“Thank you.” Marina stood and reached across the desk to shake his hand. “I really appreciate everything you’re doing. I wouldn’t even begin to know…”

“’Course you wouldn’t,” he said as he rose. “You’re good people. You’re not supposed to know how to do any of this and it’s a damned shame you’re having to do it now.”

They headed out and Marina drove straight to Harold’s house. Avery’s car was still parked at the curb and his was in the driveway, so Marina strode onto the porch and banged on the door as hard as she could. A couple seconds later, Harold opened the door a crack and stared out at her.

“What do you want?” he asked, his voice wavering.

Unbelievable! He was actually scared of her.

“I’m here to collect Avery’s things,” she said as she shoved the door open. “Since you’ve decided to be no help with the devastation you’ve caused, what I want is for you to get out of my way.”

“I want him to drop dead where he’s standing,” Halcyon said.

“Maybe tomorrow,” Marina said. “We’re too busy today. Halcyon, there’s some boxes and packing tape in the storage space under the stairs.”

Harold’s eyes widened as she pushed past him and she heard him retreating down the hall as she stomped up the stairs to Avery’s room. Most of her summer clothes had gone with her to college but as she didn’t have the space there that she had here, some summer items remained, as well as her cooler-weather stuff. And then there was her personal stuff—ribbons and trophies and pictures of her friends. Stuffed animals, books, and other dust collectors.

Halcyon came in with an armful of boxes and the tape and they went to work. Marina removed entire drawers from the dresser and dumped the contents in a box. Halcyon gathered all the clothes hanging in the closet and did the same. Then they used the sheets and pillows to cushion the breakables. It wasn’t neat work, but it was efficient. In forty-five minutes, they had everything in boxes and started the cumbersome process of carrying them downstairs and stuffing them into Marina’s and Avery’s cars. Harold never appeared again.

By the time they had dumped all the boxes in Halcyon’s living room, Marina’s phone rang and Mike let her know that everything was in place for Avery’s release. Marina clutched the steering wheel as she drove to the sheriff’s department. Would Mike being there prevent a confrontation? Would Preston show up just to make things miserable? Would Avery have a meltdown? She’d never had one before. Not the emotional kind. Marina wasn’t even sure she knew how to handle one if she did.

Mike was waiting for them outside the sheriff’s department and gave Marina a reassuring nod before opening the door for them to enter. Randy was at the front desk and stood when they walked in. Marina was relieved that he appeared to be the only one in the office. Mike handed Randy the paperwork and he scanned it and nodded.