Chapter 12
Terrill arrived at the Black Bear restaurant a few minutes late. The skies had cleared in the late afternoon and he’d had to wait for the sun to sink behind the Cascade Mountains before venturing out.
He’d thought all day about how much to give to Sylvie. Too much money and she might wonder: too little, and she might just spend it all on other things. He decided on an amount and wrote out a check with the Prestigious Insurance heading. If it turned out not to be enough, he could always send more later.
Chainsaw carvings of black bears surrounded the restaurant, and paw prints were stenciled onto the sidewalk. The entrance was enclosed within a gift shop selling kitschy plates and statues. It was dinnertime, and the place was packed.
Sylvie was talking to some friends near th
