Free Dangerous Memories by Angi Morgan Page B

You’re just telling me now?” She watched him return to driving the car. “Your timing needs a lot ofwork.”
    “Yeah, I know.”
    “You’re not going to tell me anything else though. Are you?” Did she see a moment of sadness cross his expression before he shook his head?
    “I will. I just don’t think it’s a good idea before you remember.”
    “And if I never do?”
    “You already are, Jolene. You ready to do this?”
    They were parked in front of the house.
    “No, but that doesn’tmatter, does it?”
    She got out without looking at him again. If she saw one second of remorse or hesitation, she’d tell him to take her back to the hotel.
    A variety of roses were planted on either side of the walk and house. A virtual rainbow of colors side by side. Rainbows. She couldn’t take another step. Levi had a hand at her back, gently encouraging her with a slight pressure tomove forward.
    “You can do this, Jo. I’m right here. We’re just going to knock on the door. Okay?”
    She must have nodded her head. They moved. He knocked. He talked, showed his badge. They moved.
    One little step at a time. That’s all she could accomplish. She stared at her feet. Actually being here was a lot harder than she’d anticipated. Much harder to look up and not recognize anythingexcept the stair rail.
    Nails. Rainbows. Blood.
    “Mama.”

Chapter Seven
    “Hey, hon, do you need to sit? You’re sort of swaying on your feet.” The bleached blonde, gum-smacking Mrs. Colter stuck a glass of water as far away from herself as possible. Nowhere near Jolene.
    Levi waved off the drink and trapped Jo’s waist tighter to his side—if that were possible.
    “I’m fine.” Jolene pushed at his hands.
    The moment was gone. Shestood straight and looked at him as if he were the one in a trance or about to faint.
    “You sure you’re okay?” He released his life-saving grip, skimming his hand down the side of her cool arm and latching onto her ice-cold fingers. “You were kind of sleepwalking for a minute.”
    “So you’re a real psychic? You didn’t see a ghost or anything, did you?” Mrs. Colter asked.
    “No, nothinglike that. I’m sorry, were we introduced?”
    Jo seemed fine answering. Like nothing had happened. Did she have a clue she’d been talking out loud? Nails. Rainbows. Blood. She seemed to have remembered something the moment she stepped onto the sidewalk. He’d have to wait to find out exactly what, since the new owner of the house was completely enthralled with their cover story about trying tosolve a twenty-year-old murder.
    “Oh, I’m Sadie Colter and I’ve been hoping to see a ghost in this house since the night I moved in fourteen years ago, you know? No luck for me though.”
    “You sure you’re okay?” he asked after seeing how colorless Jo’s cheeks were.
    She completely ignored him, took the water and politely shook Mrs. Colter’s hand. “Annabel Drummond. Thank you for allowingme in your home today. As I told the marshal, I’ve been having dreams about the unsolved crime that took place here.”
    “You mean the triple homicide?” the older woman asked. “Or the other thing?”
    Don’t fall apart, Jo.
    She threw her shoulders back. “Could you tell us what you know about both?”
    Asked like a pro.
    “Sure, come on into the living room,” Mrs. Colter said and ledthe way.
    Levi leaned close to Jo and whispered, “You’re doing great.” His praise was met with a look that told him just what he could do with it.
    “You know, I’m not exactly sure what I expected a psychic to be like, but you aren’t exactly what I had pictured.” Mrs. Colter laughed, nervously smoothing her tight red pants that matched her brightly painted toes.
    “Lots of people saythat.” Jo sat on the edge of a denim-covered chair, one of the few places free of cat fur.
    Standing was a better option for him. He didn’t need to watch the conversation, and observing the street traffic or anything unusual was a