Chapter 19: Benefit for the Burned

Brooke was out of the hospital by evening, and by Saturday she had a lawyer and a benefit.

The invitation came to Miles by courier, on heavy cream card.

Help Rebuild Pier Nine. Hosted by Brooke Tanner. The Harbor Yacht Club, eight o'clock.

"She's throwing a party for the yard she burned," I said.

"She's raising money for it," Miles said. "In my name."

"Can she do that?"

"She can do anything with a nice venue and a mailing list." He tucked the card in his jacket. "We're going."

We went at nine, when the room was full.

It was the ballroom where I had stood beside her in a blue dress.

The same big screen hung at the front.

Two hundred people stood around with champagne.

Brooke stood on the little stage in a white dress with her hair pinned up, thanking donors.

She looked like a woman who had survived a terrible week.

"Brooke," said a voice behind me.

It was Dean, in a suit, with a flat gray folder in his hand.

I stepped back.

"You're not supposed to be here."

"The investigator gave me a copy of the video." He opened it.

"Nobody will believe a statement, but they'll believe their own eyes."

Miles looked at him for a long second.

"Why are you helping?"

"Because I held a gas can for her," Dean said. "I'd like to put it down."

I did not forgive him.

But I took the folder.

Brooke saw us at the back of the room, and her smile stayed fixed while her eyes moved.

"And I want to thank someone very special," she said into the microphone.

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