Chapter 13: The Envelope

Jerome's POV

The white car was gone, and the dock still smelled of her perfume.

I had never been to a county burial ground in my life.

A woman I barely knew had just told me I stood at one, alone, and wouldn't give my name to a groundskeeper.

It was nonsense. I told myself so twice.

Hallie was standing beside me with her arms wrapped around herself, in my shirt, with the snow settling in her hair.

"Jerome," she said. "I'll tell you everything. Give me a minute."

"Not yet."

"You heard her."

"I heard a woman who wants you frightened," I said. "I'm not going to ask you anything while she's still on my road."

Joan was staring at both of us with the ham in her arms.

"Take her inside, Joan," I said. "Make her eat something. Keep the door locked."

"Where are you going?" Hallie said.

"To see where Sabrina goes when she thinks nobody's watching."

I took the truck.

She drove carefully on the lake road, ten under the limit, and I stayed four cars back with the wipers going.

She didn't turn toward the city. She turned toward Excelsior, down to the municipal marina, which was closed for the winter.

She pulled in beside a silver Lexus with its engine running.

I knew that car. I had been looking at the back of it, pulling out of my father's driveway, since I was fourteen.

I parked behind a stack of shrink-wrapped boats at the edge of the lot and turned off the engine.

Margaret got out of the Lexus in her camel coat and her pearls, and stood in the falling snow with her back straight.

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