Page 94 of Lemon Pound Cake Club

"Damn, my wife..."

He pushed himself carefully from the stool.

"You should go."

"I should."

He set some bills on the bar and walked toward the exit. His steps grew less steady the farther he went.

I watched the door close after him. Only then did I finish the sip I’d been pretending to nurse all night.

Outside, the summer air felt heavy. I took off my glasses, fixed the dark wig, and got into my car.

The woman who had walked into the bar disappeared the moment the engine turned over. I drove away and followed behind.

Chapter Fifteen

Maci

Sirens woke me up early on Friday. When I opened my eyes, red and blue lights slipped through the blinds and flashed across the walls, almost like a warning.

I sat up too fast, feeling dizzy and my heart racing. Zaire shifted next to me.

“What the hell,” he muttered, pushing himself up. “Are those police lights?”

I didn’t answer. I got out of bed and walked to the window. The street was packed with patrol cars. Three of them were right in front of Camille’s house.

The lights lit up every window on the block.

Zaire came over and stood beside me.

“Damn,” he said quietly. “It’s always something.”

“Yeah,” I whispered. “I see it.”

I pulled the curtain back a bit to get a better look. An unmarked SUV stopped behind the patrol cars.

Two detectives stood in the driveway, talking to a few curious neighbors. Another officer went inside carrying a black equipment case.

My phone kept buzzing on the nightstand. I picked it up.

Danielle: Is everyone seeing this??

Nia: Please tell me this isn’t about Camille.

Simone: I just heard her husband is dead.

I read the message, then said it out loud.

Zaire leaned over my shoulder. “Dead?”

Before I could say anything, another notification popped up.

Jade: Detective just knocked on my door. They said he was found late last night after a single-vehicle crash.

I frowned at my phone.

Zaire exhaled slowly. “Damn.”