Chapter 6: Six Years

I called Dean back from my hotel bed at eleven.

The cake photo was still open on my laptop.

"Dean, I need you to do something for me and not ask why."

"Sure, sis."

"Walk over to Leigh with the phone. Don't say it's me."

"Is this about the necklace?"

"It's about the cake."

There was a clink of ice and a long pause. He was far enough gone to do it.

I pressed the red button that recorded the call and set the phone on my knee.

Behind his breathing I could hear steel drums and someone laughing in a pool.

"Hey, Leigh," Dean said. "Somebody wants you."

"Who?" Her voice came across the water, light and lazy.

"Is it Troy? Tell him I'm not getting out yet."

The phone changed hands.

"Hello?" she said.

"Why does the cake say six years?" I asked.

The steel drums went on for three full seconds.

Then Leigh said, "Oh."

She did not sound scared.

She sounded pleased that a long wait was over.

"It's you," she said. "I wondered when you'd get around to counting."

"Answer the question."

"Is this on speaker? I hope Dean's listening, because he deserves to know too."

I heard Dean's voice, very small, a little way off. "Know what?"

Leigh laughed softly.

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