“The schedule, the handwriting, and any statement she makes about preparing it.

The envelope date alone isn’t an alibi test.”

It remained in the file.

It lost the importance I had tried to give it.

The key remained too, evidence of access rather than identity.

The photographs showed the scene and my observations rather than the whole evening.

I could feel the case becoming stronger precisely because Ruth would not let us claim too much for any one piece.

At the apartment, Lily watched me put the folder on a high shelf.