Chapter 18: What She Kept

On Monday morning the diner television was turned up so loud the coffee cups hummed.

A woman in a grey suit stood at a podium outside the Ashby Grand.

I knew her.

She was the one who had closed her folder in the first row.

"The studio will release Sunrise Arithmetic in the spring as planned," she said. "The credit will read: based on the cards of Elise Harmon."

Dot dropped a spoon.

"Mr. Haldane's agency has terminated him for conduct. Mr. Harmon's sequel is cancelled. We have no further comment."

Sydney came out of the kitchen with her phone against her chest.

"They called me at six," she said. "I'm back on the picture. They want to talk to you about being an advisor."

"Tell them I'll read the contract," I said. "Every page. With my lawyer."

Sydney laughed, wet-eyed, and hugged me so hard my ribs creaked.

The bell over the door rang.

Stuart stood in the doorway at twenty to seven.

He had on yesterday's jacket and no tie.

There were no flowers in his hands, only a manila folder.

The regulars stopped chewing.

Dot came around the counter and pointed.

"Counter," she said. "Not the window. You haven't earned the window."

"Yes, ma'am."

He sat on the end stool, three seats from the register, and set the folder down.

"Coffee?" said Dot.

"Please."

She poured it and left the pot where he couldn't reach it.

"Elise," said Stuart, without turning. "I'm not asking for anything. May I show you what I did this weekend?"

I wiped my hands on a towel.

"Show me."

He slid the folder across the counter.

I opened it to the first page.

It was a bank statement for a new account at the credit union on Main Street, in one name only, mine.

Keep reading free with an account. Start He Never Looked Up at Breakfast, So I Served Him Papers from Chapter 1, then sign up free to read the rest of this chapter.