Annabelle was tired, grubby, and heartsick when she arrived in Washington the following day. It was seven o’clock in the evening by the time she got back to her apartment, and she wondered if Elaine had anything prepared for dinner or if she should use the last of Gray’s money to buy something from a street vendor. But she wasn’t hungry, so she dragged herself up the two flights of stairs to their apartment. She’d go back down if Elaine wanted something to eat, but for now Annabelle needed to gather the remnants of her energy to pretend all was well for her sister. Was it only a week ago that she’d left for Boston? It felt like another lifetime. One in which she’d fallen in love with Gray Delacroix all over again and had the broken heart to prove it.

The key clicked in the lock as she opened the door. “Elaine?”

Her voice echoed in the darkened apartment. The sky was still light, so she crossed to the window to open the blinds. There was no one home.

There was no one home! It was seven o’clock, and Elaine should have been home from the library more than an hour ago. Annabelle’s mouth went dry and her heart started thudding. She was at a loss for what to do.

Check across the hall. The Hillenbrands had been kind to them, and maybe Elaine was spending the evening in their apartment. In three bounding steps, Annabelle was at her neighbors’ door, pounding and praying they were home.

“My goodness, what is the matter, child?” Mrs. Hillenbrand asked when she opened the door.

“Have you seen my sister? She isn’t home.”

“No, she’s been staying with the Talbots.”

Annabelle rocked back on her heels. “Who are the Talbots?”

“Someone she met at the library. A soldier she’s been helping. When they learned she would be on her own for a few days, they opened their home to her. Frank and I would have welcomed her, but she seemed keen on staying with the Talbots.”

Now Annabelle remembered meeting the Talbot family at the Library of Congress. Harry, the blind soldier, and his sisters and father. Thankfully, Elaine had given Mrs. Hillenbrand the address.

It took a while for Annabelle’s heart to find its normal rhythm again, but she headed back outside and toward the streetcar stop. It didn’t matter how tired she was, it would be impossible to sleep until she was assured that Elaine was all right. How well did she know these Talbot people, anyway?

Their address was unfamiliar to Annabelle, and she asked the streetcar conductor for advice. “Can you tell me which stop to get off for this address?” she asked, and he nodded.