Free Deadly Image by Tamelia Tumlin Page B

sleep.” Victoria, leaning over the chaise lounge, patted her daughter’s hand. “You must have dozed off. I would have let you sleep – Lord knows you certainly need it – but, you were moaning so, it worried me.”
    Lexi sat up and stifled a yawn. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to fall asleep.”
    “Hon, don’t apologize. You need to rest.” Victoria sat down on the edge of the lounger. “You were having that dream again, weren’t you?”
    Lexi nodded. “I haven’t had it in months, but when I do it’s almost always the same. I’m in a burning building and can’t get out until someone rescues me. This time I think it was Anna in the fire too and I couldn’t save her. You don’t think it means anything do you? Like I might not be able to save my baby, after all?” Her voice caught on the last sentence.
    Victoria shifted uncomfortably. “I’m sure it was triggered by stress, hon. It doesn’t mean a thing.”
    “I don’t understand why I keep having this nightmare.” Lexi shook her head. “I’ve had it all my life. Even when I was little. I remember waking up screaming for you or Dad on so many nights.”
    “Kids have nightmares. It’s not unheard of.”
    “The same one over and over again? There must be a reason.”
    Something flickered in Victoria’s eyes, then it was gone. “It’s just a nightmare, Lexi. Some people dream of tornados or monsters or even falling. You dream of fires. I wouldn’t put much stock into it.”
    “I suppose.” Lexi shrugged. “Maybe it’s just my pyrophobia manifesting itself in my dreams. Gives me the heebie jeebies though.”
    “Everyone is afraid of something. It’s nothing to worry about.”
    “Mom? What are you afraid of?”
    Victoria hesitated a moment, then patted Lexi on the knee. “Losing you and losing Anna.”
    The fact they may have both already lost Anna draped in the air between them. The momentary silence magnified the reality of the situation before Lexi finally managed a small, “You’re not going to lose me.”
    “I certainly hope not.” Victoria gave her a tight smile. “Speaking of which, you are still taking your meds, aren’t you?”
    “Of course.”
    “Good girl.” Victoria stood. “It’s getting late. Let’s go see about fixing these boys something to eat. They’ve been here all day and I don’t think that sandwich they had at lunch will suffice much longer. Besides, I probably need to make amends for snapping at them earlier this week. I know they were only doing their job, but I didn’t care for the way they were grilling you.”
    “I suppose they have to rule me out before they can find Anna’s abductor.”
    “Well, I could have saved them the trouble. You would never hurt a hair on that baby’s head.” Victoria harrumphed indignantly. “And the sooner they realize it, the better.”
    * * *
     
    Ace pulled into Lexi’s drive at a quarter to seven and killed the engine.
    Finally. Some good news for a change, or at least some bittersweet news.
    Bertha had corroborated James’ story about Lexi being at the hardware store the day Anna disappeared. Now, at least, they had another eyewitness that could put Lexi somewhere besides the burger joint with Anna. Not that it explained how she was also caught on Bill’s surveillance video at nearly the same time, but it did make him feel better about Lexi’s possible innocence.
    However, it seemed there were only two plausible explanations about Lexi’s involvement and neither one thrilled Ace. Either Bertha was lying to cover for Lexi – and he really hoped she wasn’t – or else someone was setting Lexi up. If the latter, then Anna could be in grave danger – if she weren’t already dead.
    Ace opened the car door only a moment before his heart slammed to a halt in his chest as a third chilling possibility hit him. What if Lexi was guilty and she wasn’t working alone? What if someone had used a disguise in Bill’s Best Burgers to throw them off while Lexi was