Page 39 of Little Empty Promises

I don’t know if he’s coming back 6:45 a.m

OCTOBER 1, 2024

He’s back home 7:21 a.m.

OCTOBER 3, 2024

She’s packing a bag, he’s not home … is she leaving???8:02 a.m.

She’s crying, zips up one suitcase, takes it somewhere 8:08 a.m.

(Should I go talk to her???)

More packing 8:15 a.m.

I hear a truck, he’s home … did he forget something???8:19 a.m.

She looks scared, grabs bags, trying to find a place to hide them maybe.Hides one bag, comes back for the other.8:19 a.m.

He’s in the room, he sees the second bag, flips it open 8:20 a.m.

They fight, he hits her, and then he turns, squinting like he’s looking at me

Does he see me???

Does he know I saw what he’s done???

She needs help, I must help her, MUST HELP HER GET AWAY

16

“We need to talk,” I said.

Rosalyn placed a hand on her hip and sighed.“All I want is to have a calm, peaceful day with my dog on his birthday.I understand what you’re trying to do, and I’m sure you’re questioning all of Cordelia’s neighbors, but I don’t have anything else to say.”

“Are you sure?Because I think you do.I was just taking a look around Cordelia’s house, and I found something interesting, something I’d like to show you.Can I come in?”

“Why do you want to talk tomeabout what you found?”

“I believe it might be of interest to you.”

“Why?I didn’t know her.Not well, I mean.It’s sad that she’s dead, but I don’t see how anything you could show me would be of interest.”

“You might, if you hear me out.”

Rosalyn ran a hand through the long strands of her straight brown hair and rolled her eyes.“All right.I guess you can come in but make it quick.”

I nodded and followed her to the living room.

“Is your husband home?”I asked.

“No, why?”

“I’d like to speak to him.Have either you or your husband ever seen Cordelia peering into your house from her bedroom window?”I asked.

Rosalyn raised a brow.“Peering through … what?”

I stood a moment, assessing her tone of voice as well as her body language.She was twitchy and unstill.And while it seemed like she was unnerved by what I’d just said, she was avoiding eye contact, so it was hard to tell for certain.

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