He’d fixated on Finch’s laptop, watching the values of the untouchable wallet change as the price of Bitcoin fluctuated. That was when he noticed the other wallet change. The ten thousand dollars in coins was disappearing before his eyes as it was transferred to a new account. Someone had that private key. It had to be the wife. And she would tell him what he wanted to know.

Chapter 24

Ethel knew Lisa Draper usually came down to the kitchen every night for a banana before going to bed. It was a ritual Ethel had introduced to her. Thirty years earlier, a nurse from the Philippines had told Ethel the fruit had soporific powers. For the past three decades, she had never had trouble falling asleep after taking the advice.

Now Lisa insisted on restocking the banana supply. Although Ethel’s roomers didn’t eat full meals there, they had always been good about replacing whatever they did eat or buying their own favorites.

At a few minutes past ten thirty, Ethel heard Lisa’s soft footsteps on the back stairs. She started slicing a banana on a small plate so that Lisa wouldn’t realize she’d been waiting at the kitchen island to make sure they crossed paths.

“Ethel, why are you still up?” Lisa stopped by the refrigerator, surprised that her landlady hadn’t already gone to bed. Wearing a white terrycloth robe loosely cinched over aqua silk pajamas, Lisa was clearly ready to go to bed herself.

“Lots of thoughts ricocheting around in my mind. But don’t let me stop you if you were going to take your banana back to your room.”

“No. I’d like to join you, if that’s okay.” Lisa took a banana from the fruit basket on the counter and eased onto the stool across from Ethel. “How many conversations have you had around this island?”

“More than I can count and more years than you’ve been alive.”

Lisa snapped off the stem and stripped the yellow peel halfway down. “You should have a reunion. Make up T-shirts. ‘Ethel’s Army.’”

Ethel laughed. “I’m afraid a lot of my army has mustered out of this mortal coil and the rest lead lives too busy to include this old woman.”

“Nonsense. You’re a legend. I can’t tell you how many people are envious that you rented me a room till I find more permanent accommodations.”

“No rush. I assume you and your ex-boyfriend have come to terms.”

“I moved the last of my things into storage over the weekend. We’re done.”

“Still planning to go back to the Philadelphia office?”

Lisa nodded as she chewed banana. Then she swallowed and said, “I suppose I could stay in DC, especially since we have some loose ends in the Parker case.”

Ethel picked up a slice of banana and popped it in her mouth.