I nodded at first, stopped and brushed the sopping strands of hair from my face. Last time I’d mentioned I was getting it trimmed, Jack begged me not to, insisted the longer, the sexier. I’d told him in that case he was welcome to let his hair grow past his chest and deal with all the knots, the bird’s-nest bedhead and ultra-bad hair days, before instructing the stylist to lop off a good three inches. Jack had loved it all the same, but in that moment, standing with Sam, Stevens and Heron near the beach, I made a silent, desperate promise. If Jack reappeared here and now, I’d never cut my hair again. When Sam squeezed my arm, I saw them watching me, and he had to repeat the question.

“Does he usually swim alone?”

“Not always,” I said. “Sometimes I go with him.”

“Why not yesterday?” Stevens said.

“I told you.” I raised my voice this time, I couldn’t help it, and it had the same effect on Heron’s and Stevens’s eyebrows. I lowered my eyes, mumbled, “He was supposed to go for a quick swim before heading back to work.”

“To the place he got laid off from,” Heron said.

“Yes, but—”

Stevens jumped in. “You said Jake’s thirty-three?”

“Jack.” I pinched the bridge of my nose, fought hard to keep the anger inside because if I let it out, there was no telling what I might do, or if I’d get it back under control. They were wasting my time. Jack’s time.

“His name’s Jack Smith,” Sam said, his voice firm with more than a touch of authority, and I was grateful for his gravitas to counterbalance my near hysteria. “And Lily clearly stated he’s almost thirty-three. Shouldn’t you be taking this more seriously?”

“Sir, we are, I promise,” Detective Heron said before turning to me. “Have you called Jack’s friends?” The emphasis on the name wasn’t lost on anyone but she still shot her colleague an unmistakable get it right next time, you idiot look, which made him wither for no more than a split second.

“Of course I did,” I whispered.

“Miss Reid—”

“Lily.”

“Lily,” Heron repeated, her tone still even. “Could Jack have had car trouble and called someone to pick him up? A friend or family member, maybe? Perhaps he—”