Page 56 (1/2)

By the tio, Alyssa looked relieved, if exhausted, bundled up on the couch, sipping a cup of cocoa

Mrs Pierson walked her to the front door "I can’t thank you enough," she said, her hands still shaking "We knew she was struggling, but we didn’t kno bad it was"

"I’h so like this on your own"

"Officer Neal?" Alyssa said, appearing in the foyer

"Honey, go sit down," her mother said "You look as weak as a newborn kitten"

"This will just take a rilled cheese?"

"Of course, angel" She kissed her daughter on the cheek and went into the kitchen

"What is it, honey?" Em asked

"I, uhI did sos to Jack Holland"

"I know"

Alyssa blinked "You do?"

"The note, leaving his lights on, the possuain "I was just somad that he couldn’t save Josh, too Aht press charges and stuff"

"He won’t I can guarantee that Now go sit down and let yourover," Alyssa whispered, and uessing"

WHEN EM GOT to the car, she found that her heart was clattering like an old tractor Her hands were shaking, and her face felt flushed She couldn’t tell if she was exhilarated or terrified or both

What if she hadn’t gone over? What if she hadn’t asked to see the bathroo sense of warning, and Alyssa was going to be okay She started the car and drove to the cow path by the old barn where the Manningsport police held their Meine and reached for her phone to call Jack

Oh Right She couldn’t do that anymore She duain

Tonight, she’d saved a girl’s life, and you knohat? That mattered more She called Levi "Hi It’s Em," she said the second he answered "I just left the Piersons’ house" In a rush of blathering, she told him what happened

Levi was quiet when she finally stopped talking "Excellent job, Deputy," he said

Emmaline sold sticker? You deserve one Write it up and we’ll talk toood day"

"Thanks, Chief"

She called Jae instructor was thrilled "I knew you had the stuff, Em! You have to come work for us Think about it"

"I’m happy here But thanks, Jamie Itthrough her liht be having dinner with Frankie Boudreau She’d call her later, but for now, a nice glass of as called for Slippers Pajaure rose from one of the Adirondack chairs on her porch, and Em’s hand went to her holster Just before she drew, she realized who it was

"Kevin I almost shot you," she said cal "How are you?"

FIFTEEN MINUTES LATER, Em was in her pajalass of wine in one hand and had poured Kevin a glass of water, since he was still alcohol-free, dairy-free, etc, etc He was petting Sarge, who didn’t seem to care that this was theas Kevin scratched his ears Em planned to have a firs you to Manningsport?" she asked, sitting down

"I have an Iron Still had those damn beautiful eyes Otherwise, the shock of his physical state was still, well, shocking "Figured I’d co here?" he asked "In your grandmother’s house?"

"I do Why are you here, Kev? You and Naohed "No, no We’re really happy"

"Great"

"How’s Jason?"

"Who’s Jason?"

"Your date? At the wedding? Your fake fiancé?"

"Jack He’s fine" She took a sip of wine "So you didn’t answer my question, Kev Why would you co, I haven’t talked to you in three years"

He looked down at Sarge’s head, which was resting on his knee as the faithless cur gazed up adoringly "I’d like to apologize," he said

"Go right ahead"

He gave a little snort of laughter "You alere direct"

"One of the s you said you loved about me"

"I did love you I’eish sip of her wine Blue Heron She’d run out of her Lyons Den stash, and this had been in the fridge It was excellent Steely and bright with notes of fairy’s breath and sunrises Whatever the case, it slid past the lu at her, a faint regretful slass down "I’ll never understand what happened with us I ure that out"

He nodded "The thing is, E except food and how disgusting I was Everything else was fake, was just a very brief distraction from food and fat I hated how fat I was, and I couldn’t wait to eat again When I started to lose the weight and reworkthe lazy, sad, pathetic person that I was"