“Yes. I think so, but—”

“Can we do it now?” Emma asked. “I mean right now?”

“You can’t leave the hospital right now,” Clara said. “The police may need something and that…that thing is out there somewhere.”

“That’s exactly why I’ve got to leave,” Emma said. “Not just the hospital. I’m leaving New Orleans. And I want to do it as soon as possible.”

“But the police believe you now,” Shaye said. “They’ll be looking for Ron.”

Clara’s eyes widened. “You know who did this?”

“I have a damned good idea,” Shaye said.

“What makes you think they’ll find him?” Emma asked. “He killed a man last night and almost killed a patient, just to put that piece of gold on my hand. He’ll do anything. And there’s nothing anyone can do to stop him. I won’t be safe until he’s dead, not really. But the closest I can come is disappearing.”

Shaye couldn’t argue with her. The best thing Emma could do was leave New Orleans and do everything possible to cover her tracks. Without the benefit of the GPS tracking device that Shaye was fairly certain was on Emma’s car, Ron would have no way to locate her short of searching the medical facilities in every city across the United States.

“Okay,” Shaye said. “I’ll call my friend and ask him to meet us right now. Go get your things.”

“Thank you,” Emma said and hurried out of the room.

“Are you sure you know what you’re doing?” Clara asked.

“Not entirely,” Shaye said, “but in this case, yes. I’m pretty sure the stalker put a GPS tracker on Emma’s car. That’s how he’s been able to locate her even when she changed hotels.”

“So she needs a new car, but it’s Sunday.”

“The friend I’m calling owns a used car lot and he owes me.”

The “friend” was actually a former client at her previous job. While investigating him for insurance fraud, she’d discovered that his employees were the ones ripping off the insurance companies. He’d told her that any time she needed a favor involving automobiles, he would take care of it. She planned on holding him to his word.

Clara nodded. “I see what you’re thinking.”

“Yeah, it’s all good except for the part where the police are going to have a stroke when they find out Emma left with me.”

“I’ll handle them. You just get Emma out of New Orleans.”

“Absolutely.”

Chapter Twenty-Two

Emma clutched the keys to her slightly used SUV and looked at Shaye. “I don’t even know how to begin to thank you.”

“No thanks are necessary. I’m glad I could help.”

Emma glanced back at the car lot owner, who was staring at the SUV, a rueful look on his face. “I’m not so sure he is.”

“Oh, I’ll bet he’s not losing any money. He’s just not making any. I was thinking I could pick up your stuff at the hotel and meet you somewhere.”

Emma was about to agree when her phone rang. She checked the display and frowned. “It’s Mr. Abshire.”

“Your nosy next-door neighbor?”

“Yeah.” She answered the call and knew right away that something was wrong.

“Are you at home?” he asked, his voice elevated several octaves. “I knocked and knocked but you didn’t answer.”

“No, I’m not. What’s wrong?”

“The street’s full of police cars. They were in Mrs. Pearson’s house, then they came to yours. When you didn’t answer, they came to mine, asking if I knew where you were.”

“They didn’t tell you what’s happening?”

“No. But I think you should come home.”

Emma clutched the phone. It wasn’t her home. Not anymore, but she’d never heard Henry sound so stressed. “Okay. I’m on my way.”

She slipped the phone back into her pocket and told Shaye what Henry had said.

Shaye frowned. “I don’t like it.”

“I don’t either, but if the street’s full of cops, like Henry says, then nothing can happen, right?”

“I guess not, but I’m going with you. I’ll be right behind you.”

Relief coursed through Emma. “Thank God.”

A million thoughts ran through Emma’s mind as she drove to Algiers Point. Why had the police been inside Mrs. Pearson’s house? Had she been robbed? But if that were the case, why wouldn’t they tell Henry? Why fix on her? And why all the secrecy?

By the time she pulled down her street, she’d convinced herself that Henry was probably overreacting. He was always fretting about, getting dramatic over the way people parked and how people walked their dogs. This was going to turn out to be nothing.

Three police cars and an ambulance parked on the street in front of Emma’s house changed her mind. The upbeat spirit she’d tried so hard to work up disappeared like vapor and her stomach churned. Something was seriously wrong. She pulled up behind one of the police cars and parked, Shaye pulling in behind her. Emma hesitated for a moment, then climbed out of her car and walked up the sidewalk with Shaye, fighting the panic that was starting to set in. Why was the ambulance here? Who was it for?

Two cops stood on the sidewalk in front of Mrs. Pearson’s house next to the ambulance. As they approached, Emma looked over at the ambulance and was shocked to see Patty sitting there, an oxygen mask on her face. She rushed over to the Realtor.

“What happened?” Emma asked. “Are you all right?”

Patty nodded and held up a finger.

“A little more,” the paramedic said to Patty.

“What happened?” Shaye asked the paramedic.

“I’m not completely sure. When we got here she was on the steps. Her breathing was so labored she was about to pass out, so I got her over here and got the mask on her.”

Emma and Shaye looked over at the house and Shaye tapped Emma’s arm when a young detective walked out. “That’s Jackson, the detective I’ve been talking to.”

Emma nodded. “I remember him. He came the night I…that night. He was kind.”

Jackson’s gaze locked on them and he gave them a brief nod.

“His partner must be here,” Shaye said. “He’s got seniority and from what I can tell, pretty much prevents Jackson from actually working.”

“The fat older guy with nose hair and a widow’s peak?” Emma asked.

“That’s probably the one.”

“He wasn’t kind. In fact, he was an asshole.”

“Definitely the one.”

“Emma,” Patty wheezed and Emma and Shaye moved closer to her.

“Don’t try to talk,” Emma said. “You need to get your breathing right first.”

“I’m okay,” Patty insisted. “It was horrible. I’ve never…I didn’t…Jesus, it’s the worst thing I’ve ever seen.”

Emma’s pulse spiked. “What happened?”

“Mrs. Pearson’s nephew called. They’ve been trying to reach her and she wasn’t answering. She leaves a key with me when she goes out of town, in case something happens. She was supposed to pick it up yesterday, but when she never called, I figured she’d stayed longer with her new grandbaby. I didn’t think… Oh my God.” Patty burst into tears and the paramedic handed her a tissue.

“Someone killed her!” Patty blurted out. “And took her eyes. What kind of person would do that? I don’t understand. She was such a nice lady, and she didn’t have anything much of value. Why would someone hurt her?”

As soon as Patty said “eyes” Emma froze. No. It couldn’t be. “I don’t know why, Patty,” Emma managed to force out. “I’m so sorry you found her. Is there anything I can do?”

Patty shook her head. “I just need to get my wind back and get home. I tensed so much my muscles are in knots.”

“I can help with that, ma’am,” the paramedic said.

“Shaye!” A man’s voice sounded behind them and they turned around.

Jackson hurried up to them and motioned them to the side.

“Patty said Mrs. Pearson was killed,” Emma said.

Jackson nodded and looked at Emma. “I heard there was trouble at the hospital last night. Detectives were waiting to talk to you this morning. They weren’t happy to find out you’d split.”