“Just heading back out there now.”

“What’s going on?” Telly said. “Can’t get a straight answer out of anyone. Why haven’t they found him yet?”

The man tapped his hat. “The team’s doing their best. I can tell you that, but it’s a real mess underwater. Lot of trash down there.”

“Trash?”

“Years of people dumping everything under the sun. It piles up. Won’t decay.”

“Terrible,” Dian said.

“Plus, the sediment. Even as careful as we are, once it gets disturbed, it’s nearly impossible to see. That lake is sixty-plus feet deep in places.”

“Jesus,” said Telly.

“And the witness. She’s hazy on where she even saw the boat. She couldn’t position it in relation to any landmarks, just never took notice. We can’t triangulate.”

“What do you mean?”

“You know, use some other markers to get a better idea. She just said she saw them out a ways. Wasn’t very specific.”

Telly rubbed at his face. His eyes went pink again. “What can we expect, Tony? I just want to bring him home, you know? It don’t seem right. Not being able to—you know.”

The man looked at me then, and they both took a step away. The man talked quiet, but I could still hear.

“Most likely, he’ll surface. Could be days, could be weeks. I don’t know a delicate way to frame it.”

“Just say it, Tony. I’m okay.” Telly didn’t look okay.

“There are instances on record where the individual never floats up.” He put his hand on Telly’s shoulder. “You got to be prepared for that.”

—

When I got home, Gloria called me into the kitchen. She was sitting at the table and she had a different dress on. I didn’t tell her it looked the exact same as the dress Dian was wearing at br-lunch. The same sweet peachy color. The same little flowers.

Instead I said, “It’s nice.”

“Nice? Can’t you think of anything better to say?”

I looked down.

“Well, I deserve it. Belinda loaned me her car today. I went for a stroll along Faye Street. No reason I can’t shop in those snooty little stores. Like everyone else.”

“Faye Street? I was there, too.”

“I know,” Gloria said. “Barney’s Diner. You and Telly and that other thing were sitting up front by the big window. Did you know your dad used to take me there? That man has no imagination.”

With her foot she pushed out a chair. Then she patted the seat.

“Now, tell me everything. What did she eat?”

I frowned.

“Something greasy, I bet.”

“I don’t know.”

“What do you mean, you don’t know? I saw you sitting right across from her.”

“Kind of.”

“Do you think she’s pretty, Bids?”

I shook my head.

“Tell the truth.”