“Always,” Sally said, laughing, “but I have a detour to make first. I’m actually working another case.”

“Even after you almost died the last time?” Robin said, only half-jokingly.

“Nothing like almost dying to make you feel alive,” Sally said. “Besides, there’ll always be something crazy happening somewhere. And when it does, The Red Door should be there to cover it.”

Robin nodded.

“You never told me,” she said. “What was Clatteridges? The thing Sam told Matthew about. The thing that convinced you to help him.”

Robin was quiet for a moment and then told her. “Clatteridges is a restaurant. At 7:30 p.m. on the 18th of August 1996—it was when we first met. I was on a date, set up by some friends. It went terribly, and the girl—I can’t even remember her name—left before coffee. I sat there on my own, and then this waitress comes up to me and gives me the bill. Her. Samantha. She was the most beautiful girl I’d ever seen. I knew, that moment, that I would marry her. I knew I would spend the rest of my life with her. So I did.”

“Why didn’t you put that in the book?”

“Because that memory is mine.”

Sally didn’t respond. She just nodded. “You going to be okay?” Sally said, taking a swig of coffee before standing up again.

Robin smiled. “Yes.” And he meant it. “Goodbye, Sally.”

Sally took two steps and then came back. “My name’s not Sally. It’s Rhona Michel.”

Robin nodded. “Then goodbye, Rhona.”

She smiled. “Open your post.” And she left.

Robin watched her go and then picked up the package. There was something rectangular inside. He opened it and tipped the insides out onto the table. An old mobile phone.

He looked inside the package to find a scrap of paper. He took it out and read it.

AS PROMISED, MATTHEW (PASSCODE 1234, CHECK SAVED VOICE MAIL)

Matthew? Matthew had sent him a phone? Why? He picked it up, turned it over in his hand until he found the power button. He turned it on, put in the passcode and then went to the voice mail. He put it to his ear tentatively.

“Robin, it’s me.” Sam’s voice. His eyes filled up with sorrow. Her voice. “I want to tell you that I love you so much. And I want you to know that you made me the happiest I ever was. But I think that might be over now. I think you have to go on alone. And you have to, Robin. You have to live. And you have to be amazing. Be amazing, please. For me. I love you so much. I will always love you.”