At the airport,Colin kept touching her. He kept his hand at the small of her back. His fingers brushed her wrist. His knee pressed against hers when they sat at the gate. Every tiny point of contact reminded her that he was there, that he had kept his promise, and that she had kept hers.
Bring Mama home.
Bring Colin home, too.
They had done both. Barely.
On the plane, Maren sat by the window with the letter in her lap. The cabin lights were dim. Outside, the sky was black until the full moon rose over the distant Rockies. They had the row to themselves on the almost empty flight. Colin sat beside her, silent and warm.
Maren reached for his hand. His fingers closed around hers immediately.
“I have to read it,” she whispered.
“I know.”
“I don’t know if I can.”
“You can.”
She looked down at the envelope.
Marenstared back up at her in her sister’s handwriting.
Maren opened the envelope, took out the single sheet inside, and unfolded it on her lap.
Dear Sister Mine,
I hope you never,everhave to read this letter.
I mean that. I hope this stays sealed forever. I hope I’m the one who walks back into Howell’s office, says ‘hammock’ like a ridiculous ghost from our childhood, collects all this paperwork, and uses it to help Ray burn Warren Voss’s whole rotten kingdom to the ground.
But if you’re reading this, then I failed.
And you, Maren Walsh, are the smartest woman who ever lived because you figured it all out anyway.
Maren’s breath caught. Colin’s hand tightened around hers and he kissed her temple.
She kept reading.
At least, I hope you figured it out with Ray’s help and the two of you are celebrating the downfall of Voss by cracking open a bottle of tequila right now. Ray likes the expensive stuff and pretends he doesn’t. I owe him a bottle. Maybe two.
Please tell me he’s okay.
Maren pressed her free hand over her mouth.
“Ray is not okay,” she whispered as tears blurred her eyes.
Ray had died trying to get to her. He had held out and not told Voss a damn thing. He’d kept his promise to Mira.
“He knows,” Colin said softly.
Maren turned her head. “Knows?”
Colin’s eyes were on the letter. “Whatever you need him to know, baby, he knows.”
A tear broke free and slid down her cheek.
She nodded once and kept reading.
