Chapter 4: Lake Drive

"Say it," I told him. "Go ahead, Alastair. Tell them everything."

He kept smiling.

For one second I wasn't sure he would. Then the board chair cleared his throat, and Alastair's smile came apart at the edges.

"We'll speak later," Alastair said.

"I'm sure we will."

I turned my back on my husband and the thirty people watching and walked down the corridor to my locker.

Ben followed three steps behind, carrying my black wool coat, which Norma had thrown to him.

He did not say a word until we reached the staff exit.

"Where are you going?"

"Home."

"Is it your home?"

"My name is on the deed," I said. "Alastair's name is on the deed. It's both of ours."

"Take Norma's car," he said. "She gave me the keys, and she said if you refuse she'll come out here and do it herself."

I took the keys.

At the door I turned back. Ben was already looking at his phone, giving me room to leave without anyone watching.

"Dr. Almqvist."

"Ben," he said.

"Ben. Thank you for the door."

"It's what doors are for," he said, and went back inside.

The house on Lake Drive was a white colonial with black shutters, and I had picked every inch of it.

The garage code still worked. That made me stand in the driveway for a full minute with the engine off.

Inside, it was quiet and smelled like Alastair's cologne and fresh lilies.

I had not bought lilies.

A blue silk wrap lay across the back of the hall chair, with a long blonde hair on it.

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