In the Palm of His Hand novel · Chapter 21 of 24

Chapter 21: The Ring

The bosses sat at the long table with their hands folded and said nothing for a full minute.

There was a woman who ran the docks, in a black coat with a fur collar.

A heavy man from Camden with a jaw.

Crowninshield sat at the head between them, with the gold cane across his knees.

Cal knelt on the polished floor in front of the table.

He had gone down without a word, as he had the night before, with his hands on his thighs and his head up.

I stood behind him in a dark green dress and my silver hoops.

"Mrs. Ransome," the woman said. "You have something to say."

"Yes."

"Say it."

I put my hand on my husband's shoulder.

"I stand for my husband."

I heard them land in the room, flat and clear.

"That's the form," the man from Camden said. "Good. That is the form."

"I'm not finished."

Crowninshield's eyes came up.

"The man who shot Cal on Dalton Street is in this room," I said.

Nobody moved.

"Child," Crowninshield said gently. "You are tired. We will forgive that."

"I closed that wound myself. In my kitchen. With a needle."

"Mrs. Ransome."

"The man who did it wears a gold ring on his little finger with a knot of rope. He knew the date my husband was to be taken before this table did. He smelled of peppermint. He's behind your chair."

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