Chapter 9: Day Forty-Seven

Libby's POV

My lawyer's text came in at seven that Thursday morning.

It said: Colorado is a one-party consent state. Record every conversation you have with anyone connected to this case, starting today. Anyone.

I read it on the edge of the bed with Charlie eating and my heartbeat in my ears.

I thought of the clicking on the phone, soft and quick, under Taryn's crying.

I thought of the fingers on her phone in the rocker, writing up my sleep.

Somebody should keep track.

I told myself it was nothing, that anyone would type notes for a friend who couldn't remember her own phone number.

Then I opened the voice recorder on my phone anyway.

It sat on the desk behind a pile of baby wipes and a hotel notepad, with the screen turned down.

The red dot was running when someone knocked on the door.

Nate stood in the hallway with Taryn beside him and the white paper bag in her hand.

He was standing very straight, and he didn't look at the bag in her hand.

"Your friend was at the desk," he said.

"Hi, honey." Taryn kissed my cheek. "I couldn't sleep, so I got here early. I brought the good cream cheese."

"Thanks for coming."

Nate looked at me a half second longer than he needed to.

"I'll be at the end of the hall if you need anything," he said. "Fire door inspection."

"Again?"

"It's a very important fire door."