Page 111 of The Instruments of Darkness

“It’s a good look for you.”

“I’ve had a lot of practice.”

“There’s one more thing about Gretton,” I said, because I’d been doing my research.

“Which is?”

“Stephen Clark was born about five miles from town. He lived there until his late teens, only moving closer to Portland after his parents died.”

“That makes me doubt Sabine Drew even more,” said Macy. “She could have read about his family history in the newspapers or researched his background to add plausibility to whatever line of bullshit she’s trying to feed you.”

“True,” I said. “But she couldn’t have known about Mara Teller and the straw purchase of the money order.”

That silenced Macy, even if it didn’t fully convince her. She took my hand.

“Let’s get some sleep. We both have a long day ahead of us tomorrow. I’m worried I might have worn you out.”

I took one last look at the world beyond the window and felt a presence staring back at me. I now knew why the smell of the marsh was so profound. I could tell when Jennifer was close. I tried to find the shape of her, but she had hidden herself well.

“Hey,” said Macy. “Bed.”

I turned away from the glass, and willed my dead child to keep her distance.

CHAPTER LXXI

The following morning, Macy grabbed an apple from the kitchen, filled her massive to-go cup with coffee, and was off before I’d managed to get my pants on.

Way to hurt a boy’s feelings, I texted.

Aw, Sweetums, came the reply, which about covered it.

I made a call to the Kopper Kettle to check whether Beth Witham was working. I was told she was busy with orders, and I said I’d try again later. I didn’t add that next time it would be in person.

I contacted Tony Fulci, who had taken over watch duties from his brother at the Clark house. Everything was quiet the previous night, he said, although he did notice one change: Colleen had placed an electric candle in the front window of the house before going to bed. When she came outside to check on the effect, Tony had asked after its purpose.

“It’s so Henry will be able to see it and find his way home,” she told him.

And I thought, My God.

“You still there?” asked Tony.

“I’m here.”

“I didn’t know how to answer,” he continued, “so I got back in my car and cried. I cried like a fucking baby. What does that say about me?”

“It says a lot, and all good.”

“You sure?”

“She couldn’t ask for better men to watch over her than you and your brother.”

Tony digested this in silence, in the manner of a man forced to consume unfamiliar yet not unpleasant food. He and Paulie weren’t used to receiving compliments, so he wasn’t sure of the appropriate response. In the end, he settled for “Maybe.”

“What about Antoine Pinette?” he asked.

“We had a conversation. His idiot brother Leo was one of the firebugs, but Antoine wasn’t with him, and didn’t sign off on the attack. Bobby Ocean put Leo up to it, so Bobby’s on today’s visitation list.”

“I know where Bobby lives,” said Tony, “if it helps.”