“Everything is good here, thanks for asking. Hey, I’m trying to reach Leo. I have some questions for him. You aren’t by any chance with him, are you?”

“No, actually. He’s at the studio in the city today, working on a new album. You’re welcome to call him there. If he’s recording, you can leave a message, and he’ll call you right back.”

She rattles off the number to the studio for me, and I commit it to memory.

“Thank you. I really appreciate it.”

“Anytime. How are all the girls doing? We haven’t done one of our epic girls’ nights in way too long.”

“Everyone is doing very well, as far as I know.”

“Well, I’ll be calling Nat and Jules, and we’ll put together a party soon. Thanks for reminding me that we need to do that.”

I laugh and shake my head. “You ladies and your girls’ events crack me up.”

“Hey, we all work hard. We deserve some time to eat and drink and gossip. It’s what I live for. Go ahead and call the studio. Leo will be there all day.”

“Thanks again, Sam. See you soon.”

We hang up, and I dial the number for the studio. A woman answers immediately.

“Hi, I’d like to speak with Leo, please. This is a friend calling. Cameron Cox.”

“Sorry, we don’t have anyone here by that name.”

She hangs up, and I stare at the phone with a frown. For fuck’s sake.

I call back, and she answers again.

“I believe we were disconnected. I’m a friend of Leo’s, and I’d like to speak with him, please.”

She doesn’t even reply, simply hangs up.

I run my hand through my hair, swear under my breath, and then decide to go to the city early. I have to go over and pick up the parents anyway, so I’ll go an hour before I planned to and swing by the studio on my way.

I text Maggie and let her know that I’ll be off the island for a few hours and then set off toward the ferry.

I’ll handle this in person.

It’s a clear, pretty spring day in Seattle, so the ferry ride is uneventful and arrives on time. I drive through town to the studio, which sits just across the street from Nic Montgomery’s bakery. I’ll have to go in and get some cupcakes on my way to the airport.

After miraculously finding parking at the curb, I toss some coins into the meter and walk into the studio, surprised to find Leo standing at the counter.

“Cam! Hey, man, what’s up?”

He crosses to me and does the man handshake-hug combination, with a genuine smile on his face.

“I tried to reach you earlier, but your receptionist hung up on me.”