Chapter 4: The Nurse

"Miss Hollin," Doran said. "I sent the text."

I kept the chain on the door.

Behind me, Hal tapped the wrench against his palm. "Say that again, son."

"I sent the message about page nine. I'm Elora's nurse."

"I know who you are," I said. "You're the man who hands me water and studies the floor."

"Yes."

"Why are you here?"

"Because Elora is asleep upstairs, and I told Constance I was going out for a cigarette."

"Do you smoke?"

"No."

I let the chain drop.

Hal stood between us while Doran came in, and he did not put the wrench down.

Doran stopped beside the lathe with his hands out where we could see them.

Up close he was older than I had thought, with tired brown eyes and a pale scar along his left forearm.

"I'm going to say this fast," he said. "If I slow down, I won't say it."

"Go ahead."

"Elora walks. She has walked for a year and a half that I know of, and probably longer."

"I know that. I watched her do it tonight."

"I saw her do it first." He swallowed.

"Eighteen months ago, at two in the morning, I came out for coffee. She was in the east hallway, barefoot, dancing."

The shop was quiet.

"And you said nothing," I said.

"I said nothing."

"You brought me tea in that house every Sunday."

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