“Go easy, Riley. He has a job to do. And I’m just guessing but I don’t think he had to date you to do it.” Then she smiled. “Even so, the best news I’ve had lately is that after all this time you and Jock will find a way.”

 “Jock,” Adam scoffed. “What the hell kind of name is that, anyway?”

 “You know he was named for his grandfather. Are you going to start being nice to him now?”

 He took a drink from his beer. “I guess I’ll have to.”

 “Emma, do you need a day off to recover from Dragnet?” Riley asked.

 “Nah, I’ll be fine. Let me catch my breath and then I think we should tell June she’s going to be a grandmother again.”

 * * *

 Despite the stressful police questioning, Emma was feeling euphoric. Her world was coming into focus and she had so much to look forward to. She had Adam’s perfect love, something she never for one second anticipated when she was making her way home to Sonoma. Riley had finally come around and it looked as though they all might not just be friends but family, as well. June was so happy about the baby she cried. Even Maddie and Jock were excited.

 She was anxious to tell Shawna and Dellie, but there were a few details to work out before she went public. A date to get married and merge households would help.

 Adam, as protective as when they were kids, asked her to quit work, at least working that hard. His income was modest, but he’d been a teacher for a long time and he could support a family. She said no. She wanted to work.

 She spent more time with Riley, a little while after work most days. They had so much to catch up on. “Will you be my maid of honor?” Emma asked her.

 “Yes, absolutely! And will you wear a mask while you clean so you don’t inhale bleach? I don’t want my nephew to have two heads.”

 So Emma carried a mask in her pocket and discreetly slipped it on when she was using bleach in the bathrooms. But Riley’s concern gave her deep happiness.

 And then a text came from Bethany.

 I’m sorry, Emma, but it’s just too much. There’s no laughter. There’s just no love here and I’ve had enough.

 Emma was cleaning another house but because it was Bethany, she read the text and responded immediately.

 What’s too much?

 The girl had been mostly cheerful since Christmas. Emma had hoped her feelings of sadness and helplessness were starting to wane.

 No reply. If that had been Adam or Riley, she’d have waited until she was between houses, but she smelled an ill wind.

 Bethany, where are you?

 No reply.

 She tried calling, but it went directly to voice mail.

 She went to Dellie; Dellie had daughters and there was something about teenage girls, even those not in crisis, that was so terrifying, so filled with drama. “Dellie, Bethany texted me this,” she said, showing her the phone. “I can’t reach her.”

 “She’s just wanting some attention, probably.”

 “What if she’s not? She took a bunch of her stepmother’s pills a year ago or so and it just knocked her out for a while, but that’s something to think about. What if this means she’s given up? What if she’s suicidal?”

 “You don’t even know where she is,” Dellie said. “She might be on top of the Golden Gate Bridge.”

 “I think I have to go to her house,” Emma said.

 “We’re not done here!”

 “I’ll call Riley. I’ll go check and come right back. I’ll even stay late and help if we get behind.”

 “You’re getting sucked right into this girl’s drama,” Dellie said.

 “I guess so. But if anything is wrong and I don’t check on her, I’ll never forgive myself.”

 “Oh, Lord, you’re gonna be the death of me. Shawna!” she yelled. “We gotta go check something and come right back!”

 “You don’t have to,” Emma said.

 “Better we all stay together. That house ain’t so far from here. Don’t pack up. We’ll be back here in half an hour.”

 “Thank you,” Emma said.

 While Shawna drove, grumbling about how this day was gonna get long, Emma called Riley. She had to leave a message. She called Makenna and Makenna said, “Do not do this! I’ll call her parents but you just stay out of it!”

 When Emma disconnected, Dellie wanted to know what Makenna said. “She said go ahead and good luck.” Then Emma swallowed hard.

 When they got to the house, Emma looked up and down the street. All the houses were separated by trees and shrubs, sitting back on huge lots. Running to the neighbors would take too much time. She took the keys and went to open the front door, but it wouldn’t open. There was a security lock that could be used at night, locked from the inside. So she banged on the door and rang the bell. She pulled out her small notebook, looked at the key code for the garage and punched in the numbers. The garage door slowly rose and she ran inside, trying the door to the house. It was bolted, as well.

 She was frozen. What if Bethany wasn’t even in there? She called Makenna. “Did you reach her parents?”

 “No,” Makenna said with a sigh. “I said it was important but I haven’t gotten a call back.”

 “Listen, I’m sorry, but I’m scared,” Emma said. “She’s fragile. She’s been talking to me and she’s... She has good days and bad days but her mother died, her stepmother moved right in and... She’s fragile...”