“A police car just pulled up in front of my house.” Quinn’s voice was a whisper.

Emily put her hand over the mouthpiece. She told Frank, “Her husband didn’t come home last night and the police just pulled up in front of her house.”

Frank asked, “What does she expect you to do about it?” at the same time as Quinn said, “Oh . . . my . . . God.”

Emily shushed Frank. He moved alongside her and she angled the receiver so he could hear.

“Two police officers.” Quinn’s voice was faint. “They’re getting out of their cruiser. They’re walking up to the door.” A doorbell chimed. “Should I answer?” She didn’t wait for Emily’s response, which was just as well, because Emily didn’t know what to say. “Go away, go away, go away,” Quinn whispered. “Shit. There’s the bell again.” A pause. “Now one of them’s going around back.”

Emily listened, her heart in her throat. The last thing she heard before the line went dead was what sounded like banging on a door.

Emily tried calling back but the call went directly to voice mail. She hung up, shaken.

Frank said, “So this is someone you met exactly once? Why is she calling you?”

Because they’d bonded? Because Quinn had shared her fantasy of what life would be like without her husband, and then he’d disappeared?

“She sounds more than slightly neurotic,” Frank said.

“Wouldn’t you be upset? Her husband’s missing and the police show up on her doorstep?”

Frank gave a dismissive wave. “Hysteria is not a good strategy when you’re dealing with police. Speaking as a former criminal defense attorney. You want to help her? I know you do. She shouldn’t be alone.”

Emily didn’t need to be convinced, not with Quinn’s We were just kidding around, right? echoing in her head. Quinn hadn’t called her because Emily was her new best friend.

“I could go over there, but I’m not sure I’d be much help,” Emily said. “I’ve never had to deal with the police.”

Frank gave her a long, hard look. “Do you want me to come with you?”

Relief flooded through her. “Would you?”

“She needs to know that I can’t represent her. I don’t deal with police or missing husbands or—”

“But you’d know what to do if it comes to that. You could connect her with the right attorney. I’m sure she’ll just be grateful to have someone there who’s got some idea what’s going on.” Emily grabbed her bag and got out her car keys.

“Let’s get over there,” Frank said. He took the keys from Emily. “They’re probably asking questions that she shouldn’t be answering right now.”

14