“I can’t get a handle on this anger thing,” Lauren said. She stared down at the breast pump in her suitcase, the picture of a smiling baby Matthew in its silver frame. “I black out. I’ve been saying things that I don’t remember—and doing things, too.” Her heart was pounding so fast. “That day with Piper—I don’t remember. I mean, I remember being in her office, and then running out, but after that . . . I don’t know what happened. I’m scared I did something.”

There was a long silence. Andrea cleared her throat. “You think you hurt Piper?”

“I don’t want to think it. But it wasn’t the first time it happened. I’ve . . . I’ve even hurt my baby.” She felt tears blur her eyes. “I need to get a hold of what I’m doing.” Something else occurred to her, too, and she took a breath. “As far as Piper goes, I’ll call and confess. I don’t want anyone blaming you or Ronnie. I’m sorry if they’ve already reached out to you. I’m sorry if they know more about you—it’s my fault. I’m sorry for everything.”

The line was silent for a long, long beat. “The police know?” Andrea whispered. “What did you tell them?”

Lauren moved her tongue into her cheek. “Nothing. But I must have told Graham . . . and he did. That Allegra guy came to the house earlier, presumably to talk to me personally.”

“But I just saw them, at Silver Swans.” Andrea sounded puzzled. “I even talked to that Allegra guy. I mean, unless he’s withholding it for some reason, but I think he’d enjoy taunting me with it, asking if my father knows.” Then she paused, took in a breath. “Why did you tell your husband?”

“I don’t remember. I guess I was desperate.”

“And you’re sure he told the police?”

What had Graham said? Just that he’d spoken to the police about what she’d said about Andrea’s and Ronnie’s motives . . . but not specifics. Had she misinterpreted this, somehow?

“Lauren,” Andrea said. “First off, I don’t think the cops know. I could check with Ronnie—you’re worried you told your husband about Esme and he repeated it, right? Well, I don’t think that happened. We would have heard from her by now.”

Lauren sat down on the bed. Her head swam. “But Graham made it out like he told them something . . . vital.”

“Maybe he only thought he did—or maybe they made him think that for some reason. But also? You didn’t do this to Piper.”

Lauren wiped a tear. “But what if I did ?”

“No, I’ve figured something out. With Carson. With the parents.”