get out the door. She stumbled backward, then fell, landing in a sitting position on the hardwood floor. “Oww, what the fuck, Mal?” she said.
“Stay right there.” I shook the coat, now in my possession, wondering if she’d hidden a weapon in it. The rolling pin, maybe.
Tess rolled a little onto her side in order to get her legs under her. “What is up with you?” she said.
Doubt flooded me, but I said, “I know what you did to Nick Pruitt,” just hoping that saying a name out loud would help confirm it.
She looked up at me, her hair now hanging on either side of her face, and said, “I have no idea who you’re talking about. Who’s Nick Pruitt?”
“You killed him two nights ago. You saw his book in my store, and you realized that I was investigating him because of his relationship with Norman Chaney. So you got to him first. You got him to drink with you, Dimple Pinch whiskey. Maybe you goaded him into drinking too much.”
Tess was staring at me, her eyes confused, and her mouth in a half smile, as though at any moment I was going to reveal the punch line to a joke. “Don’t you want me to know about it, to know about you? Isn’t that why I’m here?”
Tess now looked concerned. She said, “Mal, I’m going to get up. I have no idea what you’re talking about. Is this something between you and Brian? Is this a joke?”
“You know that list I mentioned,” I said.
“The list of murders?”
“Someone is using that list to actually kill people. I know I sound crazy. I’m not. The FBI have been talking with me. I thought it might have something to do with you. Or with Brian.”
“Why?” she said.
“Why were our coffees different? Why did you just tell me I couldn’t leave?”
She lowered her head and laughed a little. “Please, help me up. I promise I won’t kill you.”
I leaned down, and she took my hand and I helped her to her feet. “Our coffees tasted different because mine is decaf and yours was regular. And the reason I said you couldn’t leave was because I was trying to seduce you.”
“Oh,” I said.
“Brian knew, or Brian knows, I mean, that I was going to try. He’s fine with it. That part of our life is over, and now that I’m here in Boston for a while … He likes you.” She shrugged. “So did I.”
“Sorry,” I said.
“Don’t be sorry. It’s just ridiculous, is all. I’m trying to get you to spend the night, and you think I’m trying to kill you.”
“I haven’t been getting much sleep,” I said, suddenly embarrassed.
“Is it true? About the list?”
“It is,” I said. “Someone’s using it to kill people. And I’m pretty sure it’s someone who knows me.”
“Jesus. Are you willing to tell me about it? It really isn’t that late.”
“Not right now, okay?” I said. “I really do think I should get going. I’m sorry I pushed you. I’m sorry I …”
“It’s fine,” she said and hugged me, squeezing tight. I thought she’d try and kiss me, as well, but I guess that moment had passed. She pulled away and said, “Have a safe walk home. You want me to call you a cab, or anything?”
“No, thanks,” I said. “And next time we see each other, I’ll tell you more about what’s been going on.”
“I’ll hold you to that.”
After the door shut behind me, I stood outside on their front stoop for a moment. The street was quiet, the snow sticking to everything. I heard the distant sound of music and saw that people were exiting a bar down on the corner. I took the three steps down to the sidewalk and turned left, aware that I was stepping on pristine snow, leaving behind fresh marks. I hadn’t gone even half a block when I heard the steps behind me, rushing, and I turned to see Tess moving fast, coatless, something in her hand. I must have flinched because she stopped, three feet away from me, and reached out with a book in her hand.
“I forgot,” she said, a little bit breathless. “Brian really wanted you to have this. It’s an ARC of his new one. Don’t tell him I told you but he’s going to dedicate it to you.”
CHAPTER 26
I was home an hour later, cold and damp, and out of breath from clambering up my steep street in the accumulating snow.
I shed my coat, and my