He pressed his lips together. “Then how do you know that’s what’s happening?”

“I told you. I saw it on Reddit.” She took the phone back, went to the site, and started clicking and scrolling. “And then I saw this photo. I’m almost certain that’s Bob, only he’s thinner for some reason.” Tears pricked her eyes. “It sounds like they might be making him do tricks for money.”

She held the phone out, but instead of taking it, he said, “Let me ask you something, Bridget. Do you think people are following you?”

What was Officer Poon saying? Had he seen something suspicious out in the parking lot? She hadn’t paid much attention on the drive over. “I guess they could be?”

“Hm.” He nodded, as if deciding something. “Are you under a doctor’s care? Is there someone I can call to be with you?”

The truth crashed down on her. “You don’t believe me.”

“Look—I believe you believe it.”

She got to her feet. “But Bob’s really in trouble! You have to believe me.”

Raising his open hands, he patted the air. “Calm down. I’m here to help you.”

“I don’t need help. It’s Bob that needs help.”

And suddenly Bridget saw herself as Officer Poon must. She had become a living version of the meme from in It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, the one where a paranoid Charlie covered the wall with layers of printouts and photos, and drew a web of incomprehensible connections between them while ranting about conspiracies.

Officer Poon was probably waiting for Bridget to declare the CIA was controlling her mind, or that she was an angel of the Lord.

And then things got even worse. Bridget saw movement out of the corner of one eye. When she turned, she saw Officer Rubio, with her hands on her hips.

“What’s the topic of discussion? It wouldn’t be Mr. Haldon by any chance, would it?”

“Miss Shepherd has a very complicated story,” Officer Poon said, his voice sliding on the word complicated. “I was just asking her if she was on any medication.”

“Which I am not!” Bridget crossed her arms.

“Sam, I dealt with Miss Shepherd yesterday, and I don’t share your concerns. She’s just a very big fan, one who’s maybe gotten in a little too deep. As I told her yesterday, Mr. Haldon is an adult. He’s allowed to leave town or even the country whenever he wants. He doesn’t have to tell anyone—including his fans—where he’s going, whether that’s Europe for research or just down the street for coffee. And as you learned yesterday, Bridget, Ms. Dart’s been in touch with him.”

“Been in touch with him! She kidnapped him!”