I Chose a New Life novel · Chapter 12 of 24

Chapter 12: Duffel Bag

Della's POV

Cliff called me at four on Wednesday afternoon from the side of the highway.

I stared at his name on my screen for four rings before I picked up.

"I went to Duluth," he said.

"Why?"

"You said I could be useful."

I sat down on the edge of Rhoda's porch.

"Did you hit him?"

"No."

"Did you want to?"

"Yes."

"Good. Tell me."

He told me in a flat, careful voice, and he didn't skip anything.

I already knew the showroom part from the way his voice dropped, so I waited for the part he had saved.

When he got to the part about the voice recorder in his shirt pocket, I stopped breathing.

"You recorded him."

"Four minutes."

"You have it?"

"It's in my phone and backed up to two places Bennett doesn't know about. I'm bringing it to you."

"You're coming here?"

"If you'll let me stand on the porch."

I closed my eyes.

I was still angry with him.

I was also very tired of being the only person in the story who had to be brave.

"Bring it," I said. "You can stand on the porch."

"Della."

"What?"

"His mother's on her way to Bayfield. I heard her tell the driver. She'll be there before dark."

"Then you'd better hurry."

I hung up.

Rhoda stood in the screen door with a dish towel on her shoulder.

"Was that the dock man?"

"That was Cliff."

"Is he sorry enough yet?"

"Not yet."

"Good. Keep him on the porch."

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