My jaw dropped, and I stared at their backs. The woman had short, pink hair, and she stood next to a tall, lanky man who looked like he’d rather be anywhere else in the world.

“Sorry, I couldn’t help but overhear,” I said, trying not to wince. “Did you say you live at 115 West Oak?”

The girl looked back at me with a frown. “Yeah. How come?”

“Oh, it’s a nice building,” I said. “I actually met someone who lives there recently. Her name was Emma.”

The girl’s eyes widened, and she looked over at her friend.

“You know her?” I asked as casually as possible.

“Yeah, we—” the man started.

“She lives above us,” the girl said, and I watched as she gave him a look. “How did you meet her?”

“Oh, just at the dog park nearby,” I said. “She might become a client of mine. I’m an artist, and she said she’s looking for some new work.”

There was a chuckle from the boyfriend. “Of course she did,” he said. The girl was shaking her head at him. “I told you, she doesn’t have anything to do. She’s in that damned dog park every afternoon.”

“Shut up,” the pink-haired girl hissed.

“Am I lying?” he asked. “Tell me where she is every day at four o’clock? Out there with that damned dog.”

I cleared my throat. “Is something wrong?”

I’d taken one acting class in college—an improv comedy class, actually—and I’d been terrible at it. I’d dropped it after two weeks. As I stood there, I wished that I’d stuck with it just a little bit longer; it might have proven useful at a time like this.

Maybe then I wouldn’t have sounded so damned suspicious.

Was I too interested?

Not interested enough?

The girl shook her head. “No, nothing’s wrong,” she said. “Emma is a friend of ours.”

This time, the boyfriend laughed out loud.

“What?” she asked him. “If you have something to say, just say it.”

“I don’t,” he said. “I would’ve said it if I did.”

“Then you shouldn’t keep making noises.”

“It’s just funny to hear you call her your friend…”

I swallowed. I had to push it. “Is there something I should know?” I asked. “I’m pretty careful about taking on new clients.”

The girl locked eyes with me again.

“It’s just no big surprise that she’d want you to paint something for her apartment after meeting her at a park,” she said. “No offense. You seem lovely, and I’m sure you’re very talented, but that’s pretty random. Still, that absolutely sounds like something Emma would do, and God knows she has the money for it.”