Ellie stood beside me.
Our bracelets were visible.
The headline read:
SAVANNAH BROOKS SPOTTED IN FLORIDA KEYS WITH MYSTERY WOMAN
I locked the screen.
Too late.
Ellie had seen it.
“Mystery woman,” she said.
“I’m sorry.”
“I’ve never been mysterious before.”
“Ellie.”
“Mostly damp. Occasionally sunburned. Mystery is new.”
The joke was there.
But the warmth beneath it was gone.
My phone rang again.
Rachel.
This time, I answered.
“Hi.”
“Where are you?”
“Walking to Reef Rascal.”
“Who is Ellie Parker?”
I stopped.
Ellie did too.
“How do you know her name?”
Rachel’s silence suggested that was not the correct question.
“Sophie identified the dive shop in the background of yesterday’s photograph. Ellie’s name is on the website. There are already posts comparing the bracelet in today’s picture to the one you’re wearing.”
I looked down at my wrist.
Ten dollars.
Two bracelets.
One afternoon.
