Page 180 of Trust No One

“I want to see it.”

“Sure.”

“We know she was obsessed with you.”

I switched on the coffee maker and reached for two mugs. I pulled my phone from my back pocket and showed him the images I’d taken of the closet. “I thought her obsession was a high school thing. But she has images of me as recent as this year.”

His frown deepened as he scrolled. “Most of these pictures are old or from the web.”

“The last few were taken after I was released from the hospital three and a half weeks ago. I don’t remember her or anyone else standing across the street taking pictures, but I was distracted.” I shook my head. “She was so close. But I never saw her.”

“Was Ken with you?”

“Yes, he drove me home. The hospital wouldn’t release me without a driver. He left immediately.” I’d been ready to drive to Hale House that day. But I’d needed rest and time to shake the painkillers from my system.

“Like you said, you just got out of the hospital.” He looked up. “And these were in her scrapbook?”

“They were.”

He enlarged the images of me on the town house’s front step. I was looking over my shoulder, as if I sensed something was off. He swiped back through the images. “She was with Ken at a football game in high school.”

“I saw them together once or twice. They were just walking, not touching.”

“In all these years, he never mentioned Amy to you?”

“No. But Ken isn’t known for his candor. Secrets are par for the course.”

“I’ll talk to him.”

“Blink, and you might see him here. He keeps coming by. Now he wants marriage counseling.”

“Why?”

“I don’t know. But whatever reunion he’s imagining isn’t happening.” I poured a cup of coffee and set it in front of him.

“What attracted you to Ken?” The question carried the weight of years of consideration.

I leaned against the counter, remembering. “Seventy-hour workweeks. No social life. Lonely. He happened into a bar where I was having drinks with a few coworkers.” I’d been in a good mood. A client of mine who’d been charged with murdering his wife had been given life in prison. One loss for me. A big win for society. We hugged. “He reminded me of home.” Of Judson.

“And that was enough?”

“He can be very charming.”

“Yeah, I noticed that. But you saw through it in high school.”

“After all the hours I’d logged with felons, he seemed normal. And he made me laugh. He showered me with calls, texts, flowers, dinners. Swept me off my feet.”

“The classic danger signals.”

I nodded, smiling. “Love-bombing documentaries aside, the tactic is very effective. Lesson learned.”

Strong fingers stroked my shoulder. “That’s in the past.”

“It is. I have Molly now. Hale House needs to be razed or saved. And after seeing the remodel bids, I’ll be selling a lot of land to make it happen.”

He set his cup down. He took my hands in his, rubbing his calloused thumb over my palm. “Ever thought what life would have been like if we’d been a little smarter seventeen years ago?”

His touch stoked so many emotions. “We weren’t dumb. We were kids with a lot to figure out. Even if we’d made a run for it, there’s no guarantee we’d have survived.”