“I’ll pay in cash,” I said.

I counted out the crisp bills from my wallet and handed them to her.

She gave me a receipt and placed the envelope in a plastic bin behind her.

“You’ll receive an email with the secure PDF results as soon as they are ready,” she said.

“Thank you,” I said.

I walked back out into the rain, feeling a strange, hollow sensation in my chest.

The wheels of truth were turning now, and there was no stopping them.

I drove home and tried to act normal.

When Richard came home later that evening, he looked exhausted.

His shoulders were hunched, and his eyes were bloodshot.

“Are you alright, Richard?” I asked as he took off his coat.

“Just a long day at the office, Evie,” he said, not looking at me.

He didn’t mention Rose.

He didn’t mention the coroner.

I wondered if the deputy had tried calling his cell phone yet.

We ate dinner in near silence.

Claire came home late from her track practice, her cheeks flushed from the cool air.