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“That’s the dope talking.” Ruby huffed and left them in the living room. Inside Nadine’s room, Jimmy examined the wounds, then began cleaning them as he quietly asked about her pain levels and where it hurt the most.
“Do you want me to help you, Nadine?” he asked. “I can get you out of this.”
Ruby froze and glanced toward the door. If Whiskey heard those words, he’d kill Jimmy. Snap his neck, bury him so deep a dog couldn’t dig up his bones.
“I’m fine. I’ve already been through this before with Chris.”
He wiped her tear-stained cheeks with a soft rag, the mascara disappearing onto the cloth. “Okay, but the offer stands.” He ripped open an antiseptic wipe. “This is going to sting.” He carefully applied it to the cut on her forehead. Nadine winced. “Sorry,” he murmured. “Any other injuries? Any you didn’t tell him about?”
“No.”
“Okay. Let’s look at those ribs.” He helped Nadine sit up, and she winced again and cried out. “Easy, easy.” He pressed and prodded against her rib cage. Her skin was already turning black and purple. “Can you take a deep breath without it hurting?”
She shook her head.
“Chest pain?”
She nodded.
“I think they’re bruised pretty badly. I can’t prescribe you pain meds, so take plenty of ibuprofen and shallow breaths. Restrict your activity. No running.”
“Tell that to Whiskey,” Nadine said through gritted teeth.
“I will. And I’m not one to condone drug use, but I smell it. If you need it for pain, smoke it. If it gets worse, you will have to see a doctor. You can go to the urgent clinic in town or have Ruby take you somewhere else.”
He closed up his bag, removed his gloves, and threw them and the papers and cloths in the garbage can by the bed. “Anything else?”
“No. Thank you, Jimmy.”
At the door, Jimmy leaned in to Ruby. “Make sure she rests. I’m serious.”
“And I’m serious when I say you need to stop talking like that. If he finds out...” She and Jimmy had grown up making mud pies and even attended a school dance together her junior year and his senior. The last thing she wanted to hear was he’d disappeared too.
“What kind of man would I be if I didn’t offer her a way out? Does she look happy to you, Ruby? Are you? Happy?”
No. But Ruby had a plan. One that wouldn’t get Jimmy or Chris killed. If she could muster the courage to go through with it.
If she was willing to die.
But who would watch over Lula? Who would keep her daughter unharmed?
Thursday, October 19
7:46 a.m.
She’d packed them. Violet wasn’t going crazy. But they weren’t in the suitcase. Nothing appeared touched.
The doll.
Last night after dinner and a briefing with assignments for today, she retired to the room completely exhausted, but that stupid porcelain doll with black painted eyes was facing outward, like a corpse. At first she thought the lady of the house had been in here, but why only turn one doll around?
She was about to right now hunt down ole Aunt Hossie and ask who all had access to this house. The door blew open without even a knock, and Violet’s irritation and anger shifted. She pulled her gray robe close against her and narrowed her eyes.
John stood with concern in his eyes. He paused at Violet’s attire. “I apologize. I should have knocked. But...we have another victim. Found fifteen minutes ago. We need to move. Rain’s coming in.”
“Same cave?”
“No. Team’s heading to the car, told Asa I’d come get you.”
