“I guess I just wanted to get to bed. I was about to collapse. But it went smoothly enough. No glitches. I think the story we planted was believable.”

“What now?”

There were limits to what Gurney wanted to say in front of Madeleine. The whole enterprise could easily end up sounding way too risky. He answered as matter-of-factly as he could. “Basically, I get into position and wait for him to walk into the trap.”

Kyle looked skeptical. “Just like that?”

Gurney shrugged. Madeleine had stopped reading and was watching him.

Kyle persisted. “What were the magic words?”

“Pardon?”

“What did you guys actually say in your … your improvised scene … that’s going to make this guy show up?”

“We created the impression that there might be a way he could get rid of me. It’s hard to remember the precise—” His cell phone rang.

He looked at the ID screen and recognized Kim’s number. He was grateful for the interruption. The gratitude lasted about three seconds.

She sounded like she was hyperventilating.

“Kim? What’s the matter?”

“God … God …”

“Kim?”

“Yes.”

“What is it? What’s the matter?”

“Robby. He’s dead.”

“What?”

“He’s dead.”

“Robby Meese is dead?”

“Yes.”

“Where?”

“What?”

“Can you tell me where he is?”

“He’s in my bed.”

“What happened?”

“I don’t know.”

“How did he end up in your bed?”

“I don’t know! He’s just there! What should I do?”

“Are you in the apartment?”

“Yes. Can you come here?”

“Tell me what happened.”

“I don’t know what happened. I came here from the hotel this morning to get some more of my things. I went into the bedroom. I …”

“Kim?”

“Yes?”

“You went into the bedroom …”

“He’s in there now. On my bed.”

“How do you know he’s dead?”

“He was lying on his face. I tried to roll him over, wake him up. There’s the … the handle of something … sticking out of his chest.”

Gurney’s mind was racing, the puzzle pieces caught up in a whirlwind.

“Dave?”

“Yes, Kim?”

“Could you please come?”

“Listen to me, Kim. What you have to do right now is call 911.”

“Can you come?”

“Kim, my being there won’t help. You have to call 911. You have to do it right now. That’s the most important thing. Do you understand?”

“Yes. But I wish you were here. Please.”

“I know. But I’m going to hang up now, so you can make that 911 call. After you describe the situation to the dispatcher, call me back. You understand?”

“Yes.”

When Gurney broke the connection, Kyle and Madeleine were staring at him. Five minutes later, as he was still recounting the call to them in as much detail as he could, Kim called back.

“The dispatcher said the police are on their way.” Her voice sounded more controlled.

“Are you okay?”

“I guess. I don’t know. There’s a suicide note.”