Page 4 of One Bad Idea

Unfortunately, I hadn't been home at the time, so she'd left a message – a very scary message.

In a hushed tone, she'd practically begged me to drive down here and pick her up.

Even under normal circumstances, I would've been worried. But this situation was anything but normal. She'd been calling from Florida while I'd been ten hours north in Nashville, where both of us had been living until Cassidy's sudden move just last week.

Even at the time, I knew she'd been making a terrible mistake, moving in with the monster she called her mom. I'd told her so, too – not that she'd listened.

But that wasn't important, not anymore. Now, I just wanted to find her safe and sound.

Into the phone, I said, "Who is this, anyway?"

Sounding snippier than ever, the stranger replied, "Gee, I don't know. Who are you?"

Who was I?I felt my fingers clench. I was the chick who was going to slap her silly if she didn't give me some answers, and fast. My friend was in trouble, and I was wasting precious time on this stupid guessing game.

Unfortunately, I wasn't within slapping distance, and if I pushed too hard, she'd probably just hang up and refuse to answer when I called back.

In the nicest voice I could muster, I said, "I'm a friend of Cassidy's."

She gave a mean little laugh. "Cassidy who?"

Oh, for God's sake."Listen, I've had enough of the games. She called me last night, fromyournumber, begging me for a ride."

"Oh, please. She didn't sound like she was begging to me."

My breath caught. "So you were there when she called?"

"Maybe."

"So…?" I prompted.

"So…what?"

Through gritted teeth, I replied, "So, where was she?"

"At a party – not that she was invited."

I paused.So Cassidy had crashed a party?That didn't sound like her at all. I asked, "Are you sure?"

"Of course I'm sure. It was totally rude."

I'd known Cassidy for years. She was polite to a fault, usually to her own detriment. Trying to keep my temper in check, I said, "Okaaaaay. When was the last time you saw her?"

"I dunno."

By now, I was gripping my phone so tightly, it was a wonder it didn't snap in half. I took a deep, calming breath and said, "Was it today?"

"Hardly."

"So, it was last night."

"Maybe."

I took that as a yes. "When you saw her, what was she doing?"

"Aside from usingmyphone?"

"Yes," I gritted out. "Aside from that."