Page 59 of Lemon Pound Cake Club

"They were disconnected sometime during the night."

The group fell silent. I stood at the edge of the driveway, watching. Nine women gathered around Camille, as if she had escaped something far worse than vandalism.

Someone handed her a bottle of water. Another rubbed her back gently. Someone else offered to call a landscaper before the police arrived. I was surprised. The neighborhood had hardly reacted when Marcus was murdered.

But this brought everyone out before breakfast. I crossed my arms. It felt strange.

"Maci."

I looked up and saw Camille watching me.

"When did you get here?"

"Just now."

"You didn't hear anything last night?"

I shook my head.

"No."

"Nothing?"

"I sleep across the street," I said, glancing around her yard. "Not in your flowerbeds."

For a moment, I saw something I couldn’t quite read on Camille’s face. Then she gave me a tight smile.

"I know. I'm just trying to understand who would do something like this."

I checked the damage again and noticed the empty flowerbeds.

"This wasn't random."

Nia shivered.

"That almost makes it worse."

"It does."

Before anyone could answer, a sheriff’s cruiser pulled up. The deputy parked at the curb, came over, introduced himself, and asked Camille what she had found.

While everyone gathered around him, I quietly stepped back. I saw a single yellow tulip near the porch. I bent down and picked it up. The petals were still soft, and the roots dangled from my fingers.

"Pretty, isn't it?"

Miss Evelyn spoke from behind me. I turned and saw her standing a few feet away, her purse tucked under one arm.

"It was," I said.

She nodded.

"Beautiful things rarely stay untouched."

I looked back at the flower in my hand.

"I suppose not."

She glanced around to make sure no one was watching, then stepped closer.