Chapter Nine: The Phone Call

"Rollins, about time you got here! What took you so long?"

It was 8am Saturday morning when Ted Rollins walked into the garage of the New York State Police Department in Albany, New York. Porscha McCoy, a member of the police's forensics team, was already there, waiting for him along with two other forensic investigators.

Rollins shrugged. "Didn't come home until nearly seven this morning, Porsch. It's a long drive from East Aurora to Albany. I didn't even have time to kiss my wife goodbye when she went off to work."

Porscha sighed dramatically. "Oh, the perils of being a police officer," she joked.

Rollins nodded, chuckling. "Don't I know it. So, you've been waiting for me, right? What have we got?"

Porscha cleared her throat. "Well, the vehicle the deceased was discovered on just came in about two hours ago. We had to get clearance from the owner and the major to dust it for prints. But it's here, ready for dusting. It's right over here."

She lead Rollins down the long garage until they reached the car, a small white Dodge.

"Here it is," Porscha announced, pointing it to him.

"Well, no time like the present. Let's get started," Rollins ordered his team.

Together, Rollins, Porscha, and the other forensic investigators began dusting the roof of the trunk that had Lee's DNA on it.

Rollins stared closely at the trunk of the car, holding his hands over two sets of prints. He then moved his hands to the outside of the prints so he wouldn't smear them and put his hands on the car.

He furrowed his eyebrows together in concentration as he brought his face exactly one inch away from the trunk.

What's that there? He thought. He spotted a drop of blood on the car. Looks very different from the blood splatter on the rest of the car.

"Hey, Porscha…come get a look at this," he said to her.

"What is it?" Porscha questioned, coming over to him.

"What's that?" Rollins asked, pointing at the spot of blood on the car.

Porscha pursed her lips. "I'm not sure but I would assume it's blood. Looks like blood to me."

"Well then whose?" Rollins asked.

"Maybe the victim's, I guess."

"You guess?"

Porscha didn't answer.

Rollins reached into his back pocket and took out a Sharpie. He drew a circle around the spot of blood and the black smudge that had been dusted.

Something's off, he thought as he stepped back and examined.

I can't be sure but this car needs to be examined further. I have a hunch but I have to be sure.

Blair stepped out of the bathroom in a lavender bikini and made her way outside the motel's swimming pool. She sighed as she took a last look at Jo who was sitting by the phone near her bed.

Guess she has a plan then, Blair thought. She shrugged and continued on.

She sat in a lounge chair, slathered on sunscreen, grabbed her reflector and laid down to sunbathe.

This is my vacation, this is my vacation, she thought to herself. If I keep thinking that, this whole thing won't be so bad. Don't think about what's actually going on.

She arranged herself in her lounge chair, desperately trying to make herself feel more like a vacationer and less like a fugitive.

Jo dialed her home phone number, silently praying her husband Rick would finally answer the phone. Jo was still upset with him but she was desperate and she knew Rick was her only hope at getting any kind of help. She was not going to bring her family or her other friends or Blair's family into this situation.

She crossed her fingers, hoping he would pick up the phone.

"Hello?" A voice asked. It was Rick.

Jo put a hand over her mouth, already starting to feel choked up. Thank God! She thought.

"Rick?" Jo asked. "That you?"

"Jo? Honey…of course it's me! Are you OK? Where are you?"

"Yeah…it's me. I'm alright. Long time no see," she said dryly, trying to hit home how upset she had been with barely seeing him. "So…How ya been?" She asked awkwardly.

"I'm fine. Um…Jo, where are you? You sound funny," Rick asked.

Jo caught a glimpse of herself in the room's mirror. She had scraggly-looking hair and bags under her eyes.

"I'm funny, alright. A real funny sight," she replied, more so to herself than to Rick.

"Are you in town, Jo? This call sounds long distance," Rick said.

"No, Rick. I'm out of town. But I'm in some real deep shit. I'm in Deep Shit, New York."

"Jo, you're really starting to freak me out! I get a call from my manager Ron that you called from home but when he calls you back, there's no answer! I called Beverly Ann, Tootie, and Natalie and none of them knows where you are, either! Nobody knows where the hell you are!"

He blew out a breath. "Is Blair there with you?" He asked. "Casey's been blowing a gasket saying he's gonna kill you both when you get back. He keeps calling here every half-hour. And he's been going nuts. And I don't envy her if she is with you."

Jo felt a twinge of guilt at worrying everyone back home.

But it's for the best, she thought, trying to reassure herself. I can't go home and bring everyone into this mess. I just can't.

She started to feel herself start to get all choked up again. This is all my fault! I even brought Blair into it!

"Where did you guys go?" Rick asked, breaking Jo out of her thoughts.

"Fishin'," Jo lied. She figured it was time to cut to the chase and explain why she was really calling. "Look, Rick…I'm in trouble. I need ya to help me. This is serious. Can ya do that?"

"Uh…yeah…sure," Rick said, shocked at the deathly serious tone of his wife's voice. "Whatever you need, hon. Just tell me where you are."

Jo took a deep breath, willing herself not to start crying. She held the mouthpiece of the phone closer to her mouth. "Look, I have a savings account with seven grand in it. Now, I know ya won't be able to get it out but I really need that money. Can ya wire me the money and I'll give it back. Please, Rick? I'm desperate."

"Jo, would you please tell me what the fuck is going on?!" Rick begged, alarmed.

Why is she being so fucking evasive? Rick wondered.

"Something bad has happened, Rick. Something pretty bad. I can't tell ya what but just know that it's bad and I did it and I can't undo it. That's all ya need to know. If ya ever speak to my folks, Blair's folks, Beverly Ann and the others, just tell 'em where we went and we're OK. We're fine. Got it?"

"But I don't know where you went!"

"Rick! Can ya help me? Yes or no!" Jo demanded.

"Yes! Yeah! I can help! Can I bring it to you? For heaven's sake, babe, can't you tell me what's happening? Is it so bad you can't tell me? What could it be that's so awful?"

Jo sighed. He's not making this easy for me. "I'm sorry, hon. Just answer me this…do ya love me?"

"Wait…what?"

"You heard me. It's a simple question, Rick."

"Of course I do."

Jo felt tears spring to her eyes when she heard it. Tears of happiness or tears of disappointment? She wasn't sure.

Rick just professed his love for Jo over the phone and she was questioning how she was feeling. Should I feel happy?

No time to figure it out. I got enough on my plate.

"Wire it to me at the Western Union in Oklahoma City," she told him, nervously fiddling with her wedding ring.

"Wait…you're in Oklahoma?!" Rick asked in surprise.

"No. Not yet," Jo admitted.

"Jo, let me call you back after I wire it so you'll know what office to go to," Rick said.

Jo frowned. "Can't it go to any office?" She asked, furrowing her eyebrows.

"No. For that much money, I have to tell them exactly which office. I know because I've had money wired to me on the road before. And there has to be a code word or else they won't give it to you. We need a code word."

Jo sighed tiredly. "Alright. Give me a code word," she said. This seems a bit much just to get some wired money but whatever. She rolled her eyes in annoyance.

"Call me back," Rick replied.

Jo rolled her eyes again.. "OK. I'll call ya back. And remember…don't tell Casey or the others."

"I won't. I love you, Jo."

Jo hated mushiness. She made a face. "Sure, Rick," she replied. She quickly hung up the phone.

So glad that's over! She thought in relief. Now it's time to get Blair so we can get outta here!

She gathered all of her and Blair's belongings and brought them to her car.

She haphazardly tossed everything into the backseat and jumped into the front, turning on the ignition of the car and driving away. She spotted Blair sunbathing by the pool so she pulled over, honking her horn.

"Blair! C'mon! Let's go!" She shouted.

Blair jumped up from her lounge chair, turning to see Jo already in the car. She immediately grabbed her sundress and picked up her shoes, running out to meet Jo. She jumped over the passenger door, into the car.

"Did you finish thinking?" Blair asked curiously.

Jo shrugged, slipping on a pair of shades. "Meh. I think much better when I drive," she said as she peeled out of the parking lot.