“I found something in Callum’s tuxedo.”
Her voice changed immediately.
“What?”
“A key.”
Pause.
“A note from somebody signed R.”
Longer pause.
“And a jewelry receipt for an amount that could probably buy your car.”
“My car is old.”
“Felicia.”
“Sorry.
Read me the note.”
I did.
She became quiet.
“That sounds bad.”
“Thank you.”
“I said sounds.”
“It is bad.”
“No.
We don’t know that yet.”
I leaned against the wall.
“Who is R?”
“I have no idea.”
“Exactly.”
“Do not do that.”
“Do what?”
“Turn missing information into proof.”
I closed my eyes.
Felicia knew me too well.
PART 3 — SCARED GUESSES
“Callum doesn’t keep things from me.”
“I know.”
“He checked those pockets.”
“But you also have four years of evidence about who Callum usually is.”
I pressed the tiny key into my palm.
“What if the four years were the lie?”
Felicia sighed.
“That sentence is Darren talking.”
I hated how quickly she identified it.
“This is not Darren.”
“I know.”
“Mitchell?”
“No.”
“Then don’t make Callum answer for men he has never met.”
My eyes filled.
“I just got married yesterday.”
“I know.”
“What if I made the biggest mistake of my
life?”
“You might have.”
“Felicia!”
“I’m not going to lie to calm you down.”
That was why she was my best friend.
Then she said:
“You might also be holding evidence of something completely harmless that looks terrible without context.”
“Name one harmless thing involving a secret woman and a five-figure jewelry receipt.”
“I cannot.”
“Exactly.”
None.
“But I am not married to Callum, and neither are you to my imagination.”
She paused.
“Ask.”
“Not accuse?”
“Ask.”
PART 4 — THE LETTER R
We tried names.
Rachel?
No Rachel.
Rebecca?
None.
Renee?
Nobody Callum knew closely.
Rose?
No.
Then Felicia asked:
“Could R be older?”
“What does that mean?
“Your parents’ generation.
Family friend?”
“Callum’s mom is Beth.”
“Sister?”
“Kayla.”
“Coworker?”
“No R I know.”
“Ex?”
“He hasn’t spoken to an ex in years.”
“You know that?”
“Yes.”
She paused.
“Okay.”
Then:
“What kind of key?”
I examined it.
