They noticed it with the trash.
Lena was the one who carried the bags out that Tuesday night, the plastic biting into her fingers as she stepped onto the porch. The air smelled like rain that hadn’t decided yet. She dumped the bags into the bin, shut the lid, and stood there for a moment longer than necessary, listening to the quiet.
When she came back inside, she nearly tripped.
The envelope lay on the hallway rug, perfectly centered, like it had been placed with care.