Night was falling quickly, and she increased her pace as she walked the streets. The streetlamps were turning on and she was careful to stay away from the dark maws of the alleys.
Someone catcalled her and she bristled. Perhaps she should have taken a cab.
She glanced over her shoulder.
She really shouldn’t be alone. She had felt momentary relief when the man who had robbed them and intimidated Harriet was found dead. But that wasn’t her only threat. What if that man from the diner was still watching her?
And if the thief himself had been murdered, then… who had done that?
She approached the studio and as she brought out the key, she saw that something about the door was wrong.
A piece of the mat was caught at the bottom. She had not left it that way. She would have seen it when she locked the door from the outside.
Someone had opened this door since she had last been there.
Her heart thudded.
She kept her key in her fingers to use as a weapon and pounded with her fist.
“Who’s there?” she called.
She heard movement. There was someone inside.
The door opened, and the light shining from the studio was so bright it took Grace’s eyes a second to focus.
A woman stepped forward.
“Grace?” she asked.
It was Lillie.
Grace let out a huge sigh of relief and fell forward into her cousin’s arms.
“What are you doing here?” Grace cried.
They stepped inside and Grace quickly dead bolted the door behind her.
“I had it out with my mother,” Lillie said. “I couldn’t stay there any longer. I thought I could be with you for a few nights.”
“Of course,” Grace said, taking off her hat. “But how did you get in?”
“Theo let me in.”
“He isn’t here, is he?” Grace asked, her pulse skipping a beat as she scanned the room.
“No,” Lillie said. “Come in. Get cozy. I have some really good news.”
“About Oliver?”
Lillie shook her head. But her eyes danced.
Grace washed up and changed into her nightgown as Lillie put on a teapot over the fire.
Grace climbed into bed next to her, just like they used to do when they were little.
“Your feet are hideously cold,” Lillie said.
“That’s because my shoes are atrocious. Did you bring your hot water bottle?”
