Joey shrugs. “I thought of that. They said don’t worry. They’re setting it all up. All they told me so far is I won’t need to take any pictures no more. All I gotta do is call them.”

“How you gonna do that if you’re surrounded by cops?” Or if you’re dead?

Something isn’t making sense to Zack. Likely something Joey has missed, or misunderstood, or isn’t explaining right. Zack can understand how they are purposely keeping him in the dark. But Joey does seem clear on one thing—that this is his doom. Zack senses this is one thing Joey is right about.

“What does it pay?” asks Zack.

Joey smiles bitterly. “They said I owe them. For getting me out. They said I owe them for fucking up in the first place and almost bringing them down. So I ain’t seein’ no payday.”

Zack nods slowly. Just confirmation of Joey’s instincts. No need to pay a dead man.

And now the big question. “What do you want me to do?” What on earth can I do for you, Joey?

“Help me.”

“Help you?”

“Like you did last time. Figure it out.”

So this is what’s left of the most terrifying episode of his life, thinks Zack. This is what’s left of surviving a murder attempt. Being misperceived as some sort of wizard.

Zack has no idea what to do. Where to begin. And most immediately, what to say.

A text comes in. He takes out his phone. Emily.

I didn’t know you had a shift. When you gonna be home?

Soon as I’m done talking to Joey Richter. I decided to see him, Emily. To hear him out. Maybe help him out. I didn’t delete his text.

Hah. Right. Zack feels awful.

Home soon, he texts her back.

If he just gets up and walks away from Joey, the lies can stop before going any further.

He’s actually about to. About to stand up and step slowly back toward sanity.

He looks up at Joey. Joey is smiling broadly.

“What?” What could he possibly be smiling at suddenly like that?

Joey can’t stop smiling. “Your phone.”

Zack looks down at it. “Yeah, well, after what happened, I just got myself a disposable.”

Joey reaches into his pocket. Zack sits up a little, nervously.

Joey pulls out his phone and slaps it onto the table.

“Zack, that’s what they got me too! A disposable. Just so they could reach me. And, Zack, look.” He’s practically giddy. “It’s the exact same phone! The exact same disposable!”

My God. They have the same phone. Again.

As if their fates are forever tied. As if it is some trick, some stunt of the universe. Some loop in the time-space continuum.