“Seems like you have some outstanding fines. Are you aware you’re driving with a suspended license?”

“I told that woman that I was told I didn’t have to pay.”

“Turn around, ma’am.”

“Excuse me?”

“Ma’am,” he said, putting his hand on his piece again, oh god he loved putting his hand on his piece. “Turn around and put your hands on the vehicle.”

Jillian’s stomach plummeted and things became slow. She saw people looking at her as they drove past. Her body relaxed and she did as she was told. The officer used his radio to say, “Bring a tow truck to Palatine and Quentin, we’ve got a car that needs to go to the impound.”

Jillian was too angry to cry, was that why she wasn’t crying?

“Oh, and bring some trash bags. Car’s full of shit.”

Ah, but then she started crying. The officer put his hand on her head and led her to the cop car and, still with his hand on her head (which covered over half of her skull) he made her duck into the back seat.

She was formally served and fined and her court date was mandatory and she had no car to get to work, so she didn’t know what to do when she finally got home that night at 11:30. Elena from church group was sitting with Adam teaching him to color, even though it was 11:30 and he already knew how.

“Why don’t you go get ready for bed,” said Elena. Adam hopped up and did as he was told, mostly because he was exhausted and wanted to go to bed and was sick of being bossed around about how to color, but his obedience to another woman’s orders still hurt Jillian’s feelings.

“Where’s Crispy?” asked Jillian.

“In the bathroom, sleeping with the lights off,” said Elena.

“DO YOU KNOW where Jillian is?”

“No, do you?”

“No, I thought you might know.”

“No, she didn’t say anything.”

“Was she here yesterday?”

“Yes.”

“But not today?”

“No.”

“Can you cover for her?”

“I have been. I mean, yeah, it’s fine. Of course. Do you need anything?”

Dr. Billings shrugged.

Yesterday, Megan was still feeling demolished from the weekend and she and Jillian hadn’t really talked, but Jillian had seemed normal. Her absence was intriguing.

Jillian was at home. She turned off her phone. When Elena showed up that morning to drop Adam off at day care she was dressed.

“Thank you so much for doing this for me.”

“It’s fine, what are friends for?”

“No, I mean, I really owe you one. Whenever you need something, if it’s something I can do, you know, I’ll do it.”

Elena put her hand on Jillian’s shoulder and said, “I  know.”