“I took her home a half hour ago at least,” Micah is saying, and he’s good; I’ll give him that. His voice is relaxed and casual with only the slightest smidge of worry. And Chet’s always been too trusting. He’ll never know Micah’s playing him. “Did you try there?”

I whirl around, spotting a toolbox on a bottom shelf, and I race over and root through it for the sharpest, most dangerous tool—a box cutter. One of the cheap, snap-off models, but there’s a few good inches of blade left. I slide it into my waistband and listen.

A pause. “I thought she was avoiding Paul.”

I look at the glass panels across the top of the garage doors. Too high for me to look out, but if I jump up I can reach the bottom. Maybe I could wave my hands around, hope that Chet sees them when he’s driving away. Or no—maybe I can hang something in them, a sign. I look around for paper, for anything to write on.

“I talked some sense into her,” Micah says. “Told her the only way to work things out is to communicate. She went home so they could talk through whatever it was they were fighting about.”

“But my phone says she’s here. I just checked the app, and she’s here.”

I freeze, my heart kicking against my ribs, and I don’t know whether to cheer or cry; I’m so scared he’ll hurt Chet. I hold my breath and listen for what comes next.

“She must have forgotten her cell phone. Stay here, and I’ll run and grab it for you.”

Micah’s footsteps fade into the house, and I know I don’t have much time. I run to the far end of the garage, press my mouth to the crack and shout-whisper as loud as I dare.

“Chet, listen to me. I need you to leave right now. Call Sam, tell him to get over here and to hurry. But play it cool. Act normal, and don’t say anything that’ll tip Micah off.” I pause, waiting for a response or maybe the sound of his footsteps racing to the car, but all I hear is rain and a sudden gust of wind that shakes the trees. “Chet, did you hear me? Leave.”

I leap backward at the sound of the door opening.

“Here you go,” Micah says. “Tell those crazy lovebirds I said to kiss and make up, will you?”

“Thanks, man. I sure will. See ya.”