“I’m not sure how that part of it works. But it’s just a request. I’m not under arrest. He was clear about that.”

“Are you going to go?”

“Yes. It’s going to wreak havoc on my schedule, but I don’t think I have a choice.”

“I thought you just said it was a request?”

“It was, but I don’t think it’ll look good if I refuse to cooperate.”

It was my turn to take in a deep, shaky breath. “I guess not. But I don’t think you should go alone. I’ll call Paul and see if he can meet you there.”

Paul O’Keefe was an attorney, and an old family friend. He had taken care of our estate planning, and a few other minor legal matters for us over the years.

“No, don’t. I’ve already talked to a criminal attorney—a woman named Natalie Clarke. She’s going to meet me there.”

“You’ve hired an attorney?”

“Well, technically no, since I haven’t paid her yet. I told her I’d bring her a check with me to the Sheriff’s office.”

This was all moving far too quickly for me. I could feel my hands gripping the steering wheel too tightly, and I forced myself to relax them. “I’ll meet you there, too.”

“No, please don’t. I don’t want to be there, and I definitely don’t want to drag you into it. But, to be honest, I have no idea how long this is going to take, so don’t wait on me for dinner. I’ll be home when I can.”

I hesitated. “James?”

“Yes?”

“Please be careful.”

James laughed without humor. “Of course I will. But try not to worry. And please just let me take care of this. I know you’re trying to help, but you getting involved isn’t going to help. Okay?”

“Okay,” I said.

“Thanks. See you later, sweetheart.”

Chapter Six

I’d lied to James. I had no intention of staying out of it.

As soon as I got home, I headed to our home office, opened my laptop, and Googled Doctor Nico Barlos. Nico had done his residency with James in Miami, and he was one of the five people who’d been on the camping trip that weekend. Unlike Parker, Nico and James had not stayed in touch. They’d fallen out of contact before James and I had met, back when he was working for an orthopedic practice in Miami and I was still employed at my public relations firm.

We’d moved to Shoreham when I was pregnant with Paige and we were ready to trade in city living for a smaller, more family-friendly town. James had been the one who insisted on the move, after hearing about yet another break-in in our old neighborhood.

“I want my family to be safe,” James had said at the time.