Ken sat at his desk at work, a little sore but feeling good. He'd been very sore when he moved Gertie's car out of the parking lot last night and disposed of it.

Vivian had called in sick to her own job, so she could do a "research trip." She'd promised him that it was for the acquisition of information only. They'd discuss the next step together.

* * *

Travis sat in his favorite coffee shop, playing a word game on his phone while he sipped his espresso. The place was a lot more crowded in the morning than when he usually got here, but he wanted to run some errands before he opened the restaurant. At least he'd been able to find a table. He'd woken up to an e-mail from the attorney of the woman whom Charlene had dumped lasagna on, saying that she was suing for mental distress, but he'd decided to worry about that after he got a nice big dose of caffeine in his system.

A woman he didn't recognize sat down across from him.

"Hi," she said, smiling. "Remember me?"

"Ummmm..."

"Surely you haven't forgotten me already."

"You've got the wrong person," he said. "If we'd had any kind of meaningful interaction, I promise that I'd remember somebody like you."

She leaned across the table. "Are you flirting with me?"

"Just speaking the truth." It wasn't just her looks—and she was definitely attractive. Travis had a good memory for faces, even if it was a barista or a grocery checkout clerk, and if they'd had more than a passing encounter, he would've remembered her. She definitely had the wrong guy, which was a little disappointing. His relationship with Renee wasn't going anywhere, and she'd been ghosting him for the past several days, so he was very much available.

"I notice you're not wearing a wedding ring," she said.

"Right. It's frowned upon to wear them when you're not married."

"Girlfriend?"

"Does it count if she hasn't responded to your texts since last weekend?"

"Nope. Sure doesn't."

"Then no."

The woman held up her left hand. "What do you see here?"

"An imprint of a wedding ring."

"That's right. It came off this morning. I am free, free, free. And so, full disclosure, we've never actually met before. It was just a way for me to sit at your table without you shooing me off right away. You're by far the most appealing guy in this café."

"Thanks," said Travis. "I'm honored."

"I'm Veronica."

"Travis."

"I would never commit adultery. Never. Not ever. Not even if he cheated on me first—which he did—and not even when it took a year for our divorce to become final. That was a long, lonely year. I've been counting down the days until my court date. Guess what day that was?"

"Today?"