Cover of Dear Debbie

Dear Debbie

by Freida McFadden


Genre
Thriller, Suspense, Fiction
Year
2026
Pages
320
Contents

Chapter 35

Overview

Debbie visits Harley’s isolated basement apartment for lunch and receives a friendly tour, but the visit turns unsettling when Debbie finds an oversized men’s T-shirt in Harley’s bedroom. The shirt’s familiar smell of cologne and sweat raises Debbie’s suspicion, shifting the lunch from a casual visit into a potentially revealing encounter.

Summary

Debbie drives to Harley’s house around lunchtime, noting that the trip is about as long as the one to Coach Pike’s and that traffic is light. Harley lives on a dead-end street with only one other house, which appears empty or abandoned. Following Harley’s instructions, Debbie goes around back to the basement apartment door while carrying salad and dressing.

Harley greets Debbie warmly in her workout uniform and invites Debbie inside to tour the apartment. Harley explains that her landlords live upstairs but are away in Michigan until Monday, leaving Harley completely alone. Debbie jokes that Harley should throw a party, and Harley hints that Harley has plans.

During the tour, Debbie observes that the basement apartment is small but efficiently arranged. In Harley’s bedroom, Debbie notices an oversized T-shirt crumpled on the dresser. Debbie picks it up before thinking and realizes it is a man’s shirt with a smell that feels painfully familiar.

Harley quickly takes the shirt back and claims that Harley sleeps in oversized T-shirts. Debbie notices that the shirt does not smell like Harley’s perfume or laundry scent but instead smells of men’s cologne and sweat. Although Debbie cheerfully suggests lunch, the discovery has unsettled Debbie enough that Debbie loses her appetite.

Who Appears

  • Debbie
    Visits Harley for lunch and becomes suspicious after finding a familiar-smelling men’s T-shirt.
  • Harley
    Welcomes Debbie into her basement apartment and quickly explains away the oversized shirt.
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