Page 76 of Ride the Lightning
“Scoot closer,” Jonah whispered.
“I don’t want to jostle you,” Avery said, sliding into Jonah’s open arms.
Jonah melted into Avery’s warmth and kissed the top of his head. All was right in his world again.
Avery didn’t respond, only cuddled closer.
In the morning, Jonah woke up with a hard-on, a sense of purpose, and an empty bed. He started to believe he’d dreamed Avery’s late-night visit until Jonah saw the impression in the middle of the pillow he’d used.
Jonah ran his fingers over it, then brought the pillow to his head to breathe in Avery’s shampoo. Jonah’s sense of purpose grew stronger as did his determination to make peace with his past.
He’d need some allies since he wasn’t allowed to drive.
“Good morning, baby. You’re looking much better this morning,” Marla said when Jonah came downstairs fully dressed for the first time in days. She raked her eyes over him from head to toe. “Might it have something to do with your late-night visitor?”
“Did Kendall tell you?”
Marla snorted. “Honey, you know I’m a night owl. I watched the entire thing. I sent Amos out there to spot the silly fool and to catch him if he lost his footing.” She shook her head in disbelief.
“Amos is a good man,” Jonah said. He’d enjoyed getting to know Marla’s husband better over the past week.
Marla nodded. “He’s the best.” She scrutinized Jonah’s face some more. “You look determined. You weren’t thinking about driving off someplace, were you?”
“Ellie is on her way to pick me up. I’m taking your advice and resolving my demons.”Trying to anyway. Jonah gestured to Marla’s plum purple ballgown with a plunging neckline and strappy silver heels, which made her nearly as tall as him. “What exactly is thevibeyou’re trying to establish this morning? Are you entering a beauty pageant?”
Placing her slender hand on her throat, Marla tilted her head back and laughed. “Oh, honey,” she said, daintily rubbing a knuckle beneath her artfully painted eyes to brush away mirthful tears. “It wouldn’t be fair to the others if I did.”
“Too true.”
“Where are you and Miss Ellie heading off to so early?”
“Bonaventure Cemetery,” Jonah said. “We want to get there before the guided tour groups start.”
Marla arched an elegant brow. “Please tell me your activities won’t involve voodoo or resurrecting actual demons.”
“Not today,” Jonah quipped.
Bonaventure Cemetery was the burial place of several famous and infamous people from military generals to the award-winning lyricist Johnny Mercer. The bookMidnight in the Garden of Good and Evilmade the serene resting place a hot spot for tourists when the cemetery’s famed Bird Girl statue appeared on the cover.
Jonah was only interested in visiting two of the cemetery’s residents—his grandparents. Their grave markers weren’t as macabre as the grim reaper statue that drew so much attention, nor were they thought provoking like the angels tucked in among the Spanish moss-draped live oaks, or as austere as some of the crypts belonging to some of Savannah’s wealthiest families.
He shared a cup of coffee with Marla on the porch while waiting for Ellie to arrive. Jonah stood and kissed Marla’s cheek when his aunt pulled into his driveway.
“Watch out for ghosts,” Marla called out as he walked away.
Jonah waved to acknowledge her advice, although he was more concerned with the specters haunting his soul than some ethereal beings traipsing through the cemetery.
“You look so much better today,” Ellie remarked when he got in the car.
“I feel better,” Jonah admitted.
“Good,” Ellie said. “Now that you do, we need to discuss the Earl Ison investigation.”
“I’m not backing down.”
His aunt scoffed. “You think I don’t already know that? Quitting isn’t in your DNA.”
Jonah carefully turned and looked at her since sharp movement still triggered debilitating headaches. Ellie kept her eyes on the road, but Jonah could tell by her stiff posture that she was worried about him.