He glanced behind him to where an officer was typing. His fingers stilled on the keyboard. “You two have my utmost respect. We may have some further questions for you down the line as we make sure our records are in order, but as for now, you’re free to go on your way.” Delaney stood from his desk and looked behind him, nodded at Frank, and walked back down the hallway and out of sight.

As the rest of the officers stood and murmured softly to each other, Frank approached Trudy, his cane thudding gently with each step. When he reached her, he lifted his head, the lines around his eyes deeper and more pronounced. “I have a confession of my own to make, Ms. Figg. I met your husband back then. I had a . . . well, a strange feeling when I was around him. I couldn’t quite put my finger on it, but he was so convincing. So likable.”

“I know,” Trudy said, her voice a bare rasp now. “I’m the one who married him.”

“I came to the house once. I saw you in the window. Did you see me?”

Trudy nodded.

“I always wondered about you. Wondered if you were okay.”

“I wasn’t okay then, but things got better. Because of Violet. She took care of me.” Trudy shrugged. “I guess we saved each other.” She rose and pulled her bag out from under her chair and looked up as Justin rounded the corner from the back of the office. “I’m ready to go home.”

“Yes, ma’am.” Justin glanced at Violet. “How about you?”

Before she could answer, Frank spoke up. “Justin, if you don’t mind, I’d like to take Violet in my car. If that’s okay with you, Violet.”

Unable to read the expression on Frank’s face, Violet just nodded, then turned to Trudy and wrapped her arms around her. “It’s over,” she whispered. “Finally.”

“Yes,” Trudy whispered back. “But it’s also just beginning.” She winked at her sister, then slipped her arm through Justin’s and walked with him out the door.

A moment later, Violet and Frank walked out of the police station into the now-still night air. Violet paused in the glow of a lamppost near the parking lot and closed her eyes. The damp air was fragrant with sweet night blossoms, silt, and river brine. When she opened her eyes, her gaze settled on Frank. He stood a few paces away, his back to her. She clasped her hands together to slow the nervous tremors.

“When you said there was someone else,” he said without turning around, “you meant Trudy.”

“Yes.”

He sighed. “For years I thought about the woman in the window. I had no idea it was your sister. I wish you’d told me.” When he finally turned and looked at her, his face was streaked with sadness. “Why didn’t you tell me? I could have helped.”

“You said it yourself. You always had the urge to tell the truth. Even before you joined the force. You held yourself and everyone else to a high standard when it came to truth and honesty. As you should have. I knew if I told you what had happened, you wouldn’t have been able to stay quiet about it.”