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“These accounts are owed quite a sizable balance that hasn’t been paid. But, considering your circumstances, let me see if I can waive the late fees if you make a payment today.”

“Thank you. Can you tell me when the accounts were opened?”

He looks at me for a second. “I will need to see some ID to do that.” I slide my license across the table at him and he looks at it, satisfied. He clicks through a few things. “It looks like they were opened about three months ago.”

“Is it possible for me to see the signature pages on the contracts?”

Dennis considers me, and I know it’s an odd question, but I am hoping he’ll just keep helping me out.

I continue. “I need the information for my accountant to help me settle my late husband’s affairs.”

“All right.” Dennis prints out the signature pages for me and slides them across the table. “Now about making a payment today.”

“Yes, of course. Can I have my accountant call you? I’m just figuring out all these finances and they’re the ones who really handle payments.”

“That’ll be fine. Take my card and have them call today, please.”

I pick up the papers, shake Dennis’s hand, then do my best not to skip out of the building.

Back in the car, I sift through the three signature pages. It’s clear they’ve been signed by the same person because of the way the ink pools at the end of each signature. It’s subtle, but I recognize it. Fritz forged signatures for every document.

Let’s go get Fritz Hall arrested.

—

It took us about an hour to walk Ardell through everything.

After telling her part, Autumn went with another detective to give a sworn statement.

It all made sense. Dean had figured out that Fritz was stealing money from the firm and told Will.

And, the night of the party, Will had confronted him about all of it.

After the party, they must have met up somewhere to finish their argument, and Fritz killed him.

I had brought along a handwritten note from Fritz to Will that I saw on Will’s desk at home. Same pools of ink at the ends of sentences. I told Ardell that if he went to the credit union he would find surveillance showing that Fritz, not Will, opened those accounts.

I could see the internal struggle behind Ardell’s eyes. He didn’t want to believe any of it. He didn’t want to believe me. He held Fritz in such high esteem. But as he started processing all the information, he saw it the way we did.

“I’m really sorry for all of this, Nora. What a shitstorm. We’ll look into it, and we’ll talk to Fritz.”

I nod.

I had hoped that I would feel instantly better once Ardell had the evidence we had gathered, but this was all still so much to process. I don’t think I’ll really believe it’s true until Fritz is in custody.

We thank Ardell and leave.

In the parking lot, I give Autumn a hug and try to transfer my gratitude with a gentle squeeze. I know how hard this must be for her. How scary it is to think that they could all write her off. But she waves that away. It’s the right thing to do.

Perry and I pull into my driveway at magic hour, that part of the day when afternoon gives way to sunset and the sky is bright pinks and purples. Perry stops the car short when he sees Fritz standing in the middle of the driveway, leaning against the back of his car.

“Why don’t you stay here?” Perry offers.

“No chance. Fritz can talk to me.”

I get out of the car and close the distance to Fritz with strong, head-held-high steps.

“We had an agreement!” Fritz booms at me.

“Not this again.” I roll my eyes.

“You said you’d stop talking to people. You said you didn’t want to hurt the firm. So, imagine my surprise when I find out you’re trying to frame me for murder. ”

“Any cooperation you might have thought I owed you all went out the door the minute you killed my husband.”

“I did not kill Will. This is all some last-ditch effort for you to save your own ass,” he taunts me. “Well, it won’t work. This is my town. Or have you forgotten? You’re nothing. Nobody.”

Fritz is making a commotion, and I see Este and Beau approaching from the hedge between our houses. When they spot Fritz, they both start to jog to come to my defense. But I put up a hand to stop them.

“Maybe that’s true, but you’re also skimming off the top and stealing from your partner.

” I watch Fritz’s eyes flicker with that accusation.

“I know about the accounts at the credit union. I know that you were stealing from Will. And I know that you were grinding him to a nub because his abilities as an attorney were the only way for the firm to make any money.”

“I haven’t the faintest clue what you are talking about.”

“It must be so hard to be a hack. To be the golden boy who doesn’t actually ever do the work because you can’t. So you found Will and you made him do it all. And you just cashed in and dined out.”

I must be starting to hit some buttons because his face is getting red. His eyes scan the scene before him like he’s trying to plot his next move.

“You were nothing without Will.”

“What the fuck do you know about anything, Nora?”

“Rich coming from you after you built your fortune on Will’s back. What are you going to do now that you’ve killed your golden goose, Fritz? You’re nothing but a hollow suit who squandered a fortune. How pathetic.”

Fritz lunges at me. I’m so surprised that I freeze.

He’s nearly got his hands on my neck, but Beau steps in with a stiff arm and clotheslines him.

Fritz is on the ground almost instantly.

Perry and Este stand farther back as I take two steps until I am directly over him.

Fear registers in his eyes, and it should.

If it weren’t for the whole prison part, I’d murder him right here.

“Fucking leave. This is private property, and you’re trespassing.” I walk toward the house without looking back.

Este, Beau, and Perry follow me inside. I can see the questions on Este’s face.

“What the fuck just happened out there?” she says.

“Let me grab a bottle of wine. You’re going to need it.”

We order a dinner of takeout, and I piece together what Perry, Autumn, and I have been able to find over the last day or so. Este is gobsmacked. She looks toward the driveway where Beau laid Fritz out. That was hours ago. Fritz had gotten in his car and driven God knows where after we went inside.

“How did he make it to your house when he should be in a jail cell?” she demands.

“Ardell said they have to get in front of a judge. But someone from the courthouse must have tipped him off to something. Who knows what they’ll have to do to keep him from running.” I take my plate to the sink.

After dinner’s been cleared, the exhaustion hits me. I feel like I might finally be able to sleep through the night. As I say goodbye to Este and Beau, thanking Beau for stepping in when he did, they leave through the side door.

I turn to Perry and say, “Perry, I can’t thank you enough for all your help. I couldn’t have done this without you.”

“Or Dean.”

“Or Dean. I’m so sorry about your friend. Maybe he and Will can keep a lookout for each other now.”

Perry smiles sadly. “Maybe.”

He gives me a hug and tells me to stop by if I’m ever in his neck of the woods. I think we both know that’s as unlikely as him ever returning to Winter Park. I promise to keep in touch, though.

I’ll have to add a friends-made-looking-for-my-husband’s-killer category to my holiday mailing list.

I stand in the doorway until his car is all the way out of the driveway, then close the door and walk into the living room.

A new air settles over the house. It’s quiet and calm, but also empty.

I grab the last of my glass of wine and head over to the couch, where I snap on the TV.

Lindy Bedford is on the screen talking about a “new person of interest” in the case.

I smile to myself and flip over to HGTV, where some pretty female architect is schooling a contractor.

I know tomorrow I will wake up with the same yawning grief, but at least I did what I could to help Will get justice. At least there’s that.