Indelible by Karin Slaughter Page B

for another breath. “But thank you. I try.”
    Sara turned to include Jessie in the conversation, but the other woman’s eyes were closed.
    â€œShe’s probably passed out.” Nell fanned herself with her hand. “God, I was such a bitch to you.”
    Sara did not argue.
    â€œI’m not normally so testy. If Jessie was awake, she’d tell you otherwise, but you can’t trust a woman who drinks a whole bottle of wine before four in the afternoon, and I’m not just talking on Sundays.” She swatted a fly. “She tell you about being new here?”
    Sara nodded, trying to keep up.
    â€œYou should be glad she passed out. Couple’a more minutes she’d be telling you how she always depends on the kindness of strangers.”
    Sara took a sip of beer.
    â€œSlick hasn’t been back here in forever. Left town like he was running through hell with gasoline britches on.” She paused. “I guess I was mad at him and took it out on you.” She put her hand on Sara’s chair. “What I’m saying is I’m sorry I showed my ass.”
    â€œThank you for apologizing.”
    â€œI near about cracked up when you said that about the balloon animals.” She laughed. “He told me you were a doctor, but I didn’t believe him.”
    â€œPediatrician,” Sara confirmed.
    Nell sat back in the chair. “You have to be smart to get into medical school, right?”
    â€œPretty much.”
    She nodded appreciatively. “Then I’ll assume you know what you’re doing with Jeffrey.”
    â€œThank you,” Sara told her, and meant it. “You’re the first person I’ve met who’s said that.”
    Nell turned serious, looking at Sara with something like pity. “Don’t be surprised if I’m the last.”

6
    D uring the five hours she spent at Nell’s, Sara found out more about Jeffrey Tolliver than she had in three months of dating him. Jeffrey’s mother was a confirmed alcoholic and his father was serving time in prison for something no one was very specific about. Jeffrey had dropped out of Auburn two classes away from graduating and joined the police force without telling anybody why. He was an excellent dancer and he hated lima beans. He was definitely not the marrying kind, but Sara did not need Nell to tell her this. Jeffrey radiated the words “confirmed bachelor.”
    Considering Nell had managed to mumble most of these details under her breath during a particularly competitive game of Trivial Pursuit, Sara was only privy to the headlines and none of the details behind them. It was pitch dark by the time they left the group, and as Sara and Jeffrey walked down the street toward his mother’s house, she tried to think of a way to find out more.
    She settled on “So, what does your mother do?”
    â€œDifferent things,” he said, not offering anything else.
    â€œAnd your dad?”
    He switched her suitcase to his other hand and wrapped his arm around her. “You seem like you had a good time tonight.”
    â€œNell’s just full of insight.”
    â€œShe likes the sound of her own voice.” He slid his hand to her hip. “I wouldn’t believe everything she says.”
    â€œWhy is that?”
    His hand slid lower as he nuzzled her neck. “You smell good.”
    She got the message, but did not exactly change the subject. “Are you sure your mother won’t mind us staying over?”
    â€œI called her from Nell’s a few hours ago,” Jeffrey said. “You remember when Nell was telling you my life story?” He gave her a look that said he knew exactly what had been going on with Nell, though Sara had to assume Jeffrey would not have taken her to meet his friends without knowing exactly what would happen.
    She decided to call him on it. “This is a pretty cheap way for me to find out all about your life without you