Mistral is quiet for a moment. When she speaks, her voice is low. "I'm not sorry for doing it to save Bess' business, but I am sorry I ruined your trust by doing it."
I don't say anything. Right now, I don't feel inclined to acknowledge her apology. It will never be enough.
Mistral must know this, but she doubles down on it anyway. "It's such a beautiful letter. I couldn'tnotuse it. You're a very good writer, Ed."
I snort at her attempt to smooth things over with flattery, and pace to the other end of the room and back again. "How did you get it to look like the original?"
Mistral gives a little humourless laugh. "We're a community of artists. Elly copied the writing style, Jeanette made it all look old."
Another two arrows to the heart. I stagger backwards a step, like I've actually been shot, and place a hand on the desk to steady myself. "Jeanette and Elly were in on it, too?"
"Not exactly. I told them you changed your mind and it was with your consent."
Sitting down on the chair, I run a hand through my hair and look up at her. "Christ, Mistral.”
Straightening her back, she says, "It might be alright. It has to be alright. The damage is done now. The only way is up."
It's my turn to laugh. "You're delusional. There's only one direction this can possibly head and it's not up."
Chapter nineteen
Ed
Itturnsoutupis exactly the way things head. Which can only mean one thing.
The distance to fall is higher.
Chapter twenty
Bess
10:16–TomorTim or Ian from the real estate agent enters.
10:21 – Hilary with the really great boobs wheels her baby in.
10:42 – Mrs Mitchum enters.
10:46 – Mrs Mitchum leaves. Interesting.
10:47 – Stephen McSomething leaves.
"What are you doing?" asks Jeanette.
I lower the binoculars and place them on the gallery counter next to my notebook. "I'm making a list of all the people who go into the library. If I get a letter today, then it will have to be one of them. I don't suppose you happen to know anything about Mrs Mitchum? She hasn't lived here long, so all I know is her name and that she likes oat milk lattes."
Jeanette clasps her hands in front of her. "You know what? I think it's a really good idea." She grimaces and whispers, "Except people in the café have noticed."
I look over and several heads immediately go back to looking intently at their food or the person sitting opposite them.
"It's not really a good look. Can you make a list of people without using any spy tools?"
"No. I need to be able to make out faces."
She swings her torso around to look at the library. "Well, can't Mistral make a list of people for you?"
"I asked. Ed said it would be an invasion of his patrons' privacy."
She tuts. "How very dare he."
