“Not buy,” Dawn said. “They have a grandchild. I gave a baby up for adoption when I was in high school. I got knocked up like an idiot, and they made me give the baby up. They were right, but it also means they didn’t get to see the kid grow up. I got a picture every once in a while, but that’s hardly the same. The kid’s only twelve now, and I can’t really have contact with her until she’s eighteen. But I know the parents. They were willing to let my daughter—their daughter—see my parents if I gave them enough money. That’s why I was putting the squeeze on you. I needed the money for that. And to just try to get the kid away from those awful people. I can’t scrape it all together. I’m a freelance illustrator. I don’t have that kind of money just lying around, so I went to you.”

“That’s blackmail,” Bill said. “I’m calling now.” And he did, punching in the three numbers that summoned the police.

“My father has prostate cancer,” Dawn said. “He can hear the clock ticking. They didn’t mention it in the article, but when he talked about medical bills and insurance, his illness was a big part of it. I wanted him to meet his grandchild now. Probably the only one he’ll ever have.”

Bill hesitated for a moment, the phone in his hand. Then he nodded as though confirming something to himself. “I’m still calling.”

“I’m sorry, Dawn,” I said. “I am. But I have to go. Bill? Have you got this?”

“I do. Where are you going?”

“I’m finding Amanda.”

“I’ll go with you.”

“Stay here. Wait for the cops. I’ll let you know when I find her.”

“Do you know where to look?” Bill asked. “I thought you didn’t know where she was.”

“I don’t know, Bill.” And the enormity of the task froze me. No, I didn’t know where to look. I could only guess. Friends’ houses. A park. The library. All of them long shots, all of it slow and uncertain. “I’m just guessing. I’m trying anything.”

“Aren’t you going to your friend’s wedding?” Dawn asked.

“What are you talking about?”

“Your asshole friend, the one the news is saying really killed my sister. He’s getting married today. I saw it on his fiancée’s Facebook page. Her stuff is public. I guess she wants everyone to know she’s getting married. I thought about just going out there and killing him. I really did. It would have been pretty satisfying. But it wouldn’t help my parents as much as meeting their granddaughter would.”

“Are you sure?” I asked. “Blake was being questioned by the police last night. I guess he could be out already. But getting married?”