Book Four: Chapter 218

“Here, let me get it.” Beth walked past him to where the tea kettle was. He handed over the cup that had contained the spider, and she poured in some tea. He couldn’t help but notice that she was wearing a white dress with red spots on it that hugged her stomach and butt, then flared out dramatically just under her thighs. The last week had been so busy with home repairs that he had barely seen her except at meals.

“Thank you.” He took the cup from her and sipped it, the sweet aroma of chamomile flooding his sinuses.

“You’re welcome.” Beth sat down on the edge of the desk again. “I feel like I haven’t seen you.”

“It’s been busy,” he replied. Was Beth wearing perfume? He couldn’t tell if it was the chamomile or her, but he caught the occasional whiff of something pleasant. “Between fixing everything, buying new computers. That police thing where they came looking for Marco.”

Apparently after being reported missing, police had done a welfare check on Marco and