Dead to Him novel · Chapter 8 of 16

Chapter 8: The Hairbrush

Luca came down two more steps.

"Gio. You think this is Kasia?"

"Test the brush."

"It's eleven at night. The lab in Cranston opens at seven. If I drive it there myself and pay them, maybe twenty-four hours."

"Then drive it there at seven."

We went back to the house together, the three of us.

Luca in the back seat. Giovanni beside him. Me in the middle, where no one could see me.

Nobody said a word the whole way.

The house was dark except for the light over the stove.

Giovanni went up the stairs two at a time.

Our bedroom was his bedroom. I'd slept in the guest room at the end of the hall for most of two years.

He stopped in the hall.

He looked at the guest room door.

Then he opened it.

My bed was made. My gray cardigan hung over the chair.

On the dresser was a wooden bowl I'd carved from a piece of cherry my father gave me.

My hairbrush lay beside it with long brown hairs caught in the bristles.

Giovanni stood in front of the dresser.

He didn't touch anything.

"Luca."

Luca came in with a paper bag and gloves.

He lifted the brush by the handle and dropped it in the bag and folded the top down twice.

"Her toothbrush too," Luca said. "In case."

Giovanni went into the little bathroom and came out with it.

He was holding it with two fingers.

Teresa was standing in the doorway in her robe.

She'd heard us come in.

"Signor Giovanni," she said. "What are you doing with the signora's things?"

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