A new strip mall sat a few minutes away, occupying a space where a small warehouse once stood. It held a check-cashing place, a Chinese restaurant, a dollar store, and a fitness center. I stopped on the outer edge of the parking lot, away from all the other cars, and decided to call Sam.

Rountree had sounded like she was ready to head right over to the school and look for her. It was possible Sam wouldn’t answer, either because she was involved with her students or because she was being questioned. But she deserved a heads-up if the police hadn’t arrived yet.

Samantha answered on the fourth ring. Her voice sounded buoyant and hopeful. “Did you find him?”

She’d placed a lot of faith in me, counted on me as his close friend to deliver the goods. But I hadn’t been able to do that.

“No, not yet,” I said.

“Oh.”

The joy and hope went out of her like air from a balloon.

“Have you heard anything from him?” I asked.

“He called me this morning. Just a little while ago. He said I shouldn’t worry, that he was taking care of some things for the wedding. Things that will make everything go more smoothly. I’m trying, Ryan. I’m trying to keep my sanity as all of this goes on. I’m not a fool. I’m trusting him. But . . . it’s getting hard. Really hard.”

“He must know the cops are looking for him by now.”

“He does. He said he’ll talk to them soon.”

“He should go to them now,” I said. Then I thought, Probably. Maybe. Hopefully. “I’m a little worried about you.”

“Me? Why?”

“That Detective Rountree, she’s looking for you. I’m pretty sure she’s going to come to the school to talk to you. She may very well be pulling in the lot right now. I just wanted to give you fair warning.”

“She’s been calling me.”

“I know. I saw her at your house. I went there looking for Blake.”

“Well, I’m not at school anymore,” Sam said. “I left about ten minutes ago. I came in a little late, trying to work a normal day, but my principal told me to leave. She knows I’m getting married tomorrow, and I guess I seemed kind of distracted.”

“Then where are you? Are you going home?”

“Eventually. I have some errands to run for tomorrow. . . .” Her voice trailed off.

“Sam?”

“Ryan, do you think tomorrow’s going to happen? The wedding? If I can’t get ahold of Blake, and the police are looking for him . . . maybe we should just call it off. My God. It would all be so embarrassing if we had to stop it. But I’m trying to be reasonable. We threw this whole thing together in a rush. Maybe this is the world telling us to slow down. What do you think?”