Now

After hanging up with Christi, I look at the phone in my lap. Obviously, I can't just call Andy or Eden and ask for the truth. What I need is a third party. Someone impartial. Someone who can dig shit up.

"Ready for a sandwich?" Bob calls up. The stairs creak under his tread.

"One more minute!" I call out. There's a short silence, then the creak of his descent.

I have the feeling of stacking the deck for myself in these precious few moments in Bob's house. These are the crucial minutes of preparation that could make me or break me once I leave here.

I reference my handwritten contact list and thank my lucky stars I included Ally Buoncore. As a documentary producer, she should have no problem doing some simple research—especially if I dangle the prize.

"Hello, this is Ally," she says after the third ring, in the same breathless voice she's used on the dozen voicemails she's left over the past year.

"Hi! This is Julia." There's a brief silence. "Walden."

"Oh my God. Julia. I can't believe—I've been watching the news and—"

"That's actually why I'm calling. Listen. I know I've been putting you off about the documentary—but I'm having a change of heart. I think maybe this is the time."

"Oh?" Her surprise is tempered with the slightest whiff of caution.

"I just need something from you first."

"Anything!" She laughs, then adds, "Within reason, of course."

"Is information on Andy Wekstein and Eden Jeliazkova within reason?"

She pauses. "Um...what kind of information are we talking about?"

"Can you keep this confidential?"

"Of course."

"I think one of them may have been involved in my husband's death. Maybe both of them. Eden is my babysitter, but I just found out she also works for WekTech. And they've both lied to me about it."

"Whaaaat?"

"Exactly. I need help finding out why. I just feel like it might be linked to Josh's death."

"God," breathes Ally. I can hear the excitement in her tone. Her precious Making Julia documentary might get a murder angle, too. Her voice switches to one hundred percent business. "Julia, here's what I can do. I'm going to call in a favor. Give me twelve hours, and I will move heaven and earth to get what you need. Is this a good number to call you back?"

"I'm changing phone numbers, so I'll have to call you," I say. I hesitate, but then I go for it. "Also...remember when you told me to name my price?"

"Yeeees," she says.

"You offered me one million."

"That's right."

"I want four."

It's a huge number, but with Josh gone, I have to think of my future. Annaleigh's future.

There's a longer pause. Then Ally says, "Consider it done."