“That doesn’t mean you didn’t do it,” Lola said. “It could have been a crime of passion. You just couldn’t bear that he loves me now.”

“Ha!” Kitty let out a mirthless laugh. “In case you didn’t notice, dearie, Robbie was already looking to replace you. Or did the fact that he dumped your lame ass escape you?”

“He didn’t dump me!” Lola wailed. “He just wanted to take a break. Lots of couples do that.”

“You’re pathetic,” Kitty sneered. “If Robbie wanted a break, it means he was done with you. In fact, I do believe it was our lovely librarian here who caught his eye.”

“No, I—” Lindsey protested but Lola’s crying drowned out her words.

“He would have gotten sick of her,” Lola said. She sniffed and wiped her nose on her sleeve. “She’s not a theater person. Robbie never liked anyone outside of the theater. He said they didn’t understand our world. She was just a plaything to him.”

“Plaything?” Lindsey asked. Now she was getting irritated.

“Now you’ve done it,” Kitty said. “You’ve made the book nerd mad.”

“I’m not mad,” Lindsey said.

“Then why is your face red?” Kitty asked.

“It’s hot in here,” Lindsey said.

“And getting hotter,” Kitty taunted her. “So, were you interested in Robbie? Did you fancy yourself as his next girlfriend?”

“No!” Lindsey protested. “He was charming, but I had no intention of dating him.”

“I don’t believe you,” Lola said. She had stopped crying and was eyeing Lindsey like she’d like to do her some harm. “Everyone loved Robbie. Women were always throwing themselves at him, even when he was with me.”

“Same here,” Kitty said. “Even when our marriage was happy, which, all told, was about six months long, women would chase him down the street, show up naked at our front door, send him expensive presents.”

“Remember that one woman who tried to kidnap him?” Lola asked.

“That was on your watch,” Kitty said.

“I know, but who expected a team of men to shimmy down from a hovering helicopter and scoop him up from the breakfast table?” Lola asked. “I really wasn’t prepared for that.”

“What happened?” Lindsey asked in awe.

“Some rich woman decided that Robbie was going to be her shiny new toy,” she said. “He had to make a run for it.”

“But he got away?” Lindsey asked.

“Oh yeah,” Kitty said. “He just had to go hide out for a while. You wouldn’t believe some of the crazy things women do to get noticed.” She paused and looked at Lindsey. “Maybe that’s why he took a shine to you. You’re not like that.”

“Thanks, I think,” Lindsey said. The three of them were silent for a moment. Lindsey was trying to wrap her head around the stories Lola and Kitty told her and the strange relationship they seemed to share.