Chapter 6

Paloma Reyes left the clubhouse twelve minutes after Adele.

She did not walk fast. She did not run. She stood up from the table, the black binder still clutched to her chest, and looked at the room full of neighbors who had just watched her cry, and said, "I'm going to the office. I'm going to make a copy for the county. I'm going to turn over the binder."

Then she walked out, and the room watched her go.

Hal wait for the door to close, then turned to Bruce, who had not moved from the end of the table.

"You should go after her," Hal said. "Apologize. Before she files her own report."

Bruce's head came up slowly. His face was gray. "I didn't— I never threatened her. She's lying. She's trying to save herself."

"Paloma's not lying," Hal said. "I've known her for six years. She's the kind of person who files everything, double-checks every invoice, apologizes for existing. She doesn't lie. She gets scared, and she hides, and she cries, but she doesn't lie."