"It's against the law. That letter's evidence."
"Then we'll be accessories?"
"Yes."
"Burn it," Gabby said.
She spoke with such decision that Cooper took the envelope, placed it in the practical fireplace and touched a match to the corner. The flame ran along the edge and then curled slowly across the face. The letter crackled and gaped.
"Put it out!" Gabby cried so abruptly that Cooper started. She ran past him and beat the flame out with her hands and purse. Then she picked up the charred envelope and opened it. It was empty.
"What happened to the letter?" Gabby asked.
Cooper made a feeble gesture. "I can't keep up with this. I—Maybe he didn't write the letter. Just the envelope. Maybe he—Was it last night? He was probably plastered. For God's sake, who can figure anything Jake does sober, let alone drunk? I tell you, I'm lost in this. I'm nowhere."
"Isn't there anything we can do?"
"Get him off The Rock. Send him somewhere. Get him out of here."