“Dad, when are you coming home?”

“Home? I just got here. What is it? Is everything all right?”

“No.” Her voice trembled. “Tug’s missing. We can’t find him.”

Ben took a moment, glanced around. No one was near.

“He probably ran off. You know he does that sometimes.”

“We looked everywhere, up and down the street, asked the neighbors.”

“I’m sure he’ll come home.”

Kayla said nothing.

“Is there something else?” Ben asked. “Is this about the alarm going off? You’re sure the security people did a good check and found nothing?”

“Yes. We saw them looking everywhere. They said they had other calls about coyotes.”

“Tug could’ve run off to chase a coyote. Look for him in the park.”

“It’s not just Tug—it’s Emma. She’s been acting strange. Talking to herself about not being able to pay.”

“What?”

“I asked her and she said she had to take care of some complicated financial things that were upsetting.”

“That makes no sense.”

“Then I told her to her face that I think she’s hiding something from us.”

“You said that to her?”

“Yes, Dad, I did.”

“Why did you do that, Kayla?”

“Dad, please don’t be mad at me but the other day I found her reading stories about Eternity and—”

“That’s because I am here, Kayla.”

“No, Dad, this was before you decided to do a book there. And the other day I was in your bedroom closet and—”

“What the hell, Kayla? Were you going through her things?”

“Don’t be mad. I found something that I’m pretty sure proves she’s hiding something from us.”

Ben took in an exasperated breath and let it out. “My God, Kayla, you shouldn’t have been invading her privacy!” Ben stopped, struggled to find the words. “Honey, listen to me. I want you to go back to Doctor Hirsch.”

“But I just know something’s not right, Dad.”

“Listen to me. I can’t do anything about this while I’m here. But when I get my book work sorted, we’re going to set up an appointment schedule with Doctor Hirsch.”

Kayla said nothing.

“So I want you to promise me you’ll stop this, that you’ll stop accusing Emma and remember that she loves you and I love you. All right?”

Kayla was still quiet.

“All right, Kayla? I love you.”

After a moment, Kayla said: “All right, Dad. I love you, too.”

After hanging up, Ben dragged both hands over his face.

“You look like you could use more coffee.” The server smiled, then topped off Ben’s cup.

He thanked her, drank some. He checked the time, steeled himself and then called Emma. She answered before the third ring.

“I’m sorry I didn’t call sooner. I just got right into the work.”

“It’s okay,” she said.

“So how’re you doing? How’re things there?”

“Tug’s missing.”