Mel, too, is cut from the will. Though it can be changed back at any time, it feels like a betrayal. To alleviate her conscience, Rose leaves three million to Mel’s favorite charity, a no-kill shelter for animals of all kinds on a big chunk of land in Arizona. The remainder Rose leaves to Planned Parenthood. Until overpopulation is curbed, addressing other issues is merely postponing the inevitable.

By four thirty the bulk of the work is finished. Mel’s dance class lets out soon; then she will be heading to the Highlands with her uncle. Rose wants to see her before she goes, say goodbye, and hope Mel has forgiven her the lies and the gun.

Flynn is due in on an eleven-ten flight. Rose will not see him until after Elizabeth Pryor has negotiated her surrender. Hopefully this will keep everyone safe. With the will changed, Flynn won’t suffer the temptation to strangle her for her money, but he might for the incredibly bad example she set for his thirteen-year-old daughter, not to mention showing her a severed finger and dragging her along on quasi-criminal adventures.

Rose signs, reads, drinks tea, signs more papers. Outside the light changes. Alma reviews and explains, makes copies, and heats water for fresh tea. Periodically both women check their cell phones, the lawyer writing necessary texts and Rose hoping for one.

The afternoon drags on. Alma murmurs explanations and types into her computer. Rose’s mind is fixed on her upcoming role in Orange Is the New Black: The Golden Years, the coming booking, mug shot, cavity search, and she knows not what else.

Long after everything is signed Alma still shuffles paper assiduously. Rose sips tea and wonders if the lawyer is waiting for something. Or wasting time, padding an already substantial bill. Alma’s mentor, Phil Miller, would have hated that. He and Harley were associates from when Harley worked in Charlotte—long before he met Rose. Mr. Miller was on Harley’s board of directors, hence the choice of him as their estate lawyer, that and the fact Flynn, their executor, lives in Charlotte.

Phillip Miller.

Miller and Associates.

Alma killing time.

Rose takes the cell from her bag and texts her sister.

Five minutes pass while Rose, like Pavlov’s friend, waits for the bell. Finally her phone pings.

The text reads: “There was a Miller on our dead MCU list. Phillip Marsden Miller, age eighty-two. Rapid onset. Died six weeks after incarceration. No early onset, hence dropped from core study group.”

Miller is a common name. Even Phillip Miller is a common name. Rose stands, stretches, and wanders around the room pretending to read book spines, books that computers have turned from precious information venues to wall décor. Miller’s diploma is tucked between bookcases. Phillip Marsden Miller.