Page 122 of Hell Hath No Fury

Fergusson and Lukan rose from their seats and thanked her for her time. She stood as well, looking grateful that their questions were over. The troopers moved toward the door.

Instead of following, Matthias took a step towards Fran. “There’s one thing bothering me.”

She stiffened.

“The ring.”

“I told you?—”

“You told us about how and when Jones gave it to you. How did it end up on Emma’s farm?”

Fran appeared puzzled.

“It was in your pocket with the other stuff you found Saturday morning.”

“Oh.” Fran lowered her head before bringing her gaze back to him. “That wasn’t the first time I’d been metal detecting on Emma’s property.” She winced. “I hadn’t asked permission before.”

She hadn’t asked permission from Emma this time either.

“About six months ago, I was out there while wearing the ring. I didn’t realize I’d lost it until a day or so later. I’d been at several places that day and have been going back to them trying to find it ever since. Just my luck. I finally located it on Saturday, and you bust me.”

“You still wore Sonny’s ring? Why,” Matthias asked, “did you keep it all these years?”

Fran’s lips parted, but no words came out.

“I’m sorry,” he said, “but you don’t sound like a woman who ended a relationship and never looked back.” In his peripheral vision, he was aware of Fergusson and Lukan returning their full attention to Fran.

She lowered her head. “I didn’t say I never looked back. I was in love with Sonny. I can’t deny it. And I truly believe he was in love with me. In his own way. The inscription on that ring was a reminder of that. I admit I still have feelings for him. Oh, I knew what would happen if we got back together. It would be all passionate for a time. Then something or someone—maybe even me—would trigger him. He would beat me senseless.” She shook her head. “Who knows. Maybe I’d be driven to kill him. A woman can only take so much before either she or the bastard abusing her ends up dead.”

ChapterThirty-Six

When Eric begged off the visit to Ashley Jones, Emma didn’t argue. He’d spent the night in Nell’s room, trying to sleep in the recliner. On the heels of the attack at the jail, he looked pale and exhausted. He needed to rest. He turned over the keys to his rental car, and Emma drove him home before returning to the city.

She kept checking the rearview mirror, glancing at Nell in the backseat with her leg propped up, keeping vigilant for signs of a tail. Nell appeared relaxed and content, showing no indication of noticing how edgy Emma was. By the time they reached the bakery on Main Street, Emma was convinced the accident in Ohio was exactly that—an accident—and she was merely paranoid.

After the stop at the bakery for cookies, they headed to the Jones residence. By the time they arrived, storm clouds blocked the sun, promising rain. Little had changed from Emma’s previous visit. Sonny’s truck and Ashley’s car sat side by side under the car port. The blinds in the house were drawn, as if shutting out the world.

Emma parked in the same spot Matthias had, stepped out, and was immediately swamped by the humid air. “Ugh,” she groaned as she held the back door and helped Nell scoot from the car. “I think it’s gotten even hotter.”

“It’s definitely muggier. We’re gonna get rain.” Nell hopped on her good foot as Emma handed her the crutches. “Good thing we decided against getting a cake. The icing would’ve melted.”

Emma retrieved the cardboard box from the passenger seat and trailed Nell along the sidewalk to the front door. Nell pressed the video doorbell.

“Just a minute,” Ashley’s voice filtered through the speaker.

Emma could hear footsteps inside and wondered what Ashley was doing. Tidying? As they waited, the wind kicked up, ruffling Emma’s short hair and whispering through the leaves of the big maple in the front yard. Finally, the door swung open.

Ashley was still wrapped in her hoodie, only her face and fingertips exposed. “What do you want?”

“We brought cookies,” Nell said, glancing back at Emma. “I was hoping to talk to you about something.”

“What?”

“Do you mind if we come in?” Nell tapped her cast with a crutch. “I have a hard time standing right now.”

Emma remained silent, content to let her sister take the lead. After all, this was Nell’s idea. Nell’s mission.

“I just got Daphne down to sleep.”