Casey sniffed, cleared her throat. “I was so afraid each time that this would be the time I suffocated. The more I struggled, the more excited he became. The last time, he told me he wasn’t coming back, and if I could find the phone, I could call you.”

“He must have decided then he was going to kill himself.”

“The last time, he called me by a different name.”

“What was the name?”

“Avery.”

Jordan stiffened. “Are you sure?”

“Yes.”

“Do you know Avery?” Jordan asked carefully.

“No.”

Jordan moved to the edge of her seat, staring into the darkness and willing her eyes to work. But the shadows did not dissipate. Christ, what she would not trade right now to have her sight back for just a few hours.

She fumbled in her pocket for her phone. She needed to call Avery immediately. “Thank you, Casey. I’ll come back.”

“I’m so sorry, Detective Poe.” She began to weep.

“It’s not your fault. All the blame lies with him.”

Using her cane, she made her way past the curtains pulled in front of the door and pushed them back. In the hallway, the air lightened, and the sound of the nurses’ voices at their station anchored her location. “Call Avery.”

Her phone dialed and quickly rang one, two, three, and four times. The call went to voicemail. “Avery, this is Jordan. Call me. Now.”

If Avery was working late at the café, she could still be behind the register or busing tables. “Call Austin City Café.”

The phone rang, and a young man picked up on the second ring. “Austin City Café.”

“This is Jordan Poe. I’m looking for my sister, Avery Poe.”

“Oh, hey, Jordan. It’s Matt.”

She pictured a tall skinny kid who was studying premed at the University of Texas.

“Jordan, Avery’s not worked here in over a week. She quit to take care of you.”

“I must be confused. Avery said she was still working at the café.”

“Not here. Maybe she got a gig somewhere else.”

“Okay. Thanks, Matt.” She ended the call and pictured Avery in a dark alley, exchanging cash for heroin; then she rejected the image. She redialed Avery’s number. “I don’t know what the hell is going on, but you need to call me. Matt said you quit your job.”

Jordan had once known all of Avery’s favorite spots. The alleys, abandoned houses, and lots where she bought and used. Christ, they had come so far, and now it was all sliding backward. “Avery, I can’t do this without you.”

When Avery arrived at the house, she was surprised it was dark. She pushed through the front door. “Jordan?”