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Chelsea’s face screwed up, and her brow furrowed. Julia stiffened, and something strange flitted across her face before she covered it.
“I—I can’t leave,” Chelsea said. “I could go into labor any day. My doctor says you never know with first-time mothers, and my sister and David are here. I’d rather just have the patrol officer stay with me.”
“We wouldn’t be able to continue a patrol for long,” Jo said. “Ideally just until we can get you somewhere secure.”
Chelsea’s gaze jumped between Jo and Arnett. “But who’s to say I’d even be safer somewhere else? Why wouldn’t he just follow me?”
“That’s not likely,” Jo said, “unless there’s some reason why the killer wants you specifically dead. Do you know of some reason that would be?”
Chelsea shook her head as she studied the table in front of her. “The only person I know who has any reason to be upset with me is Sophie, and I don’t see why she’d have anything against Madison or Naomie. I can’t even think of anybody who knows all of us. We only know each other through Triple-B.”
At the mention of her sister’s name, flames rose up Jo’s chest, and she struggled to contain her reaction. “Then it’s far more likely this is a killer who’s seeking whatever pregnant women are convenient. They’d have no reason to follow you.”
Red spots appeared on Chelsea’s cheeks. “I just can’t go out of town. I’ll take the patrol officer, please.”
Jo pushed down her frustration and moved on to Julia. “Do you have someone you can stay with?”
“That won’t work. I have clients who depend on me,” Julia said.
“We’ll get a patrol on you as well, then,” Jo said. “We can’t maintain it for long, but hopefully we’ll find the perpetrator quickly.”
Julia gave a single sharp head shake. “That won’t work, either. Some of the people I work with don’t come from the best circumstances, and having a police officer following me into those neighborhoods would compromise the trust I’ve built with them and their families.”
“But you need to stay safe,” Chelsea said, preempting Jo’s objection. “Surely that’s more important than—”
“Than their safety?” Julia asked. “My life is more important than theirs, for some reason?”
“But you’re inimmediatedanger, and they aren’t,” Chelsea said.
“I disagree. If this psycho is looking for pregnant women to kill, he’s not going to come after me.” Her hand fell to her flat stomach. “But if my clients—or their families—refuse to let me come help with their home births, they could die in childbirth.”
“At least let them put the officer at your house, then,” Chelsea said.
“What’s the point? I’m hardly ever home, and it would just keep an officer off the street protecting someone else.” She turned to Jo. “No, I’m sorry. I’ll just have to take my chances.”
Jo’s mind raced, trying to track what was happening. Julia wasn’t the first person to turn down personal protection, and her reasons for it made sense. The fact was, under-served communities sometimes had tenuous, if not downright distrustful, relationships with the police. And yet, Jo was certain something else was going on.
“We won’t force you. But if you change your mind, let us know.” Jo turned to Chris. “We’re so sorry to ask you to deal with this right now. Please know we’re deeply sorry for your loss.”
Chris met her eyes, and his voice came out as a hoarse whisper. “Please. Just find whoever did this to her—before anybody else gets hurt.”
CHAPTERTHIRTY-THREE
After Jo assured Chris they’d do everything possible to catch Naomie’s killer, she turned to Julia. “Can we speak to you for a moment outside on our way out?”
Julia look startled, and stepped forward with a jerk. “Of course. Actually, I need to leave anyway. Cecile and Fred need to be told. Naomie’s parents,” she clarified, then looked at Chris. “I don’t think this is information they should get over the phone.”
Chris’s face fell and his stare bounced between Julia and Jo. “Oh, God, you’re right. In the shock of it all, I didn’t even think—” He stood up. “I’ll come with you.”
Julia started to respond, but Chelsea jumped in. “Chris, you’re in shock. Let Julia handle it. In fact, I’m not sure you should be alone tonight. Do you have a friend who can come over? If not, I can stay.”
“Chelsea’s right.” Julia’s nurse voice kicked in. “You need to take care of yourself right now. And I’m already persona non grata with them. If they’re going to get bad news, it might as well come from me.”
Jo watched a series of emotions battle across Chris’s face; finally, he gave in and sat back down. “You’re not persona non grata. And you must be in shock, too.”
Julia nodded, her eyes blank. “Part of my job is getting people through crises. I’ll be fine.”
Jo considered her reaction, again struck by the sense that something wasn’t quite right. She added it to the list of things she needed to ask Julia.
