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I wished I could say it all made me feel better, but I felt like I was walking around with a hole blasted in my chest. This morning, he woke me, saying he had some quick things to do at the ranch he wasn’t able to avoid, and he’d be back later.
But I couldn’t just stay in my house. Charlie had given me the all clear on Deja Brew. Not to open, but at least to go inside. I guess the crime scene team had scoured every inch of the place and taken everything they needed. And I just…needed to see it.
Not like it would make it better. I would need a time machine to do that. Every time I thought about it, I felt like I was going to be sick again. Who knew? Maybe I’d carry this feeling with me for eternity.
I texted Jude before I left so he wouldn’t go back to my house and panic when I wasn’t there, but I needed to do this. He’d been amazing and perfect, but I wanted to see this on my own.
I noticed the writing before I even got out and had to sit for a minute to gather myself. The graffiti hit me in the chest. Red and black paint covering nearly the whole window and door. POISON. A skull and crossbones.
Tears pricked at my eyes, but I clenched my teeth and held them back. I’d cried enough, and it wasn’t like the statement wasn’t true. Things I’d made for joy had put people in the hospital. Only one kid was still there now, and hopefully they would figure out what it was, but just because I’d gotten lucky enough not to kill someone didn’t mean shit.
I locked the door behind me. Even if I were permitted to open right now, no one would come. That ship had long since sailed.
Aside from the front being extra dark due to the graffiti blocking all the natural light, everything was as I’d left it. Mostly. Things were moved and put back slightly off from being searched by the police and tested by the crime scene unit. Watching crime scene technicians on TV was a lot more fun than being the one having your home ripped apart and put back together.
Deja Brew wasn’t my house, but it was definitely part of my home.
Familiar frustration bubbled up, and I let out a scream of rage in the kitchen and kicked one of the stools over.
Evie and I had checked everything. It all tasted fine. It was great. But apparently not. Something we’d both eaten was bad, and I’d paid for it in more than just a night of throwing up.
Every hour that passed brought me closer to believing Jude was right and this was intentional. There was no way this could have happened three times in a row. Not after I’d cleaned everything and ordered new supplies. I’d been baking for a long fucking time, and while I wasn’t perfect, I hadn’t poisoned anyone before.
I wasn’t sure if it made the most sense, but believing someone else was to blame at least brought some relief.
As nice as she’d been, the only person who would have an obvious motive to do this was Allison, the owner of the new coffee shop. Maybe Jude was right, and the timing of the business was too convenient to be ignored. She seemed sweet, but I was willing to bet if I went across town right now, business would be booming.
What I needed was proof and peace of mind. If she was targeting me, there had to be proof somewhere, right? If I watched her, maybe I’d see something that could help me. It wasn’t like I had anything better to do, and I’d been around the Resting Warrior guys enough that I knew following someone was a decent way to get information.
My phone rang with the specific tone I’d picked out for Jude. There were really no other calls I wanted to answer right now, so I ignored every other tone but his. “Hey.”
“Hey,” he said gently. “I got your text.”
“I just needed to…do something. Came over to look around.”
“You doing okay?”
I grabbed my keys from where I’d tossed them on the counter. “I’m not sure anything can make this okay.”
“Are you coming home?”
“No,” I hedged. “I thought I’d just…stay here a while and wallow in misery.”
Jude was silent for a beat. “All right, we both know that’s not the truth, so why don’t you try again?”
I made a face he obviously couldn’t see. He knew me too well, and it had its drawbacks for things like this, even if it made everything else amazing. “I’m going to follow Allison DeVries. I think you’re right. She’s the only one who has a reason to have done this, and I need to do something.”
“You’re at the bakery?” I heard the sound of him moving around.
“Yeah.”
“Wait for me there. I’m on my way.”
Already walking for the door, I didn’t want to. “Jude, I—”
“Wait for me, Lena.” His voice was steeped in the command I couldn’t say no to, and the line went dead. I nearly growled in frustration. If I were a better liar, I’d probably be getting in Bessie and starting to drive right now. But if I didn’t wait, Jude would worry. At this moment, I didn’t care about following his order, but I also didn’t want to make him panic.
Soon enough, I heard the sound of his truck pull up to the curb and turn off. I met him at the door, and he pushed inside, locking the door behind him, just as I’d done.
