Got Your Number

senses."
    Gesturing for Angora to follow her, she turned in the direction of the exit and began weaving through the crowd.
    Angora leaned in close. "So we're not going to Sou—"
    "No," Roxann said with a jerk on her arm. "I'm sorry, but we'll have to finish our vacation some other time."
    "But what about Dr. Carl?"
    "Later, Angora."
    Capistrano stayed close at their heels as they tramped through the flattened grass. Fireworks started going off overhead, blue and purple and gold. Another time, she would have slowed to enjoy them. Instead, she just wanted to get on the road as soon as possible. But as they approached the concrete-block building that housed the restrooms, she turned to Capistrano. "Do you mind if we stop here before we hit the road?"
    He suddenly looked weary. "Fine. I'll wait here." He turned his back and leaned against a gate, reaching into his shirt to withdraw a crushed pack of cigarettes.
    Roxann grabbed Angora's elbow, waited to make sure he was occupied, then steered her around the side of the building and across the back through wet weeds.
    "What are you doing?" Angora whispered.
    "Be quiet and walk fast. No way I'm going back to Biloxi with that man."
    Angora squealed. "Oh, this is so exciting!"
    Roxann jogged all the way to the van, then vaulted into the driver's seat and slammed the door. Angora was a few seconds behind her, huffing and puffing.
    "It'll take him at least another five minutes to figure out that we're gone," Roxann said, then flipped on the lights and cranked the engine. Like a faithful servant, Goldie turned over.
    "Will he come after us?"
    "Maybe, maybe not," she said, finding a gear and sending the van lurching forward. "If he has to be in Biloxi tomorrow, he can't spend much time chasing us." She pulled out onto the paved road and nudged the speedometer needle up to the limit. "Angora, I think I should take you back to Baton Rouge."
    "No way, this is just starting to get good." She leaned closer. "Who's Frank Cape? And Melissa?"
    Roxann hesitated. "I don't want to involve you."
    Angora's bottom lip came out. "You don't think I can handle it."
    "I don't want to put you in danger."
    "You think I'm dumb."
    "I don't want to put you in danger."
    She teared up. "Just because I'm not as smart as you, Roxann, doesn't mean I'm stupid."
    "I don't think you're stupid, Angora." Roxann sighed. "Melissa Cape is a woman I helped to relocate away from her ex-husband, Frank."
    The tears evaporated. "And Capistrano wants to send her back?"
    "He wants her to testify against her ex, who shot Capistrano's partner and put him in a coma. Meanwhile, Frank Cape is on my ass because he's trying to find her, too."
    "To prevent her from testifying."
    "Right"
    "Wowee. You're the only one who knows where she is?"
    "Yes."
    "Omigod, this is so much better than my job."
    Roxann glanced in the side mirror, perplexed to see no headlights behind her.
    Capistrano had given up the chase? "The story gets a little more complicated."
    "Okay, but talk slow."
    Roxann counted to three. "I left Biloxi because someone broke into my duplex and typed a threat on my computer screen."
    "So you weren't planning to come to my wedding all along?"
    All roads led back to Angora. "I only received the invitation that day."
    "Oh. Was it the freaky Cape guy who broke into your place?"
    "I thought so, but just now when he confronted me at the carnival—"
    "He was here? Did he hurt you?"
    She shook her head. "He was only trying to scare me. Capistrano got there before anything happened."
    "So Joe saved your life?"
    "I wouldn't go that far."
    "He's really dreamy."
    "Can I finish?"
    "Well, he is."
    " Anyway , when I accused Cape of breaking into my place, he denied it."
    "So he lied."
    "No, he truly seemed surprised."
    "But who else could have done it?"
    "Well, there are other ex-husbands, I suppose, who might have found out where I live, but that would take some doing. Cape is a PI, so he has resources."
    "What did the message say?"
    Roxann exhaled. "It said, 'I've got your number, you fake.'"
    "What does that mean?"
    "I honestly don't know."
    "It sounds personal."
    "I had a problem with a roommate, so she might have come back."
    "She?"
    "Elise James—she was a grad student at Notre Dame when we were freshmen, but I didn't know her then. Did you?"
    Angora squinted. "I...don't believe so."
    "The Rescue program paired us up when I moved to Biloxi."
    "What kind of problem did you have with her?"
    Roxann sighed. "It's personal."
    "Ooh,