Page 42 of Finding Amanda

"Seven in the morning, to meet my friend."

"He must be quite a friend if he's willing to get here that early."

"He used to work for me. I throw a lot of business his way."

"Oh. That makes sense. I can let the guy in. You don't have to be here."

"I'll be here. Then you can do what you have to do without worrying about him. And I'll get the girls after school tomorrow. Can I keep them overnight?"

She shrugged. "Sure, I guess."

One hand gripping the front door, Mark turned to her. "Will you at least think about not publishing the memoir? We don't need the money. Your book is selling, your business is doing great, and so is mine. I mean, there's no reason?—"

"I'm sorry, Mark. I'm publishing it. I get that you don't understand, but it's something I have to do."

He studied her face. "Is it really worth risking your life?"

"My life's not in danger."

He let out a halfhearted laugh. "Whatever you say. Will you be okay here alone? I can spend the night if you want—on the couch."

"That would only confuse the girls."

"Right. I can see how having both of their parents sleeping under one roof would confuse them."

"You know what I mean."

"Fine. See you at seven."

Mark backeddown the long driveway and turned onto the two-lane state highway toward the center of town, past beautiful old homes and an ancient cemetery, which seemed small tonight in the shadows of the tall trees lining the road. Everything about this street screamed country lane except the line of traffic.

Mark pulled into the small lot of a corner store and parked. Leaving the car running, he slipped his hand into his frontpocket and retrieved his cell phone and the piece of scratch paper Amanda had given him.

He pressed Chris's speed dial number.

"Hey, pro," Chris said.

"You still at work?"

"Yeah. Long day."

"Do you have time to look up some names for me?"

"Did you get the list already?"

"Nope. I decided we should start with a smaller list and work our way out. She wrote down the names of the people who knew she was going to be there. I can text them to you if you want, or?—"

"Just read 'em. Who has time for texting?"

Mark chuckled and read the list.

"Are these people all writers?"

"Tim is her editor, Roxie is her agent, Suzie is a writer. Not sure about the other name."

"All from New York?"

"I think so. Susie's from upstate. I don't know about the rest, but she said it was a small conference. If you need more information?—"

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