Chapter 18: The Owner's Daughter

Roz took us all into the back room and locked the door.

She put the bat on the shelf where the napkins went, in plain sight.

Then she stood with her back against the door.

Brent's wife sat on my cot. She would not take the chair.

"Start at the beginning," she said. "Pretend I'm a stranger."

I told her about the clinic and the folder with the blank half.

I told her about the surgery report, and what the line at the bottom said.

She listened without moving, a gray scarf wound twice around her hand.

"Three years," she said when I stopped.

"Three years."

"He sat at my wedding as best man. He held my father's coat."

"I know."

"He told my husband he couldn't have children, and then he talked him into this."

Her voice stayed level, but her knuckles had gone white.

"Did Brent tell you that part?"

"He told me everything, in the booth, this morning. I have the texts."

I held out my phone.

She read Lars's messages slowly. She read the line about Jocelyn getting over it twice.

She gave the phone back with great care.

"Is Brent here?" she asked Nolan.

"Out in the bar. He's been waiting for you since you left the garage."

"Bring him."

Nolan opened the door.

Brent came in slowly and stopped just inside the door.

He held his cap in both hands.

His wife did not stand up.

"Sit," she said. "On the floor, if you'd like. I'm not moving."

He sat on the edge of the chair Roz pushed forward.

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