“Why would Cole want your laptop?” her mom asked. And then, “Have you been drinking?”

“I was at a party. I had a few drinks,” Nat snapped.

“I can send you some money to help replace it,” her mom offered, sounding scolded. “I just sold a little house in Birch Bay. My commission will clear next week.”

“Don’t worry about it. Just call Trish and find out where Cole is.” Nat hung up.

Moving to the freezer, she dumped the remains of the vodka bottle into her glass, splashed in some more orange juice. Passing out was her only hope of sleeping tonight. How could she rest knowing someone had been in her apartment? That he could come back at any time?

And then an idea struck her. The break-in could be used to her advantage. She would contact Gabe, tell him how frightened she was, how vulnerable. Gabe would probably be in bed, snuggled up with his age-appropriate wife. But she had to reach out to him. She texted:

Someone broke in. I’m scared.

She waited, drinking her cocktail, anticipating the three shivering dots that prefaced his response. Nothing. She could call and wake him up. But his phone would be silenced for the night. She could text Violet, tell her to go get her father, to have him call Nat immediately. It would alert the girl and her mother to Nat and Gabe’s connection. It would require a creative explanation. But Gabe was sharp and articulate; he was a lawyer. He’d be able to concoct an excuse. This was an emergency. She was reaching for her phone when it dinged.

Is anything missing?

Just knowing he was there sent relief coursing through her. Relief and adoration and love. Nat’s thumbs stumbled over the letters as she typed another lie. She was getting used to this.

He took the necklace you gave me

He didn’t respond right away, and she wondered if he remembered the pendant sparkling at her throat when she’d removed her wet T-shirt before him. But men didn’t notice things like that, and his gaze had been locked on her breasts. And she could have come home, removed the pendant, and then gone out again. She sent another text.

I think it was Cole

Should I call the police?

His response came promptly.

No. Lock the windows and the door. I’ll come tomorrow. Try to get some sleep.

The words were like a warm blanket, comforting, reassuring. Swallowing the remnants of her drink, she fell on the bed, on top of the intruder’s footprint. She hated lying to Gabe, but it had worked. Tomorrow, he would come and make everything right.

She slept.

42

The Zoo

It was almost 11:00 A.M. by the time Gabe was on the highway back into the city. He’d wanted to leave earlier, but Celeste needed him to move the folding tables from the pool area back into the garage. And then she’d insisted on packing several plastic containers of leftover party food into a cooler bag for him to eat during the week. He’d stood by impatiently, anxious to leave. He’d told his wife he had a desperate client, an urgent Sunday meeting. It wasn’t entirely a lie. This meeting would save his marriage, his daughter, his life. It would take care of Natalie Murphy, for good.