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." He clearedhis throat."It was - difficult when she left for college, and I stayed back for a while longer finishinghigh school.Suddenly she just wasn t there anymore.The silence at home was deafening." He smiled."Things always tend to get quieter when Lindsey s not around."I had to agree."I d be lying if I said I never got sick of it." He leaned back, reaching over and draping his armacross my shoulders."But it s pretty refreshing, most of the time.She never really lies or keepssecrets, unless you ask her to.She s pretty much an open book.What you see is what you get.It takesa very particular sort of courage to go through life that way, and I honestly have no idea where shecultivated it, or how.I wish I could say I have it, but I don t.""I know what you mean," I said."I guess it sort of comes from a place of& not really caring what people think.But not in a mean way, just in a way of like& why does it matter, you know? You justlive your life.You do right by people, but you don t need to spend all your time worrying aboutleaving the wrong impression."Daniel nodded, slowly."She has faith in herself," he said, softly."That s what it boils down to,really.She doesn t need to spend any time worrying, because she trusts that no matter what happens,no matter what situation she finds herself in, she ll handle it.I remember, as a kid& " he paused, andlaughed a little."I used to get so, sort of - nervous, and embarrassed, every time we watched a movieor a TV show that had a wedding scene in it.My dad didn t notice, of course, but Lindsey did.At firstshe thought it was just that typical aversion to romance that little boys often have, but I didn t reactthat way to kissing scenes or anything else.Finally, one day we were all invited to a wedding, and Ihad a complete breakdown.Lindsey actually asked me, for the first time, what the problem was."I tearfully confessed that I was afraid of getting married someday, because I didn t know how.Ididn t know what you were supposed to say, or when you were supposed to say it.How was Isupposed to know when to walk down the aisle? When to say I do? When to recite my vows? Icould tell it was a very important ceremony from the reverence everyone gave to it, and my biggestfear was being suddenly thrust into that situation and fucking it up.Even as a kid, I was thinkingdecades forward and dreading the humiliation that I was sure would come."I could just picture the whole crowd, men in tuxedos and the women in their elegant dresses,pointing and laughing at me.That s how I was then, and it s how I always was.But Lindsey? Thethought would never occur to her.Even if she was dropped into that nightmare scenario I had as achild, she d manage to give a beautiful, impromptu speech that would have the whole crowdapplauding on its feet." He was grinning."I d be lying if I said I wasn t jealous of her.But we can tall be born so lucky."I shot him a wry smile."If only you d known then what you real wedding would be like.Youwould have had a whole new set of things to worry about."Daniel laughed, and wrapped his arm around me tighter.***A few evenings later, I happened to be downtown, picking up some takeout I d been craving forweeks, when my phone suddenly rang.By this time, I recognized the number."Kelly?" I said, as I picked up."I just texted you an address.Florence just arranged one final meeting with the broker, and that swhere she s leaving from." She sounded distracted, rifling through papers on her desk."It s at a newlocation.She didn t say where it was, over the phone.I think she might suspect.""So what am I supposed to do? Go there? Follow her? Confront her?""Call the police," said Kelly, firmly."Have them meet you there.""The police don t care about something like this," I said."That s why I hired you.""She might be dangerous," Kelly insisted."She s unpredictable.I don t have to tell you that.""All right, fine." I took the phone away from my ear briefly, to glance at the address as it came in.It was only a few blocks away from where I was now, but I had to admit that Kelly was right.Flowas dangerous and unpredictable.I didn t want to go into this alone.And really, there was only one person I could call.***Daniel s phone only rang twice before he picked up. "Hey," I said."Are you at home?""No," he responded, sounding slightly hesitant."Why?""I m at& " I hastily glanced at the street signs and rattled off the names."I need you to get downhere, as soon as you can.""Why? What s happening?" His voice was tight with anxiety, and I could hear his keys jangling ashe shoved them in his pocket."It s a long story.I ll explain when you get here.Just hurry.""I am hurrying.I m coming now.Will you just tell me?"I took a deep breath."Okay.Don t be mad, but I hired a private detective.""You hired a private detective," he echoed."For& what?""To investigate, you know.Everything." I cleared my throat."The pictures.I wanted to find out forsure if it was Flo.""Jesus Christ, Maddy." I could picture him, pinching the bridge of his nose."You didn t think itmight be a good idea to tell me about this, before you go around blabbing secrets to everyone?""Hey.She takes her detective-client privilege very seriously."He sighed."That s not a real thing.Listen - okay.So what s happening, then? What am I walkinginto?""Well, it turned out it was her.She s meeting with your broker again," I said."And she s leavingfrom here, and if you hurry we might be able to catch her in the act."Suddenly, I heard the roar of an engine around the corner, loud enough to make me jump a little
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