A small wooden decking stands between me and the back door, so I step across it and reach for the handle. If the door opens, Bert is in trouble. Pushing down on the handle, my heart beats louder. Part of me wants it to open, to know what’s going on; the other part is shaking. The lock stays firm, no movement, a barrier to the story on the other side. Slowly I realize I’m not going to find out anything about the pink coat tonight.

Walking away from Bert’s house, I look across the street at my own family home. Did something happen in that house? The old wooden door stands worn, beaten, tired. Mom always kept it open when I played in the front yard or on the porch, calling out every so often to make sure I was still there. Looking back now she seemed a lot more vigilant than my friends’ moms, who would let them play out on the street for hours before checking on them. Maybe she was nervous of something, expecting someone to come along and take me.

To take me back.

Jeff’s eyes are closed, headphones in, when I open the car door. He jerks forward, pulling the buds from his ears.

‘Well, has all been revealed?’ he says.

‘I didn’t get an answer.’

Jeff has the foresight not to say I told you so. Checking his mirror, he turns the engine on and drives away.

‘You can call again tomorrow, Becca.’

Taking my cell out, I dial Danny’s number.

‘Who are you calling at this hour?’

‘Danny.’

‘Danny?’

‘Yes. I want to know what he was doing at Bert’s.’

Jeff clenches his lips. He knows when to let me be. The phone rings out. I try again. It rings out again.

‘He might have it on silent, with the new baby and all that, Becs,’ Jeff said.

‘He never has it on silent. He’s avoiding me. Drive to his house.’

‘What? Now?’

‘Yes, now,’ I say, my tone not inviting any argument.

I direct Jeff to Danny’s house, but the driveway is empty. No Danny. He has not come home yet. I make Jeff wait for a while but realize I’m pushing our friendship a little too far. I’ll contact him tomorrow. I want some answers about what he was doing at Bert’s.

Chapter Forty-One

As soon as Jeff finishes dipping bread into egg and grilling it, I head back to Bert’s. I couldn’t sleep last night thinking about the pink coat. How did it end up in Bert’s hands? What is he going to tell me? The car in front crawls along like it has no place to be in a hurry so it takes me quite a while to get there.