“I remember what I saw.”
“You remember a mark. You don’t remember
why it was there.”
“I remember asking.”
Douglas lifted one envelope from the pile.
“And I remember explaining it.”
“Did Madison ever explain it?” I asked.
He opened the envelope.
“You were upset at the time.”
“That is not an answer.”
He removed a bank statement and smoothed its edge.
“Some memories change when people have been frightened for a long time.”
I rubbed the edge of my phone case with my thumb.
“Did you ever ask me?”
Douglas looked directly at me.
“I was there.”
“That is not what I asked.”
Elaine set the button beside my cup.
Douglas put the bank statement back into its envelope.
“You should rest today.”
“I have an interview at one.”
He looked at Elaine.
“With the police?”
“Yes.”
His fingers stopped on the envelope.
“About last night?”
“About what I can document.”
He nodded once.
“Then document facts.”
“I intend to.”
He
gathered the mail.
“Not family interpretations.”
He left the room with the envelopes tucked against his chest.
Elaine watched him go.
“That was why I never finished the conversation.”
I picked up the button and placed it beside the napkin.
“You just did.”
She looked down.
“No. I only started.”
At one o’clock, Elena sat across from me with the evidence log between us. She turned each page carefully and checked the dates against the recording entries.
