“She got in the car, acted happy, and started talking about going on location and stuff. I took her to her apartment because she said she had to get a few things. I waited outside for her because she said it wouldn’t take long, but I sat there for forty-five minutes and she still hadn’t come out. Which irritated me because I had an appointment to get my nails done at four. I texted and got no answer. Called, no answer. Went up to her place, knocked and knocked, and she didn’t come to the door. I got scared and went and found the building manager. She begrudgingly let me in only because I was the emergency contact, but Chase wasn’t in the apartment.”

Olivia turned off the sauce. The worry inside her had burgeoned into something with teeth. Surely Chase wasn’t about to throw away everything they’d done because she’d flubbed an audition. The actress had been down about Zeke, but she’d seemed so confident and focused on a new life. She wouldn’t use. And surely she wouldn’t do something like . . .

Like Marley.

No. Chase wasn’t like Marley. Not really. They were a little bit alike, but Chase was in a good place.

Don’t worry, big sis. I’m in a good place. I’m cool.

“Okay, so did you try to track her with the phone app?” Olivia asked, pressing down the panic.

Lorna sighed. “Of course I did, but you told me to turn it off, and Chase fixed it so I couldn’t locate her.”

Olivia licked her lips and thought. “Let me call her. She’ll likely answer me. Maybe.”

“Call me back.”

Olivia hung up the phone and paced the floor. Outside, daylight retired, the orange globe sinking into the darkened Pacific Ocean. A family walked down the beach, laughing as the wind caught their beach ball and their small child scampered after it. She took a deep breath and tried to calm herself.

Then she dialed Chase’s number, tapping her fingers against the marble of the counter while she awaited the rings. Four full rings passed before the phone went to voice mail.

“Chase, this is Olivia. I made shrimp scampi for dinner and hope you’re planning on joining me to celebrate the conclusion of Square One. Please call me back.”

Sounded not so threatening or panicked. And no mention of the audition. But just to be certain Chase knew Olivia was trying to reach her, she texted the same thing to Chase’s number. For a few seconds, little bubbles appeared after her text.

“Oh, thank God,” Olivia breathed.

But then the bubbles went away.

She scowled at the phone before texting. Call me. I’m worried.

No bubbles. No nothing.

Chase? Is everything okay? Please respond.