Page 92 of The Writer

Beep!

Beep! Beep!

In a neat stack at the corner of her desk is the manuscript of Denise’s latest book,The Taking of Maggie Marshall. Part of him wants to grab it but he knows he can’t. It will be found here as she left it. Most likely it will be published posthumously. Most likely it will sell better than all her earlier books. Isn’t that what always happens when a writer dies? He can’t help wondering what that book will mean for Declan’s reputation. Is he still the villain of her story or did she update the book to put it all on Geller Hoffman? Is Lucero some twisted martyr?

“Doesn’t really matter,” he tells the cat. “One news cycle and the world will forget.”

Beep! Beep! Beep!

“Christ, what the hellisthat?”

With each beep, a small message box appears at the top right corner of the screen but vanishes before he can read it.He moves the cursor up and over and manages to click on the message, which brings up an open browser window. A page from Denise Morrow’s website. It takes Cordova a second to realize what he’s looking at, and when he does, the world diffuses; traffic sounds are muffled, everything is underwater. He reads the top of the website page.