YUKI GOT OUT of Lindsay’s car, saying, “Now I know what they mean about feeling no pain.”

  “We couldn’t stop you from downing two margaritas, sweetie, and God knows we tried. You’re way too little for that much octane. I’ll walk you inside.”

  “I’m okay, I’m okay.” Yuki laughed. “I’m going straight to bed. So I’ll talk to you on Monday, ’kay?”

  She said good night to Lindsay and walked into the lobby of the Crest Royal, said hello to Sam, the doorman, and wobbled up the three steps to the mail alcove. On the third try, she managed to get the tiny key into the tiny lock, pulled out the banded packet of mail, and took the elevator up to her apartment.

  The apartment was empty, but since the ghost of her mother lingered in the furnishings, Yuki talked to Mommy as she dropped the mail on the console in the foyer. An envelope slipped out of her fingers onto the floor. Yuki peered down at it. It was a padded envelope, not very big, dark brown with a handwritten label.

  She kicked off her high heels and said, “Mommy, whatever it is, it can wait. Your daughter is smashed.”

  But the envelope was intriguing.

  Yuki put one hand on the console, bent and picked up the envelope, stared at the unfamiliar handwriting in ballpoint pen. But the return address on the left-hand corner grabbed her. It was just a name: Junie Moon. Yuki ripped open the envelope as she walked unsteadily to her mom’s green sofa.

  Junie had been acquitted of Michael Campion’s death. Why would Junie be writing to her?

  Sitting on the sofa, Yuki shook the contents of the envelope out onto the glass coffee table. There was a letter and a second envelope with her name on it.

  Yuki unfolded the letter impatiently.

  Dear Ms. Castellano,

  By the time you get this I will be on the road somewhere, I don’t even know where. I want to see America because I have never been outside of San Francisco.

  I guess you’re wondering why I’m writing to you, so I’ll get to the point.

  The evidence you wanted is in the second envelope, and you’ll probably want to use it to give the Campions some closure.