USING JOSH TO MANIPULATE Nate was low; I knew that. I’d completely forgotten that the hospital had installed cameras in the clinic a few weeks back. I couldn’t have Nate see that video. He’d wonder why I’d lied and said I’d gone upstairs to Oncology, why I’d gone into the clinic’s supply closet instead. And what if, one day, investigators found out prescriptions had been stolen from my clinic? He’d easily put two and two together.

I was catastrophizing, I knew, but I couldn’t risk it. I had to stop him from seeing that video.

A flash of something, the glare of light, brought my attention to the bedroom window. I spread the blinds and peered outside. There was a black truck parked across the street from my house. It was the kind drug dealers and men worried about the size of their penis drove: shiny paint, chrome wheels, double cab.

Tentacles of fear climbed up my neck. Charlie whined and nosed his palm against my knee, sensing my anxiety.

The unmatched sock in my hand tumbled to the floor. I turned and raced downstairs, Charlie lumbering behind me. I pulled the front door open, but whoever was in the driver’s seat had seen me. The truck’s engine roared to life, and the squeal of tires hit my ears. I watched it disappear around the corner, my breath tight.

I shut the door and locked the dead bolt. I peered out the peephole, staring at the empty space where the truck had been, hugging myself.

Charlie whined again.

“Who was that, Charlie?” I whispered. I stroked his ears, trying to ease some of his agitation. And mine.

My heart was thudding almost painfully. The blood had drained to my feet, turning them into boulders. I slid down the door until I was sitting on the floor. Charlie clambered onto my lap. Despite his age, he still acted like a puppy sometimes, his tail flapping, tongue lolling with excitement that he had my attention.

“What am I going to do?” I murmured.

Charlie tilted his head. His forehead skin folded into a bevy of wrinkles as he gave me that wise look basset hounds seemed to have.

Stars prickled in front of my eyes. I felt like I’d been dropped down a rabbit hole with the wolf sitting right outside.

And the wolf was my husband.

I finally forced myself to stand and returned upstairs to my bedroom. I grabbed my purse from the dresser and unzipped the side compartment, pulling out my burner phone.

“Mommy!” Josh called from the living room. He was watching Star Wars for the nine hundredth time. The distinctive zipping sound of lightsabers set my teeth on edge.

“Just a minute, Joshy!” I called, dialing a familiar number.

Gabe answered on the first ring.

“Emma.” He sounded pissed. “You have to stop calling me. My girlfriend’s getting seriously weirded out.”