“She was only fifteen.” I try to keep the desperation out of my voice. I will sound calm and collected. “Chase, maybe it’s not my place to say so, but don’t you think it’s odd that there’s so much she hasn’t told you? Doesn’t it make you wonder if …”

He licks his lips. “If what?”

“Nothing. Never mind.” I get up from the stool and take a few steps toward the couch as if we’re done with the conversation. That’s when he draws me back.

“We had a good talk last month. She opened up and told me a lot of things. She even explained about Sully. It’s just a work thing. She promised not to be in touch with him after hours. So it’s not what you think. She’s private, for sure, but she’s not … you know. We’re close, and she wouldn’t keep something like that from me. Not something so … so formative, and upsetting. She would have told me.”

“Are you sure?” I said. “Do you really think I’d make up something like that about my own sister?” I stand in my place, feet planted, strong. “Sacred Heart Medical Clinic, in Horizon, North Dakota. There’s only one such clinic. September 2009. I took her there myself.”

He’s stock-still, stress beating out of him like a pulse. I let him suffer while I look at my phone.

“Also, Chase, I think this guy who’s after me, Eli Beck, he came here, to your loft, and Alex was home. She didn’t tell us. Not you. Not me. Are you sure Alex broke your canvas painting while she was vacuuming? My sister is not that clumsy.”

He looks so young and bewildered. I hand him my cell and let him scroll through Eli’s texts. “I haven’t lied about Eli, Chase. I haven’t lied to you about anything. But Alex has.”

He reads the texts, then gives me back my phone. “I need to … I can’t …,” he says. “I don’t know what’s going on. Why would she hide that? Why? It doesn’t even make sense.”

In my mind, over and over, I’m pleading with him to believe me. Be the very first one.

“Chase, where did those drugs in your bathroom go? Did you find them? Did you take them?”

He looks at me with disgust. “No! Of course not,” he says.

“I know,” I say. “And I didn’t take them, either.”

I can see the wheels in his mind turning. His eyes are round and sad.

“I need your help, Chase. Alex needs your help. Something’s not right.”