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When Pandy nodded, Judy motioned to someone in the second row to hand her a bottle Of course Everyone was trying to be nice Trying to make poor, bereaved, weird Hellenor feel better

If only people had treated Hellenor like that before

Pandy grabbed the bottle of water and drank thirstily

“Hey, I’ve got good news for you,” Judy said “Your sister’s first Monica book is number one on Amazon’s bestseller list”

“Is it?” Pandy asked She rubbed the back of her head, and nearly screahtest stubble Its texture was like velvet It would take years for her hair to grow back

“I think that would have made your sister so happy Don’t you?”

Pandy took a deep breath “Would you mind if I used your phone?”

“Of course not,” Judy said “Please, call anyone you like But if it beeps, will you hand it right back to me? Because it could be SondraBeth”

Pandy nodded She touched Henry’s nuht to voiceto answer his phone, especially froroaned Heout the , she spotted those outlying brown brick buildings in the marshes of the Bronx

Judy’s phone began singing: an aria “It’s SondraBeth,” Judy said, holding out her hand for the device

Pandy handed it back She couldn’t believe that SondraBeth had allowed her foroddamned custom Porsche to Manhattan If she and SondraBeth had re in the front seat with her

But apparently SondraBeth either still didn’t know Pandy was Pandy, or had a reason to keep up the ruse

Road trip, she thought ironically as she tapped Judy on the shoulder for the phone Judy looked back at her, mystified, then spoke into the phone to SondraBeth “I think Hellenor wants to speak to you Do you mind?”

Does she ht as Judy handed her the phone

“Squeege?” she demanded “Now listen I’ to see it ever since it caet in touch with Henry He’s probably at Wallis House by now—”