North Carolina Boundary Lines Drawn on an Oak Desk

facts.

I picked up my phone and dialed Don’s number.

“It is gone, Don,” I said when he answered.

“What is gone, Clara?”

“The duplicate ledger,” I said. “They took it from my shelf.”

The line went silent for three long seconds.

“I am coming over,” Don said.

I hung up the phone and looked at the empty spot on my shelf where the ledger used to sit, my hands continue reading …