He Held Her at the Concert novel · Chapter 7 of 24

Chapter 7: The Diner Hears

Declan put his cap back on and slid off the stool.

"Back door?" he said.

"Through the kitchen. Maggie will give you a bag of rolls."

"Good luck."

"I don't need luck," I said. "I have the statements."

He looked at me one second longer, then went through the swinging door.

I took the folder from under the register, where I'd put it that morning, and walked out onto the sidewalk.

Patricia saw me and put her handkerchief to her eye.

"There she is," she said to the reporter, who was a woman with a lot of hairspray and a microphone. "My son's wife. Hannah, thank God. We've been so worried."

The cameraman swung toward me.

"Mrs. Mercer," the reporter said. "Your mother-in-law says you left home with a large sum of money and refuse to speak to your husband. Is that true?"

"I left with nine thousand two hundred dollars," I said. "It was mine."

"Hannah, don't," Patricia said, in her best sorrowful voice. "She's not well. She has these episodes. Trent has been so patient."

"What episodes?"

"The scene at the concert, for one. Dear."

Behind me, the diner door opened.

I heard the bell, and then I heard feet, and then I heard the whole counter come out onto the pavement: the man in the Mets cap, two women in scrubs, a plumber with a donut in his hand, and Maggie in her apron.

Nobody said anything.

They stood there with their phones out.

I opened the folder.

"Patricia," I said. "Tell them whose name is on the house."

"This is not the place."

"Yours. And who made the mortgage payment on the first of every month for three years?"

She tightened her grip on the handkerchief.

"I did," I said. "Thirty-one hundred dollars, from my account. Here are thirty-six statements."

I held them up.

The reporter looked at the page and then at Patricia.

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