Page 132 of When the Smoke Clears

“That makes no sense.”

“My thoughts too.”

“How do we know this person staying in her camper is legit? What if she’s a squatter?”

I hadn’t thought of that. That’s weird, but not entirely impossible. After all, she seemed confused when I mentioned Everleigh being a doctor.

“You should call her,” I say.

“Why don’t you call her?” Jamie reaches for her phone on the coffee table.

“I’ve tried calling and texting. She won’t reply to me.”

Jamie puts her phone on speaker as it rings.

“This voicemail has reached its limit and cannot accept new messages.”

We frown while listening to the recording.

“I’ll text her,” Jamie says, thumbs tapping the screen. “Someone is staying in your Airstream. Is that okay? Are you in Key West?” She mumbles the words while typing them, then she sends it and sets the phone on the arm of her rocking chair. “It says delivered. Have you tried calling her mom?”

“I don’t have her number.”

She corkscrews her lips for a second. “Who’s her emergency contact on your rental agreement? You asked for one when I rented from you. I assume Everleigh had to list one. Since her father is in India, I’m sure she put her mom.”

I pull my phone from my pocket. “I think Maren emailed it to me after I found out who she rented the shed to.” When I shoot Jamie a scowl, she grins.

“Elizabeth Reichart,” I say, reading Everleigh’s emergency contact. I call the number on the application and put it on speakerphone.

“This is Liz.”

“Liz, it’s Will Landry. Everleigh’s . . .” I have a moment. I’m not her landlord anymore. Friend?

“Yes, Will, I remember you. I was sorry to hear about your father.”

“Thank you. I’ve been trying to reach Everleigh, but she’s—”

“Taking a break,” Liz says.

A break. I look at Jamie. I’m not sure passing up a position at Johns Hopkins to work at a café in Key West is a break. Jamie gestures toward the phone, silently egging me on.

“I’m sure it’s none of my business, but I’m here with Jamie, and we’re just concerned because there’s a woman living in Everleigh’s Airstream that says she and Everleigh have swapped places for a year. She claims Everleigh is living in Key West.”

“What? Swapped houses? That can’t be. She said she needed a little time and space and Johns Hopkins gave her an extension on her start date, but not for a year.”

Jamie cringes.

“Do you know if she’s working at a café that sells key lime pies?”

Liz nervously chuckles. “What are you talking about?”

“The woman living in her Airstream said as much. Do you think you should check on this before we call the police and report the woman on her property?”

Liz blows out a long sigh. “I hope this isn’t related to your father dying. She said it wasn’t, but now I’m not so sure.”

“You mean because she was there when he died?” I ask.

“What? You’re not serious.”