MATTHEW AND BELINDA leave the restaurant, walk to the end of the alley, and turn toward Matthew’s apartment, which is only two blocks away. Matthew says, “The most incredible thing happened when I was coming out of the men’s room. That woman who was sitting at the next table, the redhead, was on the phone — ”
“Oh, I know,” says Belinda. “She was on the phone when I came out of the ladies’ room, and I think she must have been talking to the Chinese girl’s parents. She was saying ‘Mrs. Chu’ — ”
Before they are halfway up the block, they are startled by the sound of screeching tires. They turn to see a black Toyota come to a halt at an angle to the alley. A young Chinese man leaps out and rushes into the restaurant.
“Her brother,” says Matthew.
An older man gets out, then a young woman, and then an older woman, helped from the car by the young woman.
“Her parents. And a sister, I guess,” says Belinda.
“The redhead told them that the girl killed herself,” says Matthew, watching the wretched trio. “There, in the restaurant.”
“Oh, my God.”
“Let’s get out of here.”
“She was jealous,” says Belinda after a moment.
“Oh, I’m sure of it,” says Matthew. “She wanted that little blonde.”
“She was a beauty,” says Belinda.
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425: Matthew and . . .