Chapter 4: The Waiting Room

Lakeshore Behavioral Associates was a one-story brick building behind the tire shop on Route 6.

I parked at ten to nine and sat in the car with my hands on the wheel.

Winnie had the kids.

She had also written the address on the back of my hand in ballpoint, in case I changed my mind.

I went in.

The waiting room had eight chairs, a fish tank, and a rack of pamphlets about sleep.

Six people sat in it, and two of them were mine.

Daniel was in the corner chair with his coat on his knee.

Claire sat beside him, holding a thick manila folder against her chest in both arms.

They had been talking with their heads close together.

They looked up at the same moment.

"Laura," Daniel said, and stood.

Claire stood a second later, and the folder slid behind her back.

"What are you doing here?" Claire said, too bright. "Honey, you're supposed to be resting."

"Monday, nine a.m." I held up my phone. "Ames. Bring the file."

"That's not..."

"You said you'd never heard the name."

A man by the fish tank lowered his magazine.

Daniel came toward me with both hands out.

"Not here. Please. Let's go outside and I'll explain every single thing."

"You can explain it here."

"Laura."

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