Yes, another time,” Christine said, knowing that there would be no other time. Her mother knew the same thing, but they said the words anyway, a comforting call-and-response between a loving mother and daughter.

“I better go, I need to help your dad with breakfast.”

“Can I say hi to him?”

“Not just now, okay, sweetie? I want him to finish his meal.”

“Of course. Tell him I said hi and I love him.”

“I will. Love you. Drive safe. Stop if you get tired. Don’t go in the water after you eat.”

Christine smiled. “Yes, Mommy.”

“What a comedian.” Her mother chuckled, then hung up, and Christine pressed the button to end the call, then called Lauren, who picked up after three rings.

“Christine! Sorry it took me so long. I’m trying to pack two bicycles in the back of the car and they got tangled up, the pedal of one got stuck in the spokes of the other.” Lauren sounded exasperated. “I told Josh we need a bike rack, but does anybody listen to me? No.”

“So it’s that kind of morning.”

“Yes, in other words, typical. What are you up to?”

“I’ll tell you if you won’t worry, because I’m on my way.”

“Where?”

“Do you want to hear about the fact that my father-in-law is becoming a father again, the tattooed alcoholic we met in West Chester is dead, or that I’m on my way back to Pennsylvania?”

“What?” Lauren said, astonished, and for the next thirty miles, Christine filled her in on what had happened. Lauren had the reaction Christine had expected, which was generally “are you really sure,” “you need to be careful,” “I’m not sure if you should be doing this,” and stopping just short of, “wait an hour before you go in the water.” But after Christine told Lauren what her plan was and convinced her that it was safe, or at most a waste of time, her best friend came around, reluctantly. Which was why the two women were best friends forever, because each one always believed in the other.

Lauren said, “You have to promise me you’ll be careful.”

“I’ll be careful, I’m careful. But don’t you think it’s suspicious that Kent turned up dead?”

“I don’t know why you think it’s suspicious if the police don’t.”

“Because they have no reason to believe her death is suspicious. They don’t know what she saw, they never called her back.”

“True.”

“Let’s assume Kent was murdered because she saw the killer on the stairs the night Gail Robinbrecht was killed, or because the killer thinks that she saw him. That means that Zachary isn’t the serial killer.”

“You’re creeping me out with all this talk of Kent getting murdered and serial killers.”

“It happens.”

“Not in our world. Our world is kids and bicycles and Crayola and standardized testing.”

Christine smiled. That used to be her world, but she didn’t know where her world was any longer. She wasn’t a teacher anymore, and her previously happy marriage was in trouble. She knew she wanted to be a mother, and she knew she wanted to be the mother of the child she was carrying. But that loop kept leading her back to Zachary Jeffcoat.

“I’m worried about you and Marcus.”

“Me, too.” Christine drove on, rain pounding against the windshield. “I know this is going to sound strange, but that’s part of the reason I’m going. I wish I could pretend Zachary doesn’t exist, but he does, and I’m not going to be happy unless I try to help him, one way or the other.”

“What if you can’t help him?”

“Then at least I tried. Unless I try, it’s going to bug me. You know how I am.”

“Curious.”

Christine smiled.

“But what about Gary? Does this mess up your lawsuit?”

“No, I don’t think so. I’m doing what you call self-help.”

Lauren sighed. “How long do you think you’ll be down there?”

“I don’t know, a couple of days? I’m going to play it by ear. If my mother calls you, back up my story. I’m at your house at the Jersey Shore.”

“The house is getting a lot of use for a house that never gets any use.” Lauren chuckled. “What does Marcus know?”

“I didn’t lie. I told him where I was going.”

“What’d he say?”

“He’s angry. So be it.” Christine knew she sounded tougher than she felt.

“So what do I tell him if he calls here?”

“He’s not going to, but if he does, tell him to call my cell. I made a reservation at the Warner Hotel in West Chester.”

“That town has a hotel?”

“Just the one, it’s a converted movie theater.”

“So no Jacuzzi.”

“Not likely. It looks nice online.” Christine braked when the downpour intensified, and a passing truck sprayed her with grit and water. “Okay, I should go. The rain is bad.”

“Stay in touch. I’ll give you a call to check on you.”

“Take care, talk soon. Love you.”

“Love you, too.” Christine hung up, with only one more phone call to make. She pressed Griff’s number, and the lawyer answered on the first ring.

“Christine. I’m busy.”

“Can I meet with you this afternoon?” she asked, with hope.