Page 251 of Ranger's Wildflower

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“She was talking about the drive.”

Yeah.

That tracks.

“So where is it?” I ask.

“I don’t know,” she says—but she’s already shaking her head.

No.

She’s remembering.

“I got out of the passenger side,” she says.

I still.

“We knew you weren’t driving.”

“Yes, I never was. But I asked Cathy to let me drive.”

That truth lands differently now.

Stronger.

“Cathy was still inside,” she continues. “She kept saying the same thing. Don’t tell them.”

She falters.

Then—

Something clicks.

“And then—”

“What?” I push.

“I reached across her,” she says.

Her hands move slightly.

“I felt something. Hard. Small. Not part of the car.”

I lean in slightly.

“What kind of something?”

She shakes her head.

Then—

“It was on her.”

Everything shifts.

“That changes everything,” I say.

“Did you take it?”

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