The guys coming over was a signal to Katie and Sherri that they should disappear. Sometimes they watched a movie from the comfort of Sherri’s king-size bed. Sherri brought up snacks: big bowls of popcorn, apple juice for Katie, a glass of wine for herself. No more mudslides; she’d learned about good wine. She never minded those nights. If she was being honest with herself she looked forward to them, with Katie and her curled up together like puppies. Katie often fell asleep partway through the movie and Sherri would listen to her rhythmic breathing and feel a tremendous sense of peace. She didn’t think about what was going on downstairs. It wasn’t her business. When Bobby came to bed he never woke them. He climbed in on the other side of Katie and that’s how they slept. Like a tableau of the perfect family.

But one night the guys were over and Katie had a sleepover to go to. A birthday party. It was a Friday. Without Katie there Sherri was at loose ends. She wandered around the kitchen, wiping counters that were already spotless. Then she had the idea to put together a snack for Bobby and the guys. She never did that; he had made it clear that he didn’t want to be bothered. But surely they were all getting hungry in there. They had their rolling bar cart, their glasses and ice, but no food. Sherri put together a plate of cheese and crackers, a little of that nice prosciutto, sliced as thin as a cell slide, that came from the local deli, some dark chocolate caramels dotted with sea salt. She made it look so nice.

She stood outside the office, trying to decide if she should somehow knock with her shoulder or call out for Bobby to open the door, when something stopped her. Maybe it was the word girl that snagged her attention; maybe it was the tone of the conversation, which was low and urgent. Something made her put the tray down on the little table in the alcove outside the office and lean closer to the door until her ear was pressed up against it.

The girl, they kept saying. The girl wasn’t going to keep quiet, the situation with the girl would have to be addressed. It was a shame, she had seen something she shouldn’t have seen, but there was nothing they could do about it, except what had to be done.

“Wrong place at the wrong time.” That was Bobby’s voice.

“We’ll have to get rid of her,” said one of the other guys.