Chapter 10: The Garage

Dustin's POV

I drove to her dorm faster than the van had ever gone.

Erin sat beside me in Brynn's gala dress and a borrowed coat, with her hands clamped between her knees.

She didn't say anything.

That was the thing about her.

When it got worse, she got quieter, and I was starting to be afraid of the quiet.

The door to her room was open an inch.

The light inside was on.

She had locked it that morning. I had watched her do it.

I pushed the door with two fingers.

The room had one bed, one desk and a radiator that didn't work.

The quilt was folded on the pillow.

Under the bed, half out of the shadow, was a gray duffel bag with its zipper open.

I crouched.

Inside were a dozen small boxes in silver paper, each with a gold pine-tree sticker.

Under them lay a stack of cash held with rubber bands.

Erin stood in the doorway with one hand over her mouth.

"That isn't mine," she whispered.

"I know."

"It wasn't here this morning. I made the bed."

"I know."

I took out my phone and photographed the bag where it lay, from the door, from the bed and from the floor.

Then I photographed each box, and the cash, and the open zipper.

She watched me do it.

"You're keeping it all?" she asked.

"I'm keeping proof it was put here."

I stood up.