Page 49 of Smoldering Nights
"Busy," she replied."Travis has been...well, he's not around much lately.Always out late.Says it's work."
Izzy bit her lip."He’s still doing the security stuff?"
"Yeah.Sort of."She sighed heavily." I don't know.He's vague.Says he's meeting with clients, but when I ask who or where, he gets defensive.Tells me to stay out of his business."
Izzy took a breath."I changed the locks at the shop today."
Sadie’s tone sharpened."Something happen?"
"Yeah.Someone was back inside.Took my pruning shears again.Moved things around.And there was a surprise delivery I didn’t order."
Sadie was quiet for a moment."God, Izzy.That’s awful.Are you okay?"
"I'm rattled.But Mitch and Jayson are on it.Mitch thinks we’re getting close."
"Do you know who it is?"Sadie asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
Izzy hesitated."We have suspicions, but nothing concrete."
"I’ve been thinking about this a lot.I've been wondering if it was Travis," Sadie admitted."He comes home smelling like smoke sometimes.Not like cigarettes, like...something chemical.And he’s so tense.Distant.And the nights you've had issues, he's been out.And, Izzy, I keep wondering if there's someone else in his life."
Izzy closed her eyes."Sadie..."She swallowed, not sure how much she should say.But this was her best friend.She wouldn't do anything to hurt her.She took a deep breath and rushed on."Has he ever mentioned Delilah?"
"Delilah Parker?"
"Yes."
Another pause."He said once she wanted his help securing her salon.But lately...I don't know, he hasn't said anything about her or any of his clients.He gets texts he won’t show me.Leaves the room to take calls.He used to leave his phone lying on the counter or coffee table all the time, but now he holds on to it like he'll die without it."She sniffed."But Delilah?"
Izzy closed her eyes."We've seen him on camera going into her salon from the back door.More than once and sometimes at night."
The silence dragged on so long she worried Sadie had hung up."Fucker."
"You don’t deserve that.And admittedly, I don't know what they are doing.It could be work-related."
Sadie gave a broken laugh."I keep telling myself he’s just stressed.But I feel like I’m going crazy trying to justify his behavior.And now I'm going to do a little sleuthing on my own."
"You’re not crazy.But you sure do need to be careful."
"I'll be careful.I've heard rumors about him being a bad boy.I thought they were jealous."
"Who told you he was a bad boy?"
"Different people who've come into the library.Mostly some of the girls we went to high school with, and some of the guys, too.I thought they were just raining on my parade."
Izzy kept her voice soft."I never wanted you to be hurt.I'm sorry I have to be the one to tell you this, and honestly, I hope I'm wrong.I miss you."
Sadie was silent for a long moment.Then, quietly, "I miss you too."
They sat in that shared silence, the fragile bridge between them finally starting to rebuild.
Sadie broke it first."Be careful, Iz.I don’t know what’s going on, but it feels ugly."
"I will.And Sadie...if you ever need anything.Or need out to get out, you know where to find me."
"I know.Thanks."
They said goodbye, and the call ended, but the weight in Izzy’s chest didn’t lift.Not yet.
