Booktree.ng_Forgotten-Witness

much as she appreciated Stephen Kyle’s help, it was Archer
she needed to talk to. His phone rang four times. He didn’t
answer. She left a message.
I found my mother.
Josie considered erasing it. There should have been some
more eloquent way to make such a momentous announcement.
Or maybe she should have kept it all business, reporting on the
circumstances, offering a tightly worded strategy for the next
hours and days but that was impossible. She had no strategy;
she didn’t know what would happen in the next minutes much
less days. Josie also realized that the message was exactly
right since those were the words that had run through her mind
when Emily looked at her. It had been so simple, so satisfying,
during that microsecond of recognition and relief. I found my
mother. Rage was what happened the second after that.
“Josie. Josie! Come here and put out your good hand,
woman.”
Josie pocketed her phone and looked over the side. Stephen
held the rope, ready to toss it. She caught it awkwardly and
stowed it. He had hold of the chrome railing and was ready to
swing onto the deck when the man from the office hailed them
as he ran down the dock.
“Bloody hell. Now what?” Stephen stepped down. Josie put
her hip against the railing as the man came up to her.
“Are you Josie Bates?”
“That’s me.”
“Got a message for you.” He handed her a piece of paper up
and left with a quick wave and an even quicker ‘aloha’.
Stephen got on the boat.
“Bad news?” he asked as he tried to look over her shoulder.
“It looks like we’ve got a date tonight,” Josie said.
“Ah, a three way. Lovely of you to include me.” Stephen
moved about, still trying to get a look. “That note isn’t from
Reynolds is it? Wouldn’t fancy a three way with Reynolds.”