The Photo Said I Must Die novel · Chapter 19 of 24

Chapter 19: Noon

On the night of the eighth, my sister knocked on my door and asked me to help her choose a wine.

I should have said no.

Judd had been standing guard outside my room since breakfast with a steel flashlight and a pocket full of keys.

The police chief of Port Hallam had come and gone twice.

The chief had listened to everything.

Then he had told us, kindly, that sawing a board and buying glasses were not crimes.

He said he couldn't hold anyone for them, but he'd have a man at the terrace tomorrow at noon.

Briana had been polite to everyone for two days.

She had called the nine friends one by one and told them she was sorry, and she had hugged the book-club woman in the garden.

Tonight she wore her cardigan and a tired smile.

"I can't sleep," she said at the door. "Please, Dani. One hour. Judd's aunt wants a toast ready for tomorrow, and I don't trust myself to pick."

"Judd can pick."

"Judd would pick the cheapest." She tried a laugh, and it was thin. "I'd like to do one ordinary thing with my sister before it's over."

I looked at her face and at her pearl bracelet, and I thought of the woman in the print.

Judd was downstairs doing the till, and Oliver was walking the beach.

I decided I could risk five minutes.

I told myself I wanted to see what she would do.

The cellar door stood open.

The bulb was on.

She went down ahead of me with her hand trailing on the rail, and I came after her, and the stairs creaked under both of us.

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