“I’m losing it,” Kelly muttered to herself as she went through her apartment. She had few possessions, there was little to search. She remembered the key she had made of Matt’s apartment. On impulse she checked her own lock. The handle looked fine but the dead bolt was faintly scratched. Of course it probably had always been scratched. But had someone picked her lock?

“How does he do this to me!” she yelled at the ceiling.

Did she ask about the Acid Man or Matt?

The next day Kelly went for another walk with Matt, along the water. Jimmy was left with the babysitter, Barbara. The air was hot and stagnant. Even so close to the sea, she felt as if the sun ate at her flesh like hungry insects.

Matt wore shorts and nothing else. His well-defined muscles shone with a faint layer of sweat. If he had reached for her hand, she would have accepted. It was possible Matt was already beyond her reach. He said little—she sensed his mind chum: three days until David was supposed to die. Amy had not been back to Matt’s apartment since the planning session.

“So what’s new?” she asked after a long pause.

“Nothing.”

“How’s Amy?”

“She’s fine,” Matt replied.

She was casual. “I sometimes worry if I have another gallstone attack I won’t be able to reach you. The other day I tried to call on your cell and couldn’t get you.”

“Really?” He was surprised. Why not, she was lying.

“Do you have another cell phone that you use?”

He paused. “Yeah. I can give you the number.”

“Thanks.”

“How are you feeling in that area?”

“Fine,” she said.

We are all fine. Me, you, Amy, Jimmy, and the Acid Man. The latter acted like they were all invited to the same party. Tony was not so fine, though. The lonely boy had called her machine a few times. She replayed the messages endlessly. He begged her to come back. Good for him.

The next day, Wednesday, she talked to Matt on the phone but did not see him. Amy had yet to return to his apartment, although Kelly knew from eavesdropping that they were having lunch meetings. Kelly wished she had been able to place a bug inside Matt’s skull.

Thursday evening Matt disappeared and Kelly panicked.

Kelly spoke to Barbara and learned Matt was to be away for two days, and that Barbara was taking care of Jimmy for that time. That did not mean they intended to kill David Thursday instead of Friday. Matt might be using Thursday to prepare. Yet Kelly had a sinking feeling. She had been lucky to hear of their plan, but luck was a pendulum that always swung the other way. She cursed herself for not having checked on Matt earlier. It was already after six.