“I’m going now, Ike.”

He grabs my arm. “You keep me posted, right?”

I nod slowly. “Let go of my wrist.”

He looks down at the junction of our limbs as though unaware he has hold of me. As the hand relaxes, a question comes to me. “Are you a member of this church, Ike?”

“Me? Baptist? I’m Catholic, man. Holy Family.”

“You’ve known more than you’ve told me from the start. Whatever you have, now’s the time to tell me.”

His head moves forward, then back, like a man falling asleep at the wheel of a car. “You think I’m playing the quiet game too?” A faint smile, as though at a private joke. “I told you, man, everybody keeps something back. It’s the only way to stay safe.”

“I’m gone, Ike. Be careful, okay?”

When I come around the corner of the church, everyone is waiting in the cars but Caitlin and Kelly. Caitlin says something to him, then breaks away and meets me halfway.

“What was all that about?” she asks. “It sounded like he was yelling at you.”

“He’s drunk. He’s losing his nerve as the trial gets closer.”

“What about you?”

“Solid as a rock.”

She smiles. “I couldn’t believe Shad put you on the spot like that.”

“Are you going to report what he said?”

“He said it, he’s responsible for it.”

“Good.”

“Have you heard anything from Peter Lutjens?”

“Not yet.”

“You think he really has the nerve to try for that file?”

“If he doesn’t, he’s going to spend a lot of winters shoveling snow in North Dakota.”

“God, I hope he gets it. If he doesn’t—”

“There’s still Stone.”

“Don’t hold your breath. You want to come back to the paper and wade through some files? I’ll help.”

“Not yet. I’m going to take a drive. My parents and Annie are riding back with the Argus guys.”

Caitlin takes my hand. “Want some company?”

“Not this time.” I squeeze her hand. “But thanks for offering.”

She looks off toward Kingston Road. “You’re taking Kelly on this ride, right?”

“No.”

She looks back at me, her eyes worried, then suspicious. She drops my hand. “Tell Livy I said hello.”

“Livy? I have no intention of seeing Livy. Kelly can come if he wants, but in his own car. I just want to be alone for a while.”

Her eyes soften. “I’m sorry. I understand. I’ll tell him.” She rises on tiptoe and kisses me on the cheek. “Keep your eyes open.”

“I will.”

CHAPTER 32