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“Sorry. I was miles away.”
“Tink said you got a call from the cops?”
“The chief himself called. I about peed my pants,” I admit as he moves to sit on the bed beside me.
“What did he want?”
“To tell me that he has suspended Smith and Jacks, pending a review. He also said I was cleared of any wrongdoing regarding James and that the FBI agents had returned to their offices.”
“Took them fucking long enough. And what exactly were they clearing you of? You didn’t fucking do anything wrong,” he huffs.
“Well, I did impersonate someone, which is technically a crime. Especially as I killed said person, which is also a crime.”
He rolls his eyes, unperturbed by my words. “They don’t know that, though. What they do know is that the guy they’re taking money from is the guy they’re supposed to be putting behind bars.”
I shrug. As long as they stay away from me, I don’t care what they do.
“How did the phone call lead to you reading Lauren’s letter again?”
Sighing, I look up at him. “I don’t really know how to explain it. I feel so incredibly sad for her.”
“I get that, but Rebecca’s settling in well with Kruger and Delphi. It’s what Lauren wanted, right?”
I look at him. “What she wanted was to love her child without persecution or restriction.”
He sighs and slides his hand around my shoulders, pulling me closer until I rest my head on his arm.
“I’m trying to figure out what to do with the letter. I can’t throw it away. That feels like a violation somehow. Maybe I should give it to Kruger and Delphi. I’m not sure what they’re going to tell Rebecca, but perhaps she’ll want to see this when she’s older. Is it something she should see? I don’t know.”
“Trust them to know what’s best for her. I agree they should have it. I don’t like coming home and seeing you read it. That’s selfish, I know, but my only concern is you, not with a woman who, after a lifetime of unrest, is finally at peace.”
I sign and fold the letter back up. “I guess you’re right.” I lift the flap of the envelope to slide the letter back in when I notice something written on the inside. I open the envelope wider and frown. “Powers?”
“Hmm?”
“Look at this. Lauren wrote a series of numbers on the inside of the envelope. I didn’t notice them before. I mean, who pays attention to the inside of an envelope?” I babble as he takes it from me and looks them over. “That looks like a bank account number, right?”
“Yeah, and a routing number.”
“But what’s this?” I point to the two-digit number underneath before it dawns on us at the same time.
“Safe deposit box.”
Powers jumps off the bed and helps me up. “I need to get this to G.”
“I’m coming with you,” I tell him, putting the letter in the nightstand drawer.
He doesn’t argue. He gives Lucy a stroke before taking my hand and leading me downstairs.
“I need to grab my phone, too. I want to call Delphi and Greer.”
“It might not be anything, and Greer—”
“Might have the key and not know it. But I’ll start with Delphi first. This letter was in Rebecca’s backpack after all, so maybe there’s a key in there too.”
“Good point.”
I slip on my flip-flops and grab my phone from the counter before heading to the door, which Powers holds open for me. I hit the contact for Delphi and tap my fingers against my thigh as I wait for her to pick up. I’m just about to hang up when the call connects.
