Fifteen Days to Divorce novel · Chapter 13 of 24

Chapter 13: Best Picture She Ever Bought

At four in the morning Malachi took his gray jacket off the hook by the door and put it on Portia's shoulders.

"Now it's on you," he said. "Not on the hook."

By ten to six she was at the front window with a cold mug in her hands.

The street was the color of dishwater.

A small white car sat at the far corner with its engine running.

Portia knew the car.

"That's Reese," she said.

Malachi came up behind her and looked over her head.

Reese sat behind the wheel in a trench coat, and she did not get out.

She looked at the house for a long time.

In the hedge by the gate, something small caught the light and went dark.

"Our friend is awake," Malachi said.

At two minutes past six, the white car pulled slowly away from the curb and turned the corner.

Portia let out her breath.

"She didn't come."

"Will she tell Margo?"

"Not yet. She's too scared to say anything to anyone."

Malachi's mouth moved at one corner.

"Then the hedge has been up since four for nothing."

"No," Portia said. "He should get something for his trouble."

She put the mug on the sill.

Malachi looked at her for a moment, and then he understood, and a slow, dangerous grin came over his face.

"Portia."

"It's six o'clock," she said. "Somebody's paying a man to take our picture. Let's make it a good one."

They went out the front door together.

The grass was wet, and she was barefoot, in his shirt and his jacket, with her hair all over the place.

Malachi walked straight down to the hedge.

A camera lens stuck out between two branches, and then a man's face came out behind it, gray with surprise.

"Mr. Branigan. I was just."

"Get her good side," said Malachi.

He said it flat and clean, every word whole.

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