Some kids were playing on swings at the park across the street, their tummies draped over the seats, arms and legs dangling in the grooves of dirt. I watched them, confused. How could they be there, in the same world as me and Audrey and everyone who was dead? I got hold of my phone and dialed.

“Ash,” he answered.

“Charlotte,” I said. “It’s Charlotte Ford.”

“Charlotte, what’s wrong?”

“I’m at Brandon’s house,” I said.

“I told you to stay away from him.”

“He’s dead.”

“Shit,” he said. “I’m coming now. Stay where you are and talk to the officers when they arrive. Are you hurt?”

“No,” I said.

“I’ll be there soon as I can, okay?”

“Okay.” I hung up.

“He’s on his way,” I said to Audrey.

She sat in the driver’s seat, frozen, not responding.

“Audrey, where’s the weed?” I said. “We have to hide it.”

She didn’t answer. Her eyes did not seem to focus.

“Come on,” I said. “They’ll be here soon.”

Finally she looked at me.

“No,” she said. “I don’t want to see the cops.”

“We have to.”

“And tell them what?” she said. “We don’t know anything.”

“Audrey, we can’t leave. I already called them.”

“You stay if you want,” she said. She closed the car door and put her seat belt on. “I’m sorry. I can’t.” She turned the key, shifted into drive, and pulled away.

I walked up and down the sidewalk in front of Brandon’s house. Cars honked on Main, a few blocks down. The sidewalk slab buckled under an old bur oak and the roots showed through. The formation of roots made a contorted shape that resembled a dog. A squad car turned the corner and parked in front of the house. Two uniformed cops got out.

“Charlotte Ford?” one of them said.

I nodded.

“Tell me what happened,” he said.

“Brandon’s dead,” I said. “I went in the kitchen door. It’s unlocked.”

“Wait here,” the man said.

They walked around back. I leaned against the tree until they came out, and I answered their questions. What time had I arrived? Why was I there? When had I last seen Brandon, heard from him? What was the nature of our relationship, what had I touched inside the house? It went on and on. I didn’t mention Audrey. I didn’t want to get her in trouble.

Soon the street filled with vehicles. An ambulance pulled quietly behind the squad car. Ash parked his SUV and got out, nodded to me, and walked up Brandon’s steps. Another squad car came. I sat on a bench across the street and smoked cigarette after cigarette, lining the butts on the sidewalk next to my foot. The light slanted into dusk on the bench. All the time I worried about Audrey.

Eventually Ash came outside and sat on the bench next to me.

“What are you doing here, Charlotte? I told you to steer clear.”

“Well, he’s not going to hurt anybody now, is he,” I said.