I had a bad experience with the police, too. They weren’t helpful. They

The phone slipped out of her trembling hand. She curled up on the floor and tucked in her head.

“What do you hope to get out of reporting this?” the officer asked. The station door swung open, and he looked away from Maggie to smile at the uniformed man trudging in. “What? No supper for us tonight, Gary?” he teased.

The other officer shrugged and stomped the snow from his boots. “No money.” He gave Maggie a curious look as he walked past where she sat on the bench.

“Did you hear me?”

Disoriented and in shock, she looked up at the officer. He was frowning down at her again. “I—I don’t know what you mean.”

“Listen.” He rolled back on his heels and scrubbed his face with a hand before sighing, “These situations … they’re hard to prove. People are going to wonder if you were drinking at that party, if you were making out with the guys beforehand—”

“With all of them?”

“Sure. This was a Tigers party. You didn’t think you were attending a Baptist youth group meeting, right?” Impatiently, he shook his head. “Did you try to get away? Did you tell them to stop? Okay, okay. But did you scream it—loud enough for someone to hear you?”

“I—I don’t know. I guess I didn’t. I was afraid people would walk downstairs and—and see me like … that.”

“Now, come on, don’t cry. I’ll grab Gary, and we’ll take care of the interview and try to clear up this mess. We’ll have to record it, just so you know. Hey, now. Stop crying, okay? I’m only trying to help.”

8

THE AUNT HEFTED a mound of clay onto the scale, scooped off a chunk, eyed the weight, and removed a bit more. “When’s your next book club meeting?” she asked abruptly.

“Hmm?” Maggie raised her chin from her palm. Her head seemed to weigh a ton.

“The book club?” the aunt repeated slowly, as if Maggie had a shaky grasp of English. “When is the next meeting?” She strode over to her wheel.

Maggie peered around blearily. When was she supposed to go back to the bookstore? “Soon,” she said. “On a Saturday.” Hard to picture herself going. She wasn’t up for it.

“As in this Saturday? Some Saturday next month? A Saturday in a year from now?”

“The last Saturday of the month, I think.” Maggie squinted out the window. “What’s today?”

“Thursday.”

So nine days from now. It wasn’t an actual meeting, but Ran had asked the members to meet at the shop so they could check out the latest releases and brainstorm ideas for their next read.

They can do that without me.