Vicious by Debra Webb Page A

time. Her parents had died in a car crash more than thirty years ago. Jesus! Why had she even opened this Pandora’s box? Whatever her Aunt Wanda’s agenda, Jess should never have allowed the woman to burrow under her skin with her claims about the past. Wanda Newsom had probably killed most of her brain cells with drugs and alcohol. She’d never done one good or kind thing for Jess or her sister.
    “I can give you one shocker, though.”
    In spite of her tirade to the contrary, Jess held her breath in anticipation.
    “Your Aunt Wanda filed a report claiming her sister had warned her there was trouble with her husband. Did you know about that?”
    The world shifted and Jess had to reach for the sink. Pregnancy test sticks clattered to the floor. “Are you certain?”
    “Got a copy of it this morning. As soon as your folks were buried, Wanda went to the BPD. She insisted your mother told her that if anything happened to her, Wanda should tell the police to look into it. I have a pal in records who’s searching for any investigation into the accident.”
    “Thanks, Corlew. Call me… when you have more.” Jess tried to wrap her head around this news. The fact that Wanda had filed that report just like she said meant nothing. Had to be the drugs. Wanda probably suffered bouts of paranoia back then. Who knew what had prompted her to file the report.
    “See ya, kid.”
    The call ended. Jess dropped to her knees on the floor, set her phone aside and gathered up the test sticks.
    She had no idea how many minutes had passed but pink lines had formed on each one. Positive. Positive. Positive .
    A rap on the door made her jump.
    “You all right in there, Chief?”
    “Yes.” Jess reached up and turned on the sink faucet. “I’m fine. I’ll be out in a minute.”
    She waited until she heard his footsteps retreating. Scrambling to her feet, she snatched up the Walmart bag and shoved the test sticks into it. After herding the pile of feminine products she’d dumped on the floor into a little stack in the corner next to the pedestal sink, she stood. She still felt a little lightheaded. Probably just needed to eat. Lunch had been a long time ago.
    She set the Walmart bag in the sink and, as quietly as possible, removed the toilet tank lid to retrieve the first test she’d hidden there. With Dan in the other room yesterday morning when she’d taken the first test, she’d had no choice but to hide it. All she had to do now was stuff it into the Walmart bag with the others and take the whole thing to the trashcan outside.
    Inside the toilet tank, the bag she’d carefully tied and tucked away there was open and the test stick floated next to it. “What in the world?” Had she not tied it tightly enough? She groaned and fished the test stick and bag from the toilet tank. The pink lines in the little window were no longer readable. She crammed the wet mess into the new bag, tied it up tightly, and shoved it into her purse.
    She washed her hands again and smoothed her hair. Stay calm . There were a few things she needed to round up and then she was going to Dan’s. Then, over dinner tonight, she would tell him the news. Her nerves jangled. Nervous or not, she couldn’t keep finding excuses not to tell him.
    Jess opened the door and exited the bathroom. Hayes waited at the front door. She mustered up a smile. He returned the smile but she didn’t miss his quick inventory of her condition. Evidently the others had already warned him to keep a close eye on her.
    “I have to round up a few things and then we’re off.”
    She grabbed the new suit her sister had bought for her. Jess smoothed a hand over the herringbone tweed blazer with its notched lapel and lightly puffed sleeves. The charcoal color was classic. The pencil skirt was her favorite style. Lily might not like to wear suits, but she’d done a stellar job picking this one out. As foolish as it was, doing something as normal as selecting her clothes for work