Never In Another Life novel · Chapter 6 of 24

Chapter 6: Terms

The deputy came at noon, exactly as promised.

He was a tall, tired man with a notebook, and he stood in the lobby and asked me for identification in front of the whole breakfast crowd.

I had one thing from my old life.

It was my driver's license, tucked inside the lining of my purse for three years.

I handed it over.

He looked at the photo, then at my face, then wrote something down.

"So you're the deceased," he said.

"I'm the wife."

"Ma'am, being alive isn't a crime in Minnesota." He scratched his neck. "Staging a drowning, I'd have to ask the folks in Wisconsin. I'll send them a report."

"Then send it."

"Sir," he said to Declan, who had stepped closer, "I'll need to talk to you about the custody paperwork."

He took one step toward him.

Declan stopped breathing.

Both his hands came up, palms open, flat at his shoulders.

The deputy paused.

"Sir?"

"Nothing," Declan said. "Go ahead."

His voice sounded wrong.

I stood there, remembering the guard in the hall and the second time his palms had gone up.

I did not ask, but I noticed, and I put it away with the other things I did not understand yet.

Margo watched it all from the window with her sorrowful face.

Only when the deputy left did I see her smile.

Afterwards, in the parking lot, I laid out my rules in a voice that did not leave room for argument.

"Sammy sleeps at my place tonight," I said. "You may come to the door and say goodnight. You may not come in."

"Fine," Declan said.

"You don't touch me. Not a hand on my arm, not a hug, nothing."

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