Annie wanted to say that, in reality, that wasn’t always true. Instead, she said, “Lucy is sweet. And very smart. But with smarts comes curiosity. Which sometimes gets her into trouble.”

“Like with the photos.”

“And the video.”

He closed his eyes. “I never should have done that. It was my fault, not hers.”

Annie paused. “What’s going on now, Jonas? I’m on your side, you know.” She wished she knew how to make him believe that.

“Taking everything off the internet was an easy fix. Other parts aren’t so easy.” Abruptly, he slid out of the booth and stood. “I need to use the men’s room.” Before Annie could respond, he went to the cash register, grabbed the key, and ducked out the doorway to the restrooms.

She toyed with her napkin, then with her spoon, then with the handle of the mug—not unlike the way that Donna had fidgeted when they’d gone to the Black Dog. Also like Donna, Annie hadn’t been born yesterday, nor—as Earl liked to say—had she been born the day before that. Jonas’s manner, his hesitation, and the way he’d averted his eyes had given her a clear message: he hadn’t told her everything. And whatever he’d left out, was no doubt why he’d packed up his car and was running away.

Picturing his vehicle loaded to the brim, Annie knew it looked like he was serious about leaving: first to Boston, then New York. As far as Annie knew, he’d mainly lived in New York City, on the Vineyard in summers, and, of course, in Chicago, where he’d gone to art school. Why was he going to Boston?

She stood up and looked outside to the parking lot. A pickup blocked her view. Then, suddenly, a burst of intuition rushed at her. Grabbing her purse, she tossed a few bills on the table and raced out of the restaurant. She wove between the cars and trucks until she reached her Jeep, which she’d parked next to Jonas’s Subaru. But his vehicle, like him, was gone.

* * *

Annie climbed into her Jeep, dropped her purse and jacket onto the passenger seat, and rested her forehead on the steering wheel. Damn, she thought. She checked her watch: eleven-fifteen. Probably too late to drive up island to see Winnie; by the time she’d arrive, Winnie and her family would be well into their Sunday activities. Annie could go to John’s, but he’d no doubt be sleeping. Which meant, if she were going to be able to resolve anything at all that day, her best chance would be to find Lucy—maybe she knew what had happened with Jonas. The good news was it hadn’t seemed as if she’d run off with him.