Evil Never Dies

“Why now?”

“Because I’m pregnant.”

That seemed to take the air out of him.

“Jared and I are having a baby. I’m four months along.”

Detective Chase looked dumbfounded.

“I think I might have been every bit as stu

“Do I detect a note of happiness?”

“Yeah,” she said with a smile, “you do. I didn’t see it coming, but I’m excited about what’s ahead.”

Chase’s surprise quickly turned to concern. “I’m glad for you, Lizzy, but the reason I asked you to come here today is because I’m worried about something.”

Lizzy waited for him to continue.

“Be

“Ridiculous.” Lizzy did her best to appear untroubled. “Thanks for the warning, Detective, but you don’t need to worry about me.”

“He was hoping to find video footage on his high-definition security system. I have to ask you straight up. Did you set foot on Wayne Be

“No.”

“As you know, he can be ruthless.”

“You said he was hoping to find video footage . . . Did he or didn’t he?”

“My guys have already checked into it. Be

Relieved, Lizzy said, “Are you trying to say you think he might come after me?”

His shoulders dropped. “I’m just telling you to be careful, that’s all.”

“Don’t worry. I always am.”

CHAPTER FORTY

Tonight Hayley had decided to make the rounds by herself. Her car was still broken down and she had no plans to have it fixed, so she had hitchhiked her way to West Sacramento.

She and Kitally had spent five nights out on the streets, and they had nothing to show for their efforts. Kitally might be upset when she found out Hayley went without her, but that was too bad. She preferred to work solo.

She passed by the park and then found a spot where she could sit on the curb and watch a few people down the road setting up camp. She pulled out her cigarettes and lit one up, wondering if she’d ever really be able to quit the habit.

As she sat beneath the stars, she thought of her date with Tommy and found herself smiling as she remembered his absurd talk of his future plans. Living in a little house by the river. Tommy could be a doofus at times, but he’d stuck by her. And she couldn’t help but wonder why.

She turned toward the sound of rattling wheels. A shopping cart, being pushed by a guy with long red hair and the begi

“Got an extra smoke?”

“Sure.”

He took a seat next to her on the curb, and she gave him a cigarette and lit it for him.

“Thanks.” He took a long, luxurious drag and sent a column of smoke into the night air. “So,” he said, turning to her, “what’s a nice girl like you doing out here on the street?”

“Just enjoying a smoke,” she said with a laugh. She took a hit and then looked him over. “How’s it going?”

“Not too good. I lost my job six months ago. Made the rounds, spending the night with friends and family until I finally wore out my welcome. I wasn’t out here on these very streets for too long before I woke up one night to some mean-as-hell monster chick beating the hell out of me.”

Hayley sat up. “Ski

“That’s her. Demon girl, and I’m not kidding.” He shot another shaft of smoke into the night, then shook his head. “Who would have thought someone that mean would have a nice, sweet-sounding name like Nora Belle Castor?”

Butterfly wings danced in her stomach. “How do you know her name?”

“I tried to stop her from stealing my things from my cart here, and when I grabbed hold of her sweatshirt, she yanked away so fast I ended up tearing the thing halfway off her. I was inches from her bare arm, and there it was in fancy black ink—Nora Belle Castor. She lit into me after that. I spent the entire next day filling out a police report. I gave them her name, but they said there was no address for her. Not that they would have given me the information if they had it. They said I wasn’t the first one to complain about the girl who everyone referred to as the Ghost.” He frowned. “I guess that could have been her mother’s name, now that I think about it.”

Hayley stood then and handed him her entire pack of cigarettes and the lighter. “Here you go. They’re all yours.”

“Hey, thanks.”

“I really hope you find a way to get yourself off the streets.” And then she walked away.

Two weeks after Hayley had found out the name of the Ghost, she walked into the kitchen as she did most mornings after waking up, and she knew instantly that something was wrong.

It was way too quiet, for one thing.

Concerned, she went to Salma’s room. The bed was neatly made. All baby accessories were gone. On the dresser was a handwritten note:

Dear Hayley, Kitally, Lizzy, and Jessica,

I can never repay you for your kindness. I hope you find it in your heart to forgive me for leaving without saying goodbye. I couldn’t take any chances. Joey and I have been making plans for a while now. Sadly, I will be unable to make contact with you in the future. As you know, it must be this way. In order to live a happy life without looking over our shoulders, difficult choices had to be made. I am giving up the only family I ever knew to make a new life for myself. All of you have taught me what it means to have a family I can trust and lean on in difficult times. I will never forget any of you. Our daughter, Hope Elizabeth, will grow up surrounded by love.

All our best,

Salma, Joey, and Hope

Later that day, Hayley sat at the end of the driveway and made a call to Jessica. It had to be done.

“What’s going on?” Jessica asked as soon as she picked up.

“I’m calling in a favor.”

“You can’t call in a favor, Hayley, unless I owe you a favor, which I don’t.”

“Do you always have to take everything so literally?”

“I just call it like it is.”

“OK, I need a favor. How’s that?”

“Better. What do you need?”

Hayley looked heavenward. “I need all the help I can get in locating a Nora Belle Castor. Caucasian. Young—late teens, early twenties. Last seen downtown. I’ve tried everything. I found a cousin, but he had no idea what she was up to or where she was living. Her parents live in New York and have yet to return my calls. I’m stumped.”

“No problem,” Jessica said.

“Thanks.” Hayley couldn’t believe it was that easy. If she had known Jessica wouldn’t balk at her request, she might have called her weeks ago.

“How are Salma and the baby doing?”

“They’re gone. She and Joey took off with Hope Elizabeth in the middle of the night. I found her room empty. Just a note thanking us all, including you, for teaching her what family is all about.”

“Ahh, well, that’s sweet . . . Wait a minute, did you say Hope Elizabeth? Did she finally give her a name?”

“That’s what the note says.”

“I like it. And Salma is right—we are family, aren’t we?”

“That’s us. One big happy family.”

Jessica laughed. “Did Lizzy tell you that she’s leaving the investigative business?”

“She did.”

“Did she tell you she was thinking about selling the business?”