I left Ellie with my neighbor Pat and drove to St. Luke’s.
Meredith sat in the corner with a coffee she hadn’t touched.
“You came,” she said.
“Have you been following my granddaughter?”
“Yes. For three days.”
“Why?”
“Have you been following my granddaughter?”
“I couldn’t make myself approach you. What was I supposed to say?”
“Then what happened at Walmart?”
“I was about to talk to you in the candy aisle. Then I saw Dad’s driver at the entrance.”
“His driver?”
“Dad discovered the ring was gone. He guessed what I was doing.”
“And sent someone after you?”
“Then what happened at Walmart?”
“Frank. To bring me home before I reached you.”
“So?”
“I panicked. I hid the ring behind the candy and let Frank take me to the car. Then I begged him to let me go back for my wallet.”
