Hearing the first ring, I closed my eyes, hoping it wouldn’t go to voice mail. “C’mon, c’mon, pick up.” I breathed into the phone.

After six rings he picked up. “Hello?”

“Hey, Rich, it’s Dani, Dani Hale from Flesh and Bone.”

“Dani, you don’t have to say your last name with me. I only know one Dani who’s a woman.”

This made me happy for some reason and I lingered over it for a second. Then I pressed on, realizing I didn’t need to play footsie on the phone with some ex-cop. “Listen, I’ve got a problem. I feel like I’ve been followed home from the office the last couple of nights. I just spied the car in front of my house a few minutes ago—that’s why I’m bothering you on a Sunday morning. I’m just a little nervous and was wondering—could you run the license plate for me?”

There was a long pause while Rich thought over what I was asking. I held my breath.

“Are you okay? Do you have a description of the guy?” He sounded a little alarmed.

“No, no description. It’s probably nothing. I mean, this is a one-time thing, Rich. I won’t ever ask you again to do something like this for me.”

“Mmm . . . okay, I can help you out,” he said. “But you can’t tell anyone I’m doing this for you, obviously.”

“Of course. I won’t breathe a word to anyone about your helping me. This whole phone call will be our secret,” I assured him.

“Give me the plate number. I have a guy I can call. He should be able to give me a name to go with the plate while I wait on the phone.”

“Okay.” I didn’t want to say any more, in case my voice betrayed me for the crazy drive-by stalker I was.

I gave him the number and felt my pulse pounding in my ears. Maybe this was nothing, I thought to myself. Maybe Isaac had just borrowed a friend’s fancy car. And then stayed all night.

“Okay, just hold a sec, I’m calling him on my other line.”

I could make out his voice as he called on the other phone, but I couldn’t quite discern what he was asking. I wondered where Rich was on a Sunday morning. Was he staying over at a girlfriend’s house? Was he in bed, naked under the sheet while making the phone call to get me the plate information? I’d never thought about Rich being naked before; it was a little scary because he was so big. Maybe it was safer and easier to picture him in his navy jacket at the office.

As promised, he was back on the line with me in less than a minute.

“Okay, Dani, the Mercedes is registered to a Chloe Johnson. Does that

ring a bell?”