A Dagger through Dimensions Chapter 48

Cora Meets Adele

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Chapter One Here

We took Jenny’s Packard and drove away after I made sure no one was looking out at us when we left the building. Sure enough, not long after we left, a black and white car with a tiny flashing red light and a blaring siren went speeding past us.

“Head to my office,” I reminded Adele.

She nodded absently, and I watched her for a moment. Like me, I knew she carried a multitude of questions and concerns. As I finally let out a breath, I felt a weariness covering me like a blanket.

“Do you think Jenny will be alright?”

I forced myself not to shrug and nodded.

“Sure, they’ll fix her up in no time. I mean, look how well they treated me.”

“I don’t know how you can come up with those lies while you are talking with people.”

She looked tired, and her face remained swollen on one side.

“Besides, you don’t know that Winton will help us. Lees acts like he has everything figured out.”

“You know that you’re beautiful,” I said from the heart. “You really came through and saved us. I’m sorry that I got you in the middle of this.”

“We don’t have time to discuss that. Do you think Lees will go after her, then us?” Her voice suddenly showed the icy distance like earlier in the evening.

Her tone made me pause before I let out a long breath.

“I’m not sure, but as soon as I get to a telephone, I’ll call Tom Winton and give him the full story. We can hope that he’s not on Lees’ payroll.”

After a long pause, I continued.

“Ok, I’ll admit I’m not sure. Still, Judge Seabury told me Winton was honest. He had no reason to lie to me about that.”

Adele sighed, her lips a thin line of determination.

“God, it’s so frustrating.”

“I know what you mean. I think…”

She cut me off.

“That’s not what I’m talking about! You always act like you can handle it all. Maybe your idea at the hospital was the best option,” Adele glanced over. “Or maybe you’ll get Jenny killed. Either way, you act like it doesn’t affect you.”

An awkward silence fell between us as I sat there, unable to think of a response. Her assessment was correct. I didn’t care if Jenny lived or died.

“I still don’t know why you think I recommended your office. It’s the second place they’ll look for us,” she finally spoke as we got closer to downtown. “Not that it matters, I guess.”

I stared at her.

“Wait a minute, I heard you whisper the idea. When we get near there, we park the car in an alley, and we keep off the lights. Like I said, it’s a good idea. Otherwise, you’ll need to leave town on your own. It’s not like I can go with you.”

“What’s the point?”

I wasn’t sure that I heard her correctly.

“What do you mean? We have to get people to go after Lees. Otherwise, it’s everyone against us.”

“That’s not what I’m talking about,” she suddenly hit the brakes and pulled the car along the side of the street.

Shocked by her sudden change, I held on as we hit the curb. Then I watched her quickly turn off the engine and get out of the Packard. I slid out of the passenger side and hurried toward her.

“You’re going in the wrong direction,” I said.

Adele glared at me and continued walking.

“Can’t you tell me what the hell you’re doing?”

“It doesn’t matter. You should go to the office and call Winton.”

Her attitude finally pissed me off. When I caught up with her, I grabbed her arm, and she tried to pull away.

“Damn it, we’re in this together. What the hell are you doing?”

Adele stopped and stared at me. Under the streetlight, her face carried the bitterness of her words.

“Are we? He called me a familiar, you’re the outsider. You knew about this, didn’t you?”