It looks as if ‘just in case’ is finally here. So you can have that. Also, I’m sorry to say, it was me who arranged everything with the prostitute, the photographer, the bartender to spike your drinks. Luckily, I too, kept records. Just in case.”
I could feel my chest fill with a sense of victory. “So, Lillian, you owe it to me to help prove to Sapphire I was set up with that woman.”
“I’ll do you one better. I kept her number. Her name is Rachel and she actually doesn’t live too far from here. I happened to know she’s no longer employed in that field. She found Jesus, became clean, and studied to become a hairdresser.”
My eyebrows rose. “You kept in touch?”
“Actually, no. I just happened to run into her one day at Target. She remembered me immediately. I have her number if you’d like it.”
“I would.”
Lillian read her phone number out to me and I keyed it into my cellphone.
“Call her. I’m pretty certain she would be more than willing to tell her side of the story to Sapphire. And if you need me to go meet Sapphire myself, I will too. Tell you what. Let me talk to Rachel later tonight and see if I can get her to agree to come along with me to see her. It’s the least we can do to right the wrongs we did to you.”
“I would really appreciate that, Lillian.”
I said my goodbyes and headed back to the city. That night, I could barely sleep as I thought about all the information I had uncovered.
The next morning,even before I’d had breakfast, Lillian called.
“Rachel agreed to come with us. I told her we would pick her up if that’s okay with you.”
“That’s fine by me. When would be a good time?” I’d have driven to the ends of the earth to pick Rachel up if it would help Sapphire to see the truth.
“Anytime this morning would be fine.”
A couple of hours later, we pulled into the parking lot of an apartment complex. I waited while Lillian went upstairs to find Rachel’s apartment. A few minutes later she came back, accompanied by the woman I presumed was in the photo. Hard to tell as I’d only seen her profile and she had changed her hair color and style, and she had all her clothes on. She smiled gently and gave me her outstretched hand.
“You’re even more handsome awake.”
I didn’t feel very handsome. “Thanks for agreeing to help me clear up this confusion, Rachel.”
She shrugged. “I helped to cause it. It’s wonderful whenever I am given the opportunity to set my terrible past right.”
The conversation was casual as we made the ninety-minute drive back to the city, but I felt as if my guts were tied up in knots. I didn’t call ahead to tell Sapphire I was coming, as I didn’t want to spook her, but I knew she was always in on Saturday mornings. I saw her car was in its usual parking spot, as I turned off the ignition.
“It’s showtime, ladies.”
They nodded and we entered the building. We walked up the short flight of stairs and knocked on Sapphire’s door. I heard the latch being drawn back. Then the door swung open and there she was, the love of my life. That soccer ball to the gut feeling was back. I felt as though I was drowning in her beautiful eyes. Fucking hell! Swallowing hard, I stepped to the side.
“These ladies have something they’d like to tell you, Sapphire.”