Chapter 13: The Back Stairs

Joanna's POV

We were back at Bridget's by noon.

I put the Ledger in my tote bag and zipped it, and I did not set the bag down once.

Bridget had come home from the ER with Toby, who had a cleared X-ray and a bag of takeout noodles.

Nobody ate.

At one o'clock Ethan went to the window and stayed there.

"A black sedan has been parked across the street since we got here," he said. "Nobody has gotten out of it."

"Nordin cars are black," Toby said from the couch. "Mom hates any other color."

Bridget's trash chute is on the back stairs, and the bin was full.

"I'll take it down," I said.

"We'll take it down," Ethan said.

He came behind me with his hand not quite on my back.

The back stairwell was concrete and painted gray, with a fire door at each landing.

It smelled of bleach and old rain.

We were halfway down to the second floor when the door below us opened.

Inez stepped onto the landing in her cream cardigan and her pearls, with her purse on her arm.

She smiled up at me, warm and easy.

"Joanna, dear. There you are."

Ethan moved one step down, so he was in front of me.

"Mrs. Nordin, I'd ask you to leave the building."

"You're the paramedic." She looked him over. "I'd like a word with my daughter-in-law. Alone, if you don't mind."

"I do mind."

"Of course you do." She said it kindly.

Behind her the door swung open again, and Tristram came onto the landing.

His tie was pulled loose.

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