Mishi did not return from Rohn to the house in the dew-covered district of Kita’s suburbs until dawn. It looked deserted, yet she had the feeling that some of the closed windows had been left open.
She entered cautiously, calming herself with the thought that Tay was supposed to be in Hertis for another four days. With the sense that something was different even here in the hallway, she laid her coat over the shoe cabinet and took a step into the kitchen.
She turned on the light, and that was when she saw Tay sitting on the bench. Almost slumped against it. He was staring rigidly at the refrigerator, idly spinning a familiar, worn scrap of paper on the table with one hand. Even the harsh light did not make him look away.
Mishi’s throat tightened at his expression and at the tense way he handled the evidence beneath his fingers. She felt guilty. Like a teenager who had sneaked out despite house arrest.
“Where did you find it?” she whispered.
“In the hallway,” he replied just as quietly. “You must have dropped it. You were in a hurry.”
“How—” she didn’t understand his certainty.
“One sleazebag from a newspaper called me. Luckily not an important rag. I managed to… silence him. He has photos from your entire night—do you want to see them?”
As he said it, he glanced at the counter, where a thick envelope lay. He stood up and exhaled heavily, trying to keep himself under control.
“I didn’t see them,” he said, “but the description was enough.”
He took the envelope and shoved it forcefully into Mishi’s hands. “As a keepsake.”