Rachel saw her own name written across the front.
RACHEL MERCER.
The handwriting was Audrey’s.
Her stomach dropped.
“When did she give you that?”
“Three days ago.”
Rachel looked up sharply. “Three days ago?”
“Friday afternoon.”
“She wasn’t supposed to be here Friday.”
“She came by after school.”
“How?”
“I don’t know. She arrived alone.”
Rachel took the envelope but did not open it.
The paper was warm from Mara’s hand.
“What did she say?”
Mara leaned against the filing cabinet, arms folding again. “She asked me to keep it somewhere safe.”
“For what?”
“She said if she stopped coming completely, I should give it to you.”
Rachel’s eyes went to the name on the envelope.
A roaring sound filled her ears for half a second.
“Stopped coming completely,” she repeated.
“That’s what she said.”
“Did you ask her what that meant?”
“Yes.”
“And?”
