Chapter 13: The Bank Steps

Lydia's POV

On Monday morning I stood on the steps of the bank on Water Street with eighty thousand dollars inside my coat.

I held it against my ribs with both arms.

Hugh had offered to walk me in, and I had said no.

I had been walked into places by other people for ten years.

Neil was sitting on the bench by the doors.

He hadn't shaved, and his good suit looked slept in.

He stood up when he saw me, and he put both hands out with the palms open.

"Don't run," he said.

"I'm not running. I'm depositing."

"Two minutes. Please."

"You have one."

He glanced at my coat.

"Mom knows you took it," he said. "Dale called her from the lake house at three in the morning."

"Good."

"She called a man she's known since he was in Little League. He's a detective with the county sheriff."

My stomach went tight, but I kept my face still.

"She told him you took estate funds out of a bag in a private home," Neil said. "He's going to be at the dinner on Friday."

"There's no estate. Dale is alive."

"The account has his name on it and a lawyer's letter that says it's the estate. On paper you stole from a dead man's family."

"On paper, it's your brother's estate, and it's my grandmother's money inside it."

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