Caroline carried the crate down the narrow wooden steps to Paige’s rust-spotted station wagon parked in the gravel alley.

The sharp autumn wind off Narragansett Bay brought the smell of damp pine and cold salt marsh grass through the yard.

At six thirty, Caroline sat alone in a dark vinyl booth at the diner across from the central bus terminal.

A thick white ceramic mug of black coffee sat untouched on the green Formica table beside her open canvas handbag.

The waitress laid a handwritten guest check face down beside the sugar dispenser and walked back toward the counter.