That was all.

After that, the truth, whatever it was, would be smoke.

Chapter 4 — Mommy Is Screaming

The service began.

The pastor spoke, in his gentle practiced way, about a life cut tragically short.

And then, in the middle of it, the air around our pew dropped cold again.

Veronica started to shake.

Sweat stood out on her forehead in that cold, and her fingers closed around mine so hard her nails bit into my skin.