Page 90 of Desperate Justice

She had thought so as well. “I got the feeling from what Di said that Lucy found a lover with deeper pockets, like Paul’s uncle. She may be more than Hector’s housekeeper. But she’s still a likely suspect. Lucy was upset at the breakup, from what Di said.”

Rafe texted on his phone. “I’ll have Jase check her out. She may have planned something for the wedding, but heard about the elopement.”

“I have her cell phone number. Swiped it from Di’s phone, just in case.” Allison texted it to him.

“I have some calls to make.” He went outside.

Judging from Rafe’s tension when he returned, the news wasn’t terrific.

“We were able to ping Lucy’s cell phone to a tower in northern Georgia. She’s close by as of a few hours ago.”

Her heart sank as new fear rippled through her. The woman who hated Di the most, who had the most reason to do her harm was here.

And probably after Diana, who was still missing.

They needed to track down this bitch. Allison was certain wherever Lucy was, Di would be as well. She had to cling to hope her sister was still alive.

Rafe’s cell rang. Blood drained from his face as he listened to the call. He hung up.

“Keith and Debbie need your nursing skills. It’s an emergency.”

CHAPTER 21

She and Rafe wove through traffic on his motorcycle. He parked in the back of the hotel and they ran for the elevators.

At room 505, Rafe pounded on the door. “It’s me, Rafe, with Allison.”

The door opened to a sobbing Debbie. Allison rushed inside. “Are you injured? Sick? What’s going on?”

She dumped her pack on the floor. “I’ve got...”

“It’s not me. It’s Comet.”

Then Rafe spotted Keith on the sofa by the window, their dog lying limp in his arms. Relief it wasn’t his friends mingled with deep concern. He knew how much they loved their dog. Comet was more than just a pet. He was a family member.

“I don’t know what happened!” Tears streamed down Debbie’s face. “We went out for lunch and came back and found him like this.”

True to her nature, Allison wasn’t taken aback. She sat next to Keith and gently examined the dog.

“No vomiting or diarrhea?”

“No!”

“I’m not a vet. But...” Allison shook her head. Comet was panting rapidly and drooling. “Looks like some kind of poison. He needs an emergency vet.”

Rafe scrolled through his phone. “I’ve got one. Texting it to you now.”

As Keith dialed, Allison tried to think of what might help the dog. “He’ll probably need oxygen and an IV. I don’t know much about dogs, but he may have ingested something toxic. I’m sorry. I wish I could do more, but the vet should be able to help.”

“We feed him only the best dog food and organic treats and a little people food once in a while,” Debbie said as Keith talked to someone at the animal hospital. “What the hell could he have gotten into?”

Debbie looked around the room. “He was sniffing the teddy bears earlier. He loves playing with stuffed animals. I hid them away last night, but this morning I put them on the bed as a reminder to give them out when we met to ride into town for the photo opp with the bears.”

Rafe had a bad feeling about this. “Which bear?”

Keith pointed to a tan bear near the foot of the bed. “That one. Okay, the vet is open and about fifteen minutes from here. We’re taking him in. Rafe, lock up when you leave.”

As the couple rushed out, Debbie carrying the little dog, his suspicions grew. “Stay back,” he warned Allison.