Page 42 of Grave Stone

“While you’re ordering things, order yourself a phone and have it delivered tomorrow. I was thinking about it, and I don’t think you should turn your old one back on anytime soon. If anyone asks, say you lost it and borrowed one from me until you’re able to get a new one.”

“By anyone, you mean the police?”

“Yeah.”

“I don’t want to talk to the police.”

“You might not have to. But if you do, we’ll make sure you know exactly what you’re supposed to say,” she said as if it wasn’t a big deal.

It was a huge deal. Any time a cop had wanted to talk to me, it didn’t end well, starting with the first time my mother lost custody of me.

* * *

Hadley and I were sitting with Cora and Naomi at a table in the dining area, with a warm plate of food waiting for Stevie as she requested via text before she left the courthouse. Apparently, her day didn’t go as planned, and she missed lunch.

“Thank fuck!” Stevie said, picking up her hamburger and taking a bite before she sat down. “Mmm,” she groaned. “So good.”

“Busy day?”

“You have no idea,” she said, talking with a mouth full of food. “People are fucking crazy. Holy shit, this is good.” She grabbed a couple of fries and shoved them into her mouth. “Is there a gym around this monstrosity? I can’t keep eating like this without working out.”

“There’s one downstairs in the flood zone,” Naomi said.

“That’s what she calls the area under the house,” Cora clarified.

“Because that’s what it is,” she said. “I can show you where it is, or you’re welcome to join me when I go down a little later. I usually walk a few miles on the treadmill and then go for a swim to cool off.”

“Thank you. I would love to join you. But not tonight. I need time to mentally prepare for exercise.”

Naomi laughed. “Same, girl. I try to get down there every night during the week, but I make no promises for the weekends, including Friday nights.”

“Count me in for tomorrow night,” Stevie said and looked at me. “Did you order a bathing suit?”

“No. I didn’t think you were serious.”

“I’m sure I have something you can borrow,” Naomi said. “I’m bad about ordering things online and never returning them when they don’t fit.”

“Perfect,” Stevie said. “Problem solved. So, did anything exciting happen today?”

“No, not a damn thing,” I said.

“Well, don’t sound so disappointed. At least the total body count didn’t go up. That’s something to be happy about.”

17

STONE

“Ijust made some sleepy tea,” Cora said quietly and patted my arm. “Help yourself.”

“Thank you,” I said sincerely. After years of insomnia, Cora created a special blend of tea to help her sleep, and Juice helped her turn it into a business. Grave Tea.

“Sweet sleep,” she said before continuing up the stairs.

“You too.”

Since I was on my way downstairs to smoke a blunt because I was having trouble falling asleep, I detoured to the kitchen to get a cup of tea first and found Whitney leaning against the counter blowing the steam from the mug she was holding.

“Having trouble sleeping?” I asked.