Tiffany was alive. A little bruised, battered and plenty dehydrated but she was alive. As soon as she had been cleared to go by the ER physician back in Milledgeville, an ambulance had been ordered to bring her and Tony to Macon to be with her parents. Tony would forever be indebted to Chief Phelps for taking care of the details so there was no time delay. Tiffany needed to be with her parents.
When they reached the door to Steve’s room, Tony said to the nurse, “Give us a moment.”
She nodded. He came around to the front of the wheelchair and crouched down to Tif’s eye level. “I might not have a chance to tell you this once your parents get their hands on you, but I’m very proud of you. The other girls told the detectives how you helped hold them together. You’re a hero, Tif. A real hero.”
She managed a smile despite the tears slipping down her pale cheeks. Even the dark circles under her eyes and the bruises on her battered body didn’t detract from how beautiful she was. “Thanks, Uncle Tony, but I’m not the hero. Joanna is the hero. That crazy old woman was going to kill us and Joanna saved us.”
Tony blinked at the burn in his eyes. “That’s right. She’s a hero, too.”
Tif’s smile wobbled a little. “So are you. I knew you’d come.”
She’d told him that over and over since the rescue. He kissed her on the forehead and stood. He swiped away a couple of tears he couldn’t hold back and nodded for the nurse to open the door. Angie and Steve looked toward the open door as Tony pushed the wheelchair into the room.
His sister’s eyes lit with joy. Steve cried like a baby. Tony stood back and watched the incredible reunion, his knees a little weak.
He needed to be with his family tonight, but tomorrow he was heading back to Milledgeville. There were statements to make and reports to sign.
And there was Jo.
55
Antebellum Inn
Wednesday, April 18, 9:00 a.m.
Jo picked up her bag and reached for the door of the Judge’s Suite. The folks at the inn had insisted she have their best room for the rest of her stay. Chiefs of Police Phelps and Buckley had needed her to stay to sort out all the reports and for statements that would ensure Pamela Blume was sent away for the rest of her life.
She had told the parts of her story that she had never uttered to anyone. First to Tony. With his support, she had been able to repeat those awful details to Phelps, the two FBI agents and the GBI agent. They had all agreed that Ellen’s actions would have easily fallen under an insanity defense. Since Ellen was dead, there was no reason to open any sort of investigation. Jo’s statement would close the case.
Vickie Parton’s parents had taken her home. Lexy Thackerson’s aunt had shown up and insisted that Lexy was coming to live with her. Jo hoped Lexy would give her aunt a chance.
Thankfully Sylvia Carson came through surgery with flying colors. Mr. and Mrs. Carson had arrived early yesterday to be with her. Jo personally told them the story of what she and Ellen had survived. They cried together, but the Carsons were strong and determined. Sylvia had a difficult road ahead of her, but Ellen’s parents were prepared to take care of her and to love her the way Ellen would have wanted. The Carsons promised to explain everything to Ellen’s husband and to her children, when they were old enough. They needed to know how much their mother loved them and that what happened to her was not their fault or even Ellen’s.
The local newspapers were calling Jo a hero. Even the cops were treating her like a VIP. It was strangely unsettling and comforting at the same time.
Angie and Steve had called to thank her. Steve’s bypass surgery had gone well and he was doing great. They would be going home in a few days.
Something else to be grateful for.
Tiffany had asked to speak with Jo. She, too, had called her a hero.
Jo didn’t feel like a hero. What she felt was exhausted and relieved and tremendously thankful.
She said her goodbyes to the innkeeper at breakfast that morning. Jo was ready to hit the road. There were things she had to do before she could go home.
Home.
It felt strange to think about going home but she was. She’d spoken to her mother and to Ray. They wanted her home. She wanted to be home. She wanted her family back—if they would have her. Ray assured her again that they had always wanted her. Deep down she had never stopped wanting them.
Bobbie Gentry and Nick Shade had dropped by yesterday afternoon to say goodbye. Nick told her to be kind to herself. She deserved good things. Bobbie had hugged her and made her promise to call if she ever needed anything or wanted to talk.
Jo’s boss was fielding offers from publishers on her behalf. Suddenly the world wanted to write her story. At some point during all the conversations, interviews and interrogations, Tony had suggested that she should consider going back to college—anywhere but here, of course. Maybe she would.
She stepped out onto the porch and inhaled a deep breath of fresh air. This was the first day of a new beginning. Last night she had promised herself that she was never looking back after what she had to do today.
But today there was one final, very important matter she needed to take care of. She was going to Atlanta to see Carrie Cole’s mother. She was still alive. Tony’s friend at the Bureau had looked her up for Jo. After the disappearance of her daughter eighteen years ago Mrs. Cole had gone back to school, gotten her degree and was now a social worker who specialized in helping troubled teens. Jo had called and made an appointment to meet with her at one o’clock this afternoon.
Jo wanted the story of Carrie’s final days to come from her before it ended up on the news. All involved had promised to keep Carrie’s name from the press until after Jo spoke to Mrs. Cole personally. They would follow up with her tomorrow morning to verify that it was okay to proceed with the press release.
Mrs. Cole deserved to know that her daughter had sacrificed herself for Jo and Ellen. Jo had thought about that fourteenth day many times and Carrie had been far stronger than Ellen. Even physically ill, she could have stopped her but she had known that one of them had to die. Rather than fight, she had surrendered herself to save Jo and Ellen.
Jo tossed her bag into her Celica and walked around to the driver’s side.
The sound of a car pulling into the parking area drew her attention toward it. The BMW came to a stop and Tony climbed out. She couldn’t have slowed the smile that stretched across her lips if she’d tried. She was glad he’d come. No matter that he’d insisted on taking her to dinner last night so hardly a dozen hours had passed since she’d seen him, she was glad to see him now.
“I was thinking you could use a driver and some company on the trip to Atlanta.” He reached around her and closed her car door. “I spoke to the innkeeper and he said you could leave your car here. Come on.” His hand slid down her arm to grasp hers. “You don’t need to do this alone.”
At a loss for words yet again, Jo entwined her fingers with his and nodded. “Tiffany and her folks are doing okay this morning?”
He opened the passenger side door of his car. “They’re doing great. They’ll be going home on Friday.”
“I’m really glad to hear that.”
As she climbed in, he said, “I accepted a new assignment from the Bureau.”
“Hey, that’s great.” Jo was happy for him. While she’d been confessing her deepest, darkest secrets, he’d shared a few of his own. They had a lot in common.
He rounded the hood and climbed into the driver’s seat. When he’d backed onto the street, he turned to her. “The new assignment is in Birmingham, Alabama. If you’re ever up that way, maybe we can have lunch.”
Jo smiled. “Birmingham isn’t that far from Atlanta. I was considering a university there. My brother thinks I can get a scholarship.”
“Easy commute,” he agreed. “We’ll practically be neighbors.”
She laughed and the true happiness in the sound was so foreign it startled her for a moment. Eighteen years was a long time to stay silent. No more secrets for her. No more hiding. No more allowing life to pass her by.
Time to live.
*