The stranger who should have been beside me.
The assistant who disappeared.
“Claire was supposed to sit next to me.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“That’s the question.”
I stood and crossed to the window.
Outside, Houston moved beneath a pale blue sky.
Ordinary traffic.
Ordinary people.
Thousands of lives continuing while mine seemed to have developed hidden doors.
My phone rang.
Ethan.
Marisol saw the name.
“You want me to stay?”
“Yes.”
She nodded.
I answered.
“Hello.”
Ethan’s voice was tense.
“Are you alone?”
“No.”
“Who’s there?”
“Marisol.”
A pause.
“Good.”
I put him on speaker.
“What do you want?”
“I found something.”
Marisol gave me a look.
I sat.
“What?”
“Rebecca called me.”
“Sam’s sister?”
“Yes.”
“Where is she?”
“I don’t know.”
“Ethan.”
“She wouldn’t tell me.”
“Why?”
“Because she thinks her phone is being monitored.”
Marisol mouthed, Seriously?
I gave her a tiny shrug.
