Page 83 of Not a Word

“In my book, cheating would be pretty bad, but okay. Would this be something that you actually saw this person do?”

Gage thought about that, then shook his head. “Not exactly.”

“Because if it’s just a rumor, then I would say no, until you really knew for sure, and then, maybe. But you’re not giving me enough details.”

Gage offered none. He got to his feet. “I have to go.”

“No rush,” she said.

“No, I can’t stay. Thanks for talking to me.”

He started to walk away, but she grabbed his arm and stopped him. Gage, startled, stood there as she got to her feet, wrapped her arms around him, and squeezed.

“You’ll do the right thing,” she said.

He was inclined to break her grip, but it felt good, and he decided to let her hold him for another thirty seconds. But he knew, any longer than that, and he’d lose it.

Twenty-Nine

“Off to the coal mine,” Alicia said, slipping on a light jacket not long after Gage had left Holden’s house.

“Huh?” said Holden.

“My job? You remember I have a job?”

“Oh, right, the thing at the thing.”

“Yeah, the thing at the thing,” she said. “My weekend gig at FreshCo?” One of Yorkton Hill’s discount grocery stores. Alicia worked Saturday and Sunday afternoon shifts as a cashier. The store was shifting to self-checkout, but a lot of the older customers refused to use it so they kept one or two checkout lanes open on weekends, when they were busiest.

Holden asked. “When’re you done?”

“Seven. I don’t know if I’m coming back here or going home. Might depend on whether you can figure out how to wash your sheets.”

“I’ve been studying.”

“I’ll text you.”

Thinking of something else, he asked, “How’d you think Gage was?”

“I don’t know. Okay, I guess.”

Holden shook his head worriedly. “He’s a good kid.”

“Sure.”

“Hope he gets through this okay. Big traumatic stuff that happens to you when you’re young, it can stay with you.”

Alicia smiled. “You being the textbook case.”

“He was quiet.”

“Maybe he’s just a quiet kid. Look, I gotta go.”

“Want me to drive you?”

“Don’t worry about it.”

She was out the door. She already had her phone out, having ordered an Uber to take her to work. Her ride was five minutes out, if the app was to be believed. A gray Honda Civic, with a plate that began BBA.