Page 89 of The Unraveling of Julia

“I know, I should have.” Julia had been kicking herself. “I felt weird being there and I knew it would make her look bad.”

“And you didn’t want to make her look bad even though she was makingyoulook bad?” Courtney rolled her eyes. “That’s gotta change.”

“Tell me about it.”

Courtney’s gaze fell on Julia’s phone, which was on the table because they’d been going through her photos of the watercolors from the underground cell. “That’s cool about the hair and the DNA.”

“It was your idea.”

“I know, I’m a genius. Too bad the results take so long.”

“Agree.” Julia thought of the second batch of hair, in a baggie inthe living room. When the drug was finally gone, she’d test to see if her hands still tingled. “By the way, when are you going back?”

“Unsure.”

“What? You have work. How did you even get away?”

“I’m the boss, remember? I’m going to stay a bit and help you.”

Julia felt a rush of gratitude, plus guilt. “Courtney, you don’t have to do that. You have meetings and all.”

“I can work from anywhere. Ask Microsoft Teams. I could be in Parsippany or Tuscany.” Courtney smiled. “I know you’ve been through it, but I gotta say, I give you credit. You’re going out, calling cops, driving aFerrari. You’re more like you used to be. Like yourself.”

Julia’s chest went tight. “I still miss Mike.”

“I know, but I see a difference in you.”

Julia thought back to the crowded testing center and how she wasn’t as nervous. “I’m doing better, I guess, but I don’t know why. Maybe I have to do things here and I can’t let my anxiety hold me back.”

“That makes sense. Bottom line, if you do things you’re afraid of, you train yourself out of being afraid.”

“Oh no, hold on, I’m afraid.” Julia almost laughed. “I’m more afraid than ever. I’m afraid of white Fiats, black ballcaps, ghosts, and maybe losing my mind.”

“But you’re not anxious.”

“Right.” Julia smiled. “I’m not anxious, I’m insane.”

“So progress!” They both laughed, and Courtney’s gaze fell on the phone, which was face up on the counter, showing the watercolor of the stone well. “Is there a well here, too?”

“I don’t know.” Julia hadn’t focused on the well watercolor, preoccupied with the self-portrait. “I didn’t see one.”

Courtney eyed the picture. “My granny’s neighbor had a well. You remember, Granny Kay with the farm?”

“Yes.”

“Turns out the neighbor moved away, and the new people found a dead body in the well.”

“Wait, what?” Julia asked, aghast. “You didn’t tell me that.”

“I forgot, it happened last year. It was the body of a random guy, a drifter.” Courtney pursed her lips. “My mother said they never caught the neighbor. He’s still wanted for murder.”

“Yikes. Did Granny Kay know him?”

“Not well. The farms are far apart, and he didn’t go to church. If you don’t go to church, Granny Kay doesn’t know you.”

Suddenly Julia found herself wondering.

“What?” Courtney asked, then her bright eyes rounded. “Ohshit.”

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