Chapter 2

A flicker of panic crossed her eyes.

She quickly reached out and clamped down on my wrist.

"No! Baby doesn't want to blow this up into a big deal!"

"If that jerk finds out Baby called the cops, he'll definitely beat me half to death when Baby gets back!"

"Baby just wants Carolyn to help me get a divorce. I don't want to make a big thing of it. Baby's best friend in the whole world will help her, right?"

She wasn't afraid her husband would beat her to death.

She just wanted to use the divorce to provoke her husband.

That way she could get an apology out of Jason, and the two of them could reconcile.

And me, the so-called best friend she kept talking about?

I was just a bit of seasoning to spice up their relationship.

I didn't want to be that sucker anymore. Let them both have a miserable time of it for the rest of their lives.

I pretended to feel terribly sorry for Nellie.

"He did this to you, and you don't want him punished?"

"Nellie, don't tell me you still can't bear to let him go?"

I paused for a few seconds, then set down my phone.

"If that's how it is, there's nothing I can do for you."

"I've got things to take care of here. If there's nothing else, please leave."

Nellie got so worked up she shed a few more tears.

"Carolyn, you can help Baby get a divorce! You can help Baby, you can even take Baby home and look after her!"

"Jason kicked Baby out, and now she's covered in bruises and doesn't have a cent, with nowhere to go! Only you can help her!"

"You were always willing to help Baby before, so why are you refusing Baby this time?"

Before?

By all rights, I hadn't been in contact with her for years now.

She couldn't be talking about our past life, could she?

Was it possible she'd been reborn too?

Was she trying to make me the seasoning in their relationship all over again?

I didn't want to get tangled up with her again.

"Nellie, ever since you cut me off for your husband's sake, we haven't spoken in three years."

"Things are fine the way they are now. I do my lawyer work, you enjoy your happy married life, and we leave each other alone."

"No, no, no!" Nellie scrambled to explain. "Baby was wrong, Baby was in the wrong before!"

"Carolyn, just take Baby back with you. Baby will behave and won't cause any trouble. Once you help Baby get the divorce, Baby will leave."

Wanting to come freeload off me again?

I called out toward the door.

"Tania, call 911 for me. Tell them someone's been assaulted and had their money stolen and needs help."

Nellie tried to stop me, but the call had already gone through.

She turned her head and glared at me with a look full of resentment.

"Carolyn! How could you do this!"

"I already told you Baby doesn't need the police! Baby just wants a divorce!"

"Aren't you a lawyer? Getting Baby a divorce can't be hard for you! Why won't you help Baby?"