“What?” she said again, but I saw recognition dawning on her face. She looked around and then ushered me into her apartment. “What is wrong with you?”

“I know you were here with Ryan Hooks that night and that I fell asleep behind the couch. You don’t have to protect him. I know how violent he is.”

She still didn’t say anything and just continued to watch me.

So I kept going. “He broke into my apartment and attacked me, Emma. He broke into my car the other day, too, to threaten me.” The words were coming out in a rush now, and I just needed her to listen, to understand. “And if he’s violent with me, he’s probably violent with you too.”

She swallowed and then spun around, her back to me. She was leaning forward with her head in her hands, and finally, she turned back around.

“What exactly is it that you want me to do?” she asked quietly.

“I want you to tell the police. I don’t think they will believe me.”

“Tell them what, exactly?”

I sighed. “About the affair, Emma. I know all about it. About the fact that he was in the building. And that he could’ve done this. Don’t you think they should know?”

She spread her hands. “I don’t know anything,” she said, and she paused for a moment as if she was thinking about how much she should say. “Yes, we carried you out. You were so drunk, I honestly didn’t think you would remember. But then he went home.”

She shook her head, turned, and walked farther into the living room. I followed her, swallowing as I was transported quickly back to the night of the party. I looked at the floor where I’d lain, and it was pristine.

“Look,” she said. “I will admit that we have been having an affair, since you seem to know that part already. But I can’t do what you want me to do. I can’t come with you to the police.” Her eyes filled with tears, and she stepped back away from me.

“Why not?” I asked.

“For all the reasons you just told me,” she said. “He is violent. Very. And we don’t have any proof that he did anything to Beverly. Right? So we have to just let it go. I appreciate what you’re trying to do here, but you have to remember that this is Ryan Hooks you’re talking about. He has all the money in the world and twice as many connections. Unless you have some kind of proof…?”

I took a deep breath. “That’s actually why I came here in the first place,” I said. “I actually think I might have some, but I’m going to need your help to get it.”

She frowned but looked curious. Before she could say anything, I turned and walked toward her front door.