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those painkillers.”
    Doug shook his head.
    “That’s why the doctor gave you a prescription.”
    “I don’t need it,” he said.
    Maddy sighed. “Okay. Whatever you think. I guess I got our guests settled in.” From down the hall the baby’s fussy cry threaded its way to them. Maddy went to the closet and got out her nightgown. “What a night,” she said.
    “Maddy…”
    Maddy turned and looked at her husband. “What?”
    “There’s another little problem…”
    Maddy’s heart started to race with apprehension. She held her nightgown up in front of her, as if for protection. “What problem?” Then she frowned. “Who were you talking to on the phone just now?”
    “You heard me?” he asked.
    “I heard your voice as I was coming in. I didn’t hear what you were saying.”
    “Stanley Plank,” he said.
    “Who in the world is Stanley Plank?”
    Doug sighed. “Our insurance man.”
    “Oh, right,” said Maddy. “You told him about the accident.” She shook her head in confusion. “So, what’s the problem?”
    “Maddy, look,” said Doug. “You know the last few months have been so crazy. I mean with this court business. And being out of work…”
    “Yes,” she said, conscious that she was holding her breath.
    “Last month, I was paying the bills and there just wasn’t enough money to go around.”
    “Enough money for what?” she said.
    “I had to let a few things slide. I had no choice.” He was avoiding her gaze, explaining himself to the carpet by the bed.
    “Don’t tell me,” she said. “Not the car insurance.”
    “It probably won’t matter,” he said. “It’s a no-fault state.”
    Maddy turned away from him, her jaw clenched. “The car insurance, Doug?”
    “It was a judgment call,” he said irritably. “Anyway, maybe it’ll all go away…”
    Maddy shook her head. She felt numb. “I can’t believe this,” she said. “What could you have been thinking? What if they decide to sue us or something?”
    Doug sprang up from the edge of the bed and turned on her, his eyes blazing. “Well, if they do sue us, it’s because you have acted as if we were to blame. Inviting them here…you might as well have admitted it was our fault.”
    Maddy’s face reddened, for she knew she had said exactly that to the police.
    All of a sudden, they heard a noise in the hallway. Doug looked toward the door. “Who’s there?” he demanded.
    Maddy jerked around and saw a shadow on the half-open door of their bedroom. Amy was not home. It could be only one person. She felt her face flush with shame at the thought that their argument might have been overheard.
    Doug strode to the door and pulled it open. Bonnie was standing there, holding an empty baby bottle.
    “What are you doing here?” he demanded.
    “Pardon me,” Bonnie said indignantly. “I only wanted to know if I could get Sean some milk. I didn’t mean to interrupt.”
    “Of course,” Maddy said humbly. “Downstairs. In the fridge.”
    Bonnie raised her chin and turned away. As she turned, Maddy saw something chilling in her eyes—an unmistakable little glint of satisfaction.

Chapter Seven
    F rank Cameron poured a cup of coffee, and wiped a large hand over his wide, sagging face. He’d spent most of the night at the police station and out on the search with his officers, and his complexion was nearly as gray as his hair. He had come home, managed two hours of sleep on the sofa in the den, and was now getting ready to go back to the station.
    Mary Beth sat at the kitchen table, her laptop open beside her plate of dry toast, studying the screen and picking away at the keys with one polished fingernail. She was groomed and coiffed for the office, her makeup flawless, her fitted red suit at once tailored and seductive. Frank remembered when she’d first returned to work. Heather had just started third grade, and Mary Beth had complained that there wasn’t enough for her to do at home. Back then her entire professional