He took her by the elbow again, keeping the gun drawn. He kept his hand on her elbow the whole time as he escorted her out of the office and down the hall, the paper bag crinkling in her arms. They followed the muddy footprints he’d left on the way in. Susan was aware of people behind them, eyes on her back, footsteps in tandem with theirs. But she never turned to look, so she didn’t know how many it was, or who. Archie held the door open for her and they stepped outside into the light. The white vinyl tents shimmered with dew, the gas heaters had been collected together and the gold chairs stacked. The sky was tinged with the apricot glow of dawn. Archie led Susan down the wide path through the manicured front lawn. The torches on either side had all been extinguished. Here and there, napkins littered the ground. A lone wineglass sat empty, abandoned on the grass. They followed the path to the curved driveway and then walked along the private road over the bridge to the gate. They stood there for a moment, waiting. There was a security camera mounted on a gatepost and Susan and Archie looked at it looking at them. After a moment, there was a metallic hissing sound and then the gates yawned open.

“Get on the main road and then keep walking,” Archie said.

Susan looked at him, incredulous. “By myself? What about you?”

“Someone will pick you up,” Archie said. “Don’t talk to anyone about Leo except for Henry and someone named Sanchez.”

“What are you going to do?”

“I’m going back to check on some things,” Archie said.

Susan saw through his evasiveness. “You’re going back to check on Leo and that stripper,” she said. She knew the stripper’s name; she just didn’t use it. “I’ll go with you,” Susan added. “Leo’s my boyfriend.” Archie flinched when she said it. He always did. It’s why she’d used the word—boyfriend.

Archie pressed his lips together. “Leo needs to know you’re safe.”

The road beyond the gates was quiet. No traffic. The morning air was crisp and cold. Susan hugged her arms. Boyfriend. Now she felt bad. Her eyes went to the blood along Archie’s hairline. “Does it hurt?” she asked.

“I need to know you’re safe, Susan,” Archie said. “I have to go back. Please go now.”