‘Right.’ Holly reached over and retrieved a white envelope from her oversized bag that doubled as a purse and a backpack. Toying with the corners, she expelled a deep breath and then dropped it onto the table, nudging it closer to Alyssa while pressing her hand down on it to prevent her from opening it.

‘Am I supposed to guess what’s in there?’

Holly sighed and released her hold even as she avoided her mother’s knowing, penetrating stare. ‘Everyone – Nick, Sophie, and especially Rachel and Jersey – said I’d be dumb to wait to show you this, so that’s why I’m here so late.’

Alyssa’s skin prickled with unease. Especially Rachel and Jersey? Though she could push it to the back of her mind from time to time, it was impossible to forget that Holly had narrowly missed being one of the victims of the sex trafficking ring that had devastated too many lives.

‘This was peeking out from beneath the porch swing cushion, and I didn’t think much of it, to be honest,’ Holly continued. ‘So, Nick had already taken off by the time I opened it.’

Using her fingernail, Alyssa opened the flap, tipping out three photographs as she did. Staring back at her were images of Holly and Nick at one of their favorite restaurants, another of Holly laughing down at Nick as she cuddled onto his lap, and a final one taken in one of the parking lots of UNM as Holly, Sophie, Jersey, and Rachel climbed into Holly’s car.

‘What time exactly did you receive these?’ she demanded, not caring that her voice was edgy and angry. That happened when she felt one of her children was being targeted.

Holly’s skin took on the appearance of an overripe tomato as she pushed back her chair, standing so she could bounce on the balls of her feet, one of her biggest tells that she was more nervous than she was letting on. ‘I don’t know what time it was placed there, but it was a little before nine when I opened it.’ She rolled her eyes at herself. ‘And yes, I debated for a long time whether or not I should show you because I didn’t know what it meant.’

The vein in Alyssa’s temple twitched. ‘I don’t suppose anyone saw who dropped it off.’

‘Sophie, Jersey, and Rachel were all home, but they didn’t see or hear anyone.’

‘You should’ve called me right away.’

‘You were still working, so I don’t know what good it would’ve done. It just would’ve distracted you from your real job.’ Her voice tapered off at the withering glare Alyssa focused on her.

‘That is quite possibly the weakest excuse you’ve ever invented.’

Holly shrugged. ‘It was spur of the moment, so it was all I had.’