Obsession by Debra Webb Read Free Book Online

people scattered in conversational clusters around the hall and didn’t appear to register Jess’s approach. Jess poured a little more punch into her cup and turned back to the crowd. She paused for three beats.
    “The service was very moving.” She had missed the first fifteen minutes. Dan hadn’t been happy but appearance was an important element in investigative methodology. Jess was glad she’d chosen the conservative white dress. A plain sheath with no embellishments, neckline practically at her throat and the hem all the way to her knees. Not a soul would recognize that she hadn’t graced the pew of a church since she was twelve except the time she’d interviewed a priest related to a case.
    “It was.” The faint sound of the woman’s voice was nearly lost in the hum of conversation.
    Jess shifted the cup to her left hand and stuck out her right. “I’m Jess Harris.”
    Lorraine stared at Jess’s hand before taking it, her movements stiff. Her hand was like ice, the contact brief. “Lorraine Parsons.”
    “Oh.” Jess put a hand to her chest. “Mrs. Parsons, I’m so sorry that you’re going through this awful time. Bless your heart.” That phrase she’d thrown in on purpose.
    Lorraine wrapped her slight arms around her thin body. “It’s a nightmare.” She shook her head. “I can’t believe Reanne would do something like this.”
    The revelation sent a little shockwave through Jess. “You believe she ran away from home?”
    Reanne was the only one not in college. She worked at a sandwich shop in Tuscaloosa near the University of Alabama. Detectives Wells and Harper had learned the young woman had a few secrets of her own, like the tattoo her parents didn’t know about. Friends were always happy to tell those little secrets. The power of knowledge rarely failed to make an appearance in situations like this. Everyone wanted to be the hero or the star if only for a moment by passing along some previously unknown information. The broader the interview list and the more questions asked, the more likely that single piece of relevant information would be discovered.
    “Did her boyfriend talk her into running off? I swear.” Jess shook her head. “Kids these days.”
    “No…I meant that she allowed herself to get in this position.” Lorraine stared at her, the abrupt retraction of her words telling. “My daughter didn’t have a boyfriend.”
    Didn’t? “My goodness,” Jess offered, “I’m sorry. I just assumed she did. She’s so pretty and all. And Lord knows young girls these days usually have plenty of boys chasing after them whether they’re looking for a boyfriend or not.”
    Lorraine looked away. “Not our Reanne. She’s too immature for a relationship like that. She’s not ready.”
    Says who? The woman was deep, deep in denial. A denial that had likely started around the same time her little girl blossomed into a young woman. Too bad for both mother and daughter. Mother also thought daughter had run away from home, it seemed, but clearly hadn’t meant to say as much.
    “More parents should tell their kids how important it is to wait until they’re ready for such a commitment,” Jess agreed. “Everything happens so fast and with cell phones and such, it’s nearly impossible for parents to keep up with what’s going on in their kids’ lives.”
    “We don’t use cell phones. Or computers. They’re the devil’s tools.”
    Jess had decided that herself, at least where cell phones were concerned. She had a feeling Reanne’s tattoo was only the tip of the iceberg as far as what Lorraine didn’t know. “It sounds like you’ve set a good example for your daughter. I’m sure she’ll come home soon. Her father is probably beside himself with worry. I just can’t imagine.”
    If Jess hadn’t been looking directly at Lorraine she would have missed the vague nod.
    “He feels guilty. He’s sick with it. Between losing the house and now this.” She shook her head.