Chapter 10: Under the Magnet

On Sunday afternoon, exactly one week after the lawn, my seventh tray of brown butter pistachio pastry came out of the oven gold.

Number six had gone in the trash on Friday night.

I had not slept well, because of the name on Dina's phone.

Camille DeGraff's office had called my neighbor, and Dina had flinched like she'd been caught.

I had knocked on her door twice that morning, and her blinds stayed shut.

She had also not answered either text.

I put one pastry on a plate and stared at it instead.

The top was crisp. The middle was set. The pistachio tasted like pistachio.

"Don't touch it," I told the kitchen, and went to open the front door.

Silvan stood on the porch with Gerald on a short red leash.

"You said Gerald could taste the next one."

"I said I'd tell you the price after."

"I'll pay anything."

"That's why I'm not telling you before."

I had put a baby gate across the kitchen doorway.

Truffle appeared in the hall and went straight to it.

He and Gerald lay down on either side of the gate, nose to nose, and sighed.

Silvan looked at them for a while.

"Gerald doesn't do that with other dogs."

"Truffle doesn't do that with other dogs, either."

"Then it's a coincidence."

"It's a very consistent coincidence."

I cut the pastry in two.

I gave half to Silvan.

I tossed the other half over the gate to Gerald, who caught it in the air and ate it in one bite.

Silvan took a bite and closed his eyes.

"Oh," he said.

"Is it good?"

"Lacey." He opened his eyes. "It is the best thing I have ever put in my mouth."

I felt my face go warm.

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