Chapter 39
Chapter Thirty-Nine
Shelby turned onto Chase’s street. “Which one is his?”
Ruby pointed. “Just up there.”
“Do you think your friend’s arrived yet?”
“Should have. Nora said she was already in West Oaks, parked at the beach.” And the most popular public beaches weren’t far from Chase’s house.
Shelby pumped the brakes. “Lay down in your seat, and I’ll drive by. I want to take a look before you go in.”
Ruby scooted down so she wouldn’t be visible through the car window.
On the drive, Ruby had told Shelby as much as possible about Nora and the underground fighting circuit. But the officer had already known plenty about the investigation into Mickey Waverley’s murder.
Shelby drove forward. “There’s a light on inside. Curtains drawn. Not much activity.” After about a minute, she stopped again. “How do you want to do this? Does she expect you to unlock the door?”
Ruby sat upright. “I was thinking I’d just go knock.”
Shelby tapped her finger against her lips as she thought. “All right. But I want to stay close. What’s the layout of the house like?”
Ruby described it. How the front windows looked into the living room, while the back door was straight behind in the kitchen. Chase’s bedroom was off to one side.
“You go to the front,” Shelby said, “and I’ll come around from the back.”
“You have to make sure Nora doesn’t see you. If she realizes I came with someone, especially a cop, she might take off.”
“But what is she so afraid of? Unless she’s actively avoiding the authorities because she did something, and she’s afraid of getting caught.”
Which was exactly the cop mindset. “For someone like Nora, you don’t go to the police for help. We have to do this my way.”
Shelby grumbled. “I’ll stay out of sight. But keep yourself near the back of the house. That’s where I’ll be. If anyone approaches from the front, don’t answer the door.”
“Got it.” Ruby reached for the passenger door handle.
“Wait, one more thing. From what you’ve told me, Nora could crush you in an instant if she wanted. I’m assuming you feel safe around her if you’re meeting with her alone. But are you completely sure that’s wise?”
Ruby opened her mouth to respond, but those words caught in her mind. Wise. She was always telling Haley to be wise.
What would be the wisest move of all right now?
She could turn around and go home. But would that be wise? Never finding out what other danger could be coming? Abandoning a friend who needed her?
There had been no way to help Mickey the day of his murder. But if Ruby could somehow help Nora out of the jam she was in, she had to take the chance. She had to assume Nora meant her no harm.
So she was definitely doing this.
But what was the wisest way to go about it?
“What do you suggest?” Ruby asked.
“You need a weapon.”
“I’m not taking a gun in there.”
Shelby grinned. “Have you ever used a taser?”
Ruby walked down the sidewalk until she reached Chase’s house. Her knuckles rapped on the door.
Nora answered. She pulled Ruby immediately inside and into a hug. “Thank you for this. I’m not going to forget it. I promise.” She closed the door and locked it.
“I’m glad I could help.”
Shelby had told her to stay near the back of the house. Ruby eyed the kitchen. “Have you had something to eat?”
“I’m not hungry. My stomach is in knots.”
“How about I make some coffee? I could use the caffeine.”
“All right. Sure.” Nora followed her into the kitchen. “Actually, are there any bagels? Or any kind of bread? Usually I avoid carbs on days I don’t train. But I think today’s an exception.”
Ruby put her purse on the floor by one of the chairs. It had the taser inside.
But bringing the weapon along felt ridiculous now that she was here. Nora seemed so dejected. The poor woman was asking for a bagel.
“You’re in luck.” Ruby opened the fridge and pulled out a sleeve of English muffins. “Chase is a carb fan.”
There were still dishes in the sink from Chase’s breakfast that morning. It was strange to think of him sleeping here the last several days. The house smelled like him. Now Chase was at her apartment with Haley, while Ruby was here.
She forced her mind to her present task. The sooner Nora opened up, the sooner Ruby would be able to go home.
To my husband, she thought with a secret thrill. To my family.
Ruby popped a couple of English muffins into the toaster. She got two coffee mugs out of the cabinet. “Looks like Chase is out of the real stuff. He only has instant.”
“Not ideal, but I can make it work.” Nora scooped instant coffee grounds from the can on the counter.
Ruby started the water boiling. “Have you seen Tag lately? He seemed really worried about you.”
“I’m staying away from Tag these days.”
“Why didn’t you want him to know where you are?”
“There’s so much I need to explain first. I don’t even know where to start.”
Ruby remembered what she’d said on the phone. I’m afraid you’ll hate me. She was pretty sure she knew Nora’s reason for anxiety. “Why don’t you start with you and Mickey? I know you were seeing him at one point.”
Nora’s eyes widened. “How did you know?”
“Chase went to Baylor Fitness, and Tag told him. But it doesn’t bother me. I never really loved Mickey. And even if I had, he’s been gone from my life for so long.”
Nora closed her eyes. “I did love him. Still do. I’ve loved him for years, even before he met you. I would’ve done anything for him.”
Ruby’s heart went out to her. “And he must’ve hurt you. I’m so sorry. But I understand now why you seemed so upset when I came to Bailor Fitness. You were grieving for him.”
“It was rough. And I couldn’t even show it because Cami was his girlfriend, not me.”
“That day, I could tell you were keeping something back.”
“I didn’t want to. I wanted to tell you, I swear.”
“It’s all right.”
“No, it’s not. Because that wasn’t even the worst of it.”
“What was the worst?”
Nora paced across the kitchen. “I didn’t want it to happen. Truly. I didn’t.”
“What? Just say it.”
“The worst was…” Silent tears streamed down Nora’s face. “Knowing I had killed him.”