“Yeah, lucky.”

“I can’t imagine Wendy hiding in a place like that. She’s not the outdoor type. And there’s nothing to do this time of year except enjoy the snow.”

He didn’t answer. I grimaced. “You’re not going to help here, are you?”

“You don’t want to hear what I have to say.”

“It’s not that I don’t want to hear it, Teo. I just have to do this my way.”

“Believe it or not, I know.”

“But it makes you angry.”

“No, I’m not angry. I am...” He shook his head. “This place you’re talking about? You say it’s in the middle of nowhere? Doesn’t that strike you as risky?”

“Aren’t we more important than whether I go or stay? I have qualms, but my family has to move on. No matter what Wendy says when I see her, I need to protect her daughters.”

“That’s what it’s come down to now? It’s not about proving she’s innocent?”

I shook my head. “I remember those days like they were, what, last week? Now, it’s about getting her out of our lives.”

He looked as if he wanted to say more, but he didn’t.

I moved closer and kissed him quickly. Then I bent down and hugged Bismarck. “Take good care of him. I’ll settle up what I owe you for dog rental when I get back. Just let me know.”

“Meet her in public.”

“And don’t let her follow me back to my B and B. I know. I won’t. I’m going to be careful, but she won’t hurt me. I’m her sister and her daughter.”

“And squishy good feelings saved Vítor Calvo?”

Of course, he was right. Calvo’s murder had been premeditated and his killer cold-blooded. “I guess I’ll know the answer very soon.”

“Let me know what happens.” He’d touched my hair, just the lightest stroke, then he’d turned, called Bismarck to walk beside him and together they had gone into the kennel.

And now, I was many miles away doing exactly what Teo didn’t want me to.

Besides watching for Wendy and making up stories about post office patrons, this morning I played another game. I made bets with myself. How long could I continue my stakeout? It was Friday, and if Wendy didn’t show up by tomorrow morning, then maybe I had wasted an airline ticket. If she really wanted what she thought Jonah was sending, she should have checked for it by now. She’d gone to the trouble of renting a post office box and having her mail forwarded. So where was she?

Of course, if I could think like Wendy, I wouldn’t have to wait at all.

Another hour passed. I was afraid to get more coffee, which even when freshly made was muddy and bitter. In the time it would take to grab another cup, Wendy might come and go.

Services at the Pronghorn post office ended at three on weekdays and noon on Saturday. The lobby, where the postal boxes resided, was open twenty-four hours, but the boxes were too small to accommodate anything other than regulation size envelopes. Wendy must know she had to retrieve anything larger at the counter, and no later than noon tomorrow.