Chapter 66

Annabelle lay awake with the bedroom door ajar, listening for Mike’s key in the lock.

The hatch opened on the cuckoo clock the kids loved, the tiny bird chirping one time.

Annabelle toyed with the idea of calling Chumley’s but resisted the impulse. Mike didn’t need her checking up on him as she would on a child.

As she tossed in the double bed, her mind turned to Jerome’s manuscript. She wished now that she had made it a point to read it all as soon as he’d given it to her. It would be a starting point in determining the people who might want to hurt him. But had Jerome somehow mistakenly contaminated himself? What was anthrax doing in his own house?

She would call the police tomorrow and let them know about the theft. Jerome undoubtedly had a copy of the manuscript at home; at the very least there would be one on his computer. That could help the police with their investigation.

She heard footsteps now in the hall. Annabelle switched on the bedside lamp. In the bedroom doorway, Mike swayed just a bit.

“Have fun?”

“Yeah. We had a good time.” He smiled.

My God, he smiled.

“How are the guys?”

Mike pulled his sweater over his head. “You know them. They’re always good for some laughs.”

Not recently, thought Annabelle.

“I’m so glad, Mike. It’s so good to see you happy.”

I pray it lasts, she thought. She wanted to tell him about what she had seen on the news tonight and how she now suspected that the stolen manuscript might be tied somehow to Jerome’s poisoning and perhaps even to Edgar’s murder, but she didn’t want to risk spoiling the moment.

He came over and sat on the edge of the bed. Annabelle could smell the not-unpleasant scent of beer as Mike leaned down to kiss her.

“I miss you, Annabelle.”

Even if it was the beer talking, Annabelle didn’t care as she closed her eyes and responded with hunger, feeling his strong arms encircle her body. It had been way too long, and she wasn’t about to let this opportunity slip by.

It was an affirmation of life, and she needed that.