Tell her she’s cheap. And tell her I love her. ” Audrey smiled. It felt like every visit might be the last one. Eleanor never complained, never talked about the cancer like it was winning, but her voice was thinner every time they called, and the silences between her sentences were getting longer. The pump clicked off.
Nicole hung up, put the nozzle back, screwed the gas cap on. Ready? Yeah, let’s Audrey stopped. She had that look, the one Nicole had seen a hundred times. Eyes narrow, head slightly tilted like a dog that just heard something no one else could hear.
What? Nicole asked. Cruiser across the road. Three guys inside. They’ve been watching us since we pulled in.
Nicole looked. A police cruiser sat in the shade of an oak tree on the other side of the two-lane road. She could see the shapes of three officers behind the windshield. So, we’re just getting gas. I know.
Audrey, don’t. I’m not doing anything. Audrey took a sip of water. Casual, but her left hand drifted to the pendant under her shirt. A habit like checking for your keys before you leave the house.
Nicole shook her head. You see cops everywhere. I investigate cops everywhere. There’s a difference. Nicole got behind the wheel.
Audrey opened the passenger door. That’s when the cruiser pulled out of the shade. Slow. No sirens, no lights, just a slow roll across the two-lane road straight into the gas station lot. It parked behind the Lexus, blocking them in.
Three doors opened. Three officers stepped out. Sergeant Wade Thornton, Officer Brett Lawson, Officer Kyle Greer. Thornton looked at the Lexus, then at Audrey, then at Nicole in her red dress behind the wheel. He said something to Lawson low enough that only the three of them could hear.
Lawson laughed. Then Thornton put on his sunglasses, even though he was already standing in shade, and walked toward them. Man, imagine just stopping for gas and that’s enough to ruin your whole day. Just two sisters buying water. That’s it.
But nah. Wrong skin color, nice car. Now you’re a suspect. Tell me that doesn’t make your blood boil. Thornton reached the Lexus first.
He didn’t say hello. Didn’t say good afternoon. He slapped the hood twice with his palm like calling a dog. Out of the car, both of you. Nicole turned off the engine and stepped out slowly.
Audrey was already standing by the passenger side water bottle still in her hand. Thornton looked at the Lexus, then at Audrey, then at Nicole. He took his time, eyes moving from Nicole’s red dress to her sandals to her face. Registration and license now. Nicole reached into the car and pulled out the documents, held them out.
Thornton took them, looked at the name, looked at Nicole, looked at the name again. “Nicole Shaw? ” He said it like he was tasting something bad. This your car? Yes, sir. Paid for it yourself?