McAdams pulled out the bill and handed it to her. Julia looked up and smiled. The kid attempted to smile back but it came out as more of a grimace.

“Um . . . this is me, of course. This is Emily . . . Emily Hall. This is Lance . . . hmm; I didn’t know they were even still in contact. This is take-out pizza. This is take-out Chinese. This is our nail salon . . . appears she was going without me, thank you very much.” She sighed. “I must seem petty.”

“You were hurt,” Decker said.

“I was very hurt. She blew me off and I didn’t know why. And the worst part was, she wouldn’t talk about it.” She looked down. “How long has she been missing?”

“We’re trying to figure that out. Can you tell me when you last spoke to her?”

“I guess it was the last time I saw her.” She looked up. “After she broke up with Lance, she changed . . . we didn’t see that much of each other.”

“Who else should we talk to about Angeline?”

“Maybe Emily Hall although I was closer to her than Emily was . . . I don’t mean it to sound jealous, just the way it was. When she complained to me about Angeline’s disappearance act, I was the one defending her. I suppose you could talk to Lance if they’re still in contact.” She thought a moment. “Maybe she’ll just show up.”

“Did she often take long weekends away?”

“Sometimes. Was she in class today?”

“No, she wasn’t,” Decker said. “Did she have class today?”

“I don’t know her schedule anymore.” She shook her head. “I mean, who reported her missing? Musta been her parents. Have you spoken to her parents?”

“We have.”

“This is just terrible! Do you think she ran away or . . .”

Decker said, “Do you have a water bottle?”

“Sure, in my minifridge. Help yourself. ”

Decker found a bottle, opened it up, and handed it to her. “There’s no easy way to tell you this, Julia.” He sat down next to her. “Angeline was found dead in her apartment.”

“Oh! My! God!” The tears were instant. “Oh God! I feel sick . . . oh, God, oh, God!”

McAdams sprung up. “Drink, Julia.”

“I can’t . . . I feel funny . . . real dizzy.”

“Put your head between your knees,” Decker said. “Slow your breathing down.”

But it was too late. Her eyes fluttered and rolled back into her head. She fell backward onto the mattress, dropping the bottle down McAdams’s leg, water spilling inside his boot. The kid jumped up. “Shit!”

Drolly, Decker said, “Well, kid, it looks like you finally got your feet wet.”

“Aren’t you witty.”

“You asked good questions by the way, Harvard. Keep it up.” Decker moistened a tissue with the remaining water in the bottle and ran it over her forehead. Julia stirred and started breathing out loud. “You’re okay, Julia. You’re okay.”