Walker's arms were at his side. He was trembling. I could hear his breath heaving in and out. The Lab had stopped wagging her tail and was pressing in against my leg. Leaning on the wall, Hawk looked as if he might doze off. Mary Lou pressed her face into the angle of Walker's neck and shoulder. She had her arms hard around him.
"Please, darling, please. We'll go away. We'll start over. Please…"
Slowly, Walker's arms left his sides. They seemed to move on their own, as if he had no knowledge of them. His arms went around her and held her as hard as she held him.
"We'll go," he said. "We'll go."
"Walker," I said.
"We're going," he said.
His voice was hoarse.
"Walker, she killed her husband or had him killed. She killed Ratliff or had him killed. She used her husband. She used Ratliff. She used Tannenbaum. She's using you."
"You can't stop us," Walker said.
With his arms still around her, he turned toward the door. He was wearing a gun, but he made no move for it.
"You will never be able to trust her," I said.
They walked to the door. Mary Lou was still sobbing. The dog left my leg and went after her. Mary Lou put a hand down and took the dog's collar. Hawk looked at me. I shook my head. Walker, Mary Lou and the dog went out her front door and it closed behind them. I didn't move. Hawk didn't move. Outside we could hear Walker's car start up and pull out of the driveway.
"She probably killed several people," Hawk said.
"Or had it done," I said.
"Same thing."
"I know."
"You letting her walk," Hawk said.
"No," I said. "I'm letting him walk."
We were quiet. The house was quiet. I could still smell the hint of her cologne in the cool interior.
"Maybe I'm sentimental," I said.
"Maybe," Hawk said.