The Good Husband by Steve Frech

Author:Steve Frech [Frech, Steve]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2023-09-28T17:00:00+00:00

Chapter 30

My first impulse is to take the strip of paper and tear it into pieces.

Instead, I read it a few more times, which solves nothing.

Did Amy even play chess? Is there a hidden message here Amy wanted me to figure out? Is this just another damn puzzle?

Detective Harper would say that this is just one more way to drive myself crazy.

But Amy wanted me to find this for a reason, right?

Of course, she did, but did she really leave me riddles to find the key, which only leads to more riddles?

I clench my jaw and curse.

Whatever Amy had in mind, I don’t have time to solve it here. I have to get back to Tatum.

I fold the strip of paper and stuff it in my wallet. I close the lid to the box and collect myself before pressing the button on the table.

Moments later, the woman opens the door.

“All set?” she asks, but her professional cheerfulness evaporates when she sees the expression on my face.

“Yes,” I answer through gritted teeth.

I don’t have to pretend to be pleasant anymore. I got what I came for, whatever the hell this slip of paper is.

*

After returning the empty box to its locker and collecting the key, I walk back through the reception room of Lowes & Son and into the cavernous lobby of the Tanner Building. As I make my way to the elevator, a black trashcan situated against the wall catches my attention. I suddenly imagine myself throwing the strip of paper away.

If this was so important, Amy, why not tell me when you were alive? Why toy with me after your death?

I’m able to subdue the urge to throw it away. My frustration was merely a knee-jerk reaction. I have to trust Amy but I’m still fuming by the time I jab the elevator button to return to the parking garage. Inadvertently, I turn my head to the filtered sunlight coming through the tinted glass wall to my right. I step over to the glass and take a moment to calm myself down and watch the people going about their everyday lives.

At least I’ll be able to beat the traffic back home.

The elevator doors open behind me. I’m about to turn back to the lobby when I stop and nearly press my face to the glass.

There. The next block over.

It’s barely visible from where I’m standing but on the other side of the street, just past the intersection, is a small parking lot. Parked in a spot next to the sidewalk and facing the street is a black SUV. Its front windows are down, and I can make out the silhouette of the driver inside. They’re just sitting there.

I wait.

It could be anyone. They might be waiting on a friend who had to quickly run into one of the nearby buildings on an errand. It could be someone finishing a text … or they could be watching this building, waiting for me.

The doors of the elevator close behind me but I don’t move, and my eyes never leave the SUV.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.