“Pittsburgh. Audrey… She’s from Pittsburgh. We met in college at American. We’ve been together five years. What am I supposed do without her?”

Sam couldn’t begin to imagine what he would do without her. She wouldn’t wish the journey he had before him on anyone.

“Should I… Should I call her mother now?”

“I think so.” Sam ached for the mother in Pittsburgh whose life would never be the same after that phone call. “Is there someone you can ask to be with her before you call her?”

“I have a number for her neighbor. She and Audrey are close to her. I’ll text her.”

Wes got up, went to the kitchen and returned with his phone. He stared at it for a long time before he found the number he needed and started a text to the neighbor.

Sam decided to help him. “Tell her, ‘I’m Audrey’s boyfriend, Wes, in DC. Something terrible has happened, and I have to call her mother. Can you be with her?’”

Nodding, he typed the message and sent it.

They sat in silence, waiting for a response that came five minutes later. Oh God. Of course. I’m going now.

They waited another endless ten minutes before Wes placed the call to Audrey’s mother, putting the call on speaker.

“Wes, what’s wrong?”

“Denise…”

“What, Wes?”

“It’s Audrey.”

“What about her?” In those three little words, Sam could tell that the woman somehow already suspected.

“The police are here, and they said…” He broke down into heart-wrenching sobs, as if the news had finally registered with him.

Sam took the phone from him. “Ma’am, this is Lieutenant Holland with the DC Metro Police. I’m very sorry to have to tell you that Audrey was murdered.”

The scream that came through the phone pierced Sam’s soul.

“No, no, no. I just talked to her earlier. She’s not dead.”

“I’m sorry.”

“No.”

“Wes is going to come with us to positively identify her. Is there anything I can do for you in the meantime?”

“Please tell me this isn’t true.”

“I wish I could.”

“God, no, not Audrey. Not my baby.”

Sam could hear the other woman’s voice in the background, offering comfort where none could be had. “We will be in touch again later,” Sam said. “I’m so very sorry for your loss.”

“What do I do now? What do I do?”

“Just wait to hear from us again. We’ll be in touch soon.”

“Could I please speak to Wes?” she asked, her voice laced with sobs.

“Of course.” Sam handed the phone back to Wes and then glanced at Freddie, who looked stricken. The day this sort of thing wasn’t overwhelming for them was the day they needed to find another line of work.