“Oh yes. Though ‘worked’ might be a stretch—I caught her daydreaming in the rooms when she was meant to be cleaning. But she was a good girl.” Then Elaine’s face scrunches up, like she’s walked into a bad memory. She says nothing, though. I wonder if she’s thinking about how my mom turned out. Estranged from Maura. Dead at forty-two.

“Gabriel, dear, I noticed you put that ‘Back in Fifteen’ sign up twenty-five minutes ago, so wrap it up in here, okay? My only request is no sex in the office, please.”

I nearly choke on my own saliva. Then Elaine departs, and Gabriel mumbles something about a few minutes more, and I need to get out of this stuffy back room. The reception desk is cooler and doesn’t smell like stale Fritos, but it does bring me face to face with the sheriff.

“Funny seeing you here again,” he says wryly.

“I was visiting Gabriel,” I explain innocently. “I have time to kill until I need to be at the station, you know. Do you need something? Maybe I can help you.” Well, now I’m just being cheeky. But it’s kind of fun.

“I wanted to follow up on our request for a conference room, but I’m guessing you can’t help with that.”

“No,” I say, smiling.

“Why don’t I move up your interview, since you’re just burning daylight. We can walk over to the station now. We’re not set up to start interviews here yet.”

It takes significant effort to keep my panic from showing. “…Sure. Of course. That would be great. Let me say goodbye to Gabriel.”

You can see straight through to the office from reception, so there’s no privacy—not for a proper update, nor for a handoff of the USB, even if it were ready. Which it’s not. Gabriel offers a subtle shake of the head, passed off as a stretch and hair tousle.

“Put your number in my phone. I’ll text you later,” I say, knowing the sheriff can hear me. Gabriel obliges, typing out each number slow as can be.

“Let’s go, Weston,” the sheriff barks.

“My last name is Ellis.” The ice in my voice is unmistakable. But the sheriff’s message is clear: we’re out of time. I acquiesce and go out to the lobby to join my police escort. We’re nearly to the door when my name echoes through the room. Gabriel runs over to us, shoots a nervous look at Sheriff Morrow.

“I just wanted to…” He laces the fingers of one hand through mine, pulls me in close, away from the sheriff. Strokes my cheek and then leans in to kiss it. “Goodbye, Cecelia.”