“Forty-eight hours is a long time, Arthur,” she said.

“Run the machine tonight.

Eight minutes, full mask.”

She gave me the smile she used on caterers.

Then she stepped back, and Micah walked past her holding the cereal box tight to his chest, and Elsie followed in her mismatched socks.

Through the doorway and down the hall, I could see into the bedroom at the far end.

The nightstand drawer was pulled halfway out, and a bank envelope lay inside, stuffed so full the flap stood up.

Delaney closed the door, and the deputy noted the time in his notebook.