I eye the dog nervously. I’ve only been with him around Toby. “Um. Do we need a leash?”

“Nah. A cat could run in front of you—unless you tell him to go, he’ll stay on your heel. I paid a shitload of money in dog training, but it’s worth it.”

“And if someone makes trouble?” I ask.

He laughs, a morbid chuckle. “You call me, and we get rid of the body.”

“Oh.” I giggle, inappropriately. “Wait. Can you really do that?”

“I’m a deputy DA, sweetheart. Yeah, I can do that.”

I pat Rufus on the head. “Good boy, Rufus. Nice pup.”

Rufus barks again, and it startles me even though I’m expecting it. He’s got a big doggy grin, happily waiting for the walk.

We go slow, talking about less heavy things; as promised, Rufus walks next to Tess’s heel as if tethered there by an invisible leash, exactly one step behind and to the right of her—he’s tall enough she can rest her hand on his shoulder as they walk, and I notice his eyes are constantly roving, his nose sniffing, alert, watchful.

Tess walks me home, takes me to my door. She hugs me. “When it’s time to go to court to end this whole shitshow, you’re gonna go with me, right?”

“Wouldn’t miss it for all the Josh in California.”

She holds my arms. “Nads…”

“I’ll let you know when I know anything. But for now, if you were to suddenly develop an urge to pray, I wouldn’t mind a few prayers.”

She snorts. “Maybe we should go to church together this Sunday.”

“‘Dear God, I’ll go to church at least once if you promise to perform a miracle for me.’” I roll my eyes at her. “Not sure that’s how it works.”

“Worth a shot?”

I nod, suddenly exhausted. “Yeah, maybe it is.”

Another hug. “I love you, Nads.”

“Love you too, Tess-icles.”

When I go inside, Adrian is still in his office. Click-click-click, goes the keyboard. There’s a cough, a wet one, and I’m not sure if it’s him throwing up or coughing up blood, but it sounds awful. A groan.

“Adrian?” I call, through the door. “I’m home.”

“Hiya, babe.” He cracks open the door, leans in to kiss me. “Have a good time?”

I shrug. “Not really that kind of a party, but it was good to see Tess.”

He’s so pale, so thin. His cheekbones stand out more now. Our conversation over that bowl of stew was a month ago, and there’s no denying something is physically wrong.

His eyes are haunted. He’s working all the time. Sometimes I come home from work and he’s gone. Or I wake up and he’s left before me. I don’t ask where he’s going, but I know I’m going to find out soon.