“What did you do?” Charlie stared at the remains of the pillow as frustration at his dog’s antics knotted the muscles in his shoulders. “I thought you liked it here. Do you want to go back to scavenging food from trash cans? Don’t I feed you well?”

The dog dropped his head to his paws and rolled over.

“You really think you deserve a belly rub after this mess?”

The dog barked.

“Fine.” Charlie reached down and gave Bane a quick rub. “You’re lucky you’re the only friend I’ve got. Otherwise, I’d give you the boot. And not to chew.”

THREE

JUST KEEP SMILING. Lane Kent pressed her lips into what she hoped looked like a smile more than it did the grimace she was holding back. The two older women standing at the counter in front of her stared at her expectantly.

“Well?” Mrs. Babcock asked. “What do you think?”

What had they been talking about? Lane had stopped listening—truthfully hadn’t really been listening in the first place. Her thoughts were back in the woods with the body.

“It’s too much. Too soon. Right?” Mrs. Kingsley slipped in front of her friend, pressing her arthritic hands onto the Formica. “I don’t blame you, dear. Who wants to be the one piece of caramel popcorn dropped into a bed of ants? Now, my grandson, Henry—”

“Gladys, what in the world does that even mean?” Mrs. Babcock elbowed her friend. “Lane should have options. Besides, my grandson—”

“Ladies.” Ms. Byrdie emerged from the kitchen with a towel over her shoulder and two foam takeout containers. “You’ve been such a great help this evening, but I think Lane and I can finish up the rest of the cleaning. I’ve packed up some peach cobbler for y’all to take home to your husbands.”

Whew. Lane cast an appreciative glance in Ms. Byrdie’s direction. Shielded—was that even what it was?—once again by the same woman who’d protected her countless times in high school. She might have been the school librarian, but she acted more like a guardian.

“Are you sure?” Mrs. Babcock looked around. “We could wipe down the tables when everyone leaves.”

“We don’t mind staying to help,” Mrs. Kingsley added.

“You ladies have been incredibly helpful. Right, Lane?”

It took a subtle bump to Lane’s side by Ms. Byrdie to jar the words from Lane’s mouth. “Yes. You ladies have made tonight a real success. Thank you.”