I had been expecting more like a high-rise building with a doorman, the kind that I knew Stevie’s dad had moved to. But these were redbrick buildings in a row next to each other, with moldings at the top, only about four or five stories high. It was quieter on this street—not as many cars rushing past, fewer people.

The entrance to the building was down three steps behind a wrought-iron black gate, with a call box mounted to the wall outside the black-painted door. “Do we have a key for the outside?” I asked, realizing that Mallory hadn’t said anything about that—just about Brad, who I wasn’t thrilled to meet, because he sounded pretty troubled, honestly.

Stevie pulled the keys out of her clutch. There were two on the ring, along with a number of brightly colored membership fobs. “I guess we try them?”

The first key didn’t work, but the second one did, and Stevie pulled open the door, holding it for me. The lobby was small—the mailboxes and a small noticeboard took up almost all the space. I could see steps leading down to the basement unit, with SUPERINTENDENT on a sign attached to the door. There did not seem to be an elevator anywhere. “Which number is she?”

Stevie pulled out her phone again. “Five B,” she said, and shook her head. “She’s really not making any of this easy, is she?”

“I guess that explains why she gave us a hundred.”

“Speaking of, want me to hold it for you?” Stevie asked as she started climbing the stairs. I followed behind her, secretly glad that I’d worn flats tonight, even though I wasn’t about to share that with her. She glanced over her shoulder at me as she rounded the first story. “Just… in case.”

“I can be trusted to hold on to a hundred dollars,” I protested, trying to figure out if I was annoyed by this or not.

“I know,” Stevie said quickly. “I was just… putting it out there.”

“What should we do with it? Go crazy at the Drama Book Shop?”

Stevie laughed, sounding slightly out of breath. “We’re really lucking out tonight,” she said. “Dinner’s on my dad, Mallory gives us a hundred.…”

“We could bring Teri back a thank-you,” I suggested. “Do you think that Mallory will mention to your dad that she saw me with you?” I knew that Stevie’s dad wasn’t as on top of her whereabouts as my parents were with me, but the fact remained—you always had to think about the trail.

“I doubt it,” she said, pausing and leaning on the railing for just a moment before starting to climb again. “And I could always say that you came in with me and then I met my mom later. I think we’re fine.”