Page 11 of A Christmas Mystery

“He might not be on the chess team. It was just an idea.”

“What the hell is all this about? You searching for a long-lost love or something?”

I’ve managed to trap myself in this conversation. I can either tell him or let him imagine something wrong and ridiculous.

“No, of course not. But someone has been writing to me and won’t tell me who they are, so I’m trying to figure it out.”

“Ah.” His expression relaxes slightly. Evidently he doesn’t believe this situation is as absurd as he might have. “So that’s why you need the yearbooks?”

“Yes.”

He’s silent for a minute until he turns toward a small apartment building that looks to house no more than eight units. “This is me. You want to come up?”

I really don’t want to visit his apartment. “I can just wait down here if you don’t mind bringing them down to me.”

“Okay.” He walks in the front door, and I wait outside until he returns a few minutes later, carrying four bound books.

I accept them when he hands them to me. “Thank you.”

He stares down at me, still unsmiling. “I can help if you want.”

“Help with what?”

“Find this person you’re looking for.”

“Why would you help?”

He gives a slight half shrug. “Doing a favor for Chris’s girl.”

Chris’s girl.

That’s who I used to be, but that’s not me anymore.

But there’s no reason Theo would know or care about that fact.

“I’ll let you know if I need help,” I tell him. “Thanks for the offer.”

He nods. Stares at me some more. Then turns abruptly back toward the front door. “Bye.”

I huff with dry amusement. He’s just as friendly as ever. “Okay. See you later.”

He waves back at me briefly before he disappears through the door.

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