“Mm.” She said it the way she said most things, like a door closing in some other room.

“It would be a pity to see your name in the newspaper.”

The doors opened again.

She stepped in, and they slid closed on her without a sound.

Helen had two plastic cups of iced tea sweating on the counter before I’d even gotten my purse off my shoulder.

I told her the amount.

She put her cup down and left it sitting there.

“Say that one more time, honey.”