Page 36 of Good and Gone

He looks over at me with concern on his face. “Barry checked that out, remember?”

I don’t say anything because I’m not sure I do remember.

“The guy remembered a man coming ‘round and asking him about a dog. He said he hadn’t seen him before or since. Barry says it’s a dead end. The man couldn’t tell him much, other than someone did come looking for a dog. But he said that happens all the time.”

“Really?”

“They canvassed those subdivisions, honey.”

“Maybe they should try again.”

Tyler sighs. “Barry said it’s not uncommon in neighborhoods like that, that no one talks. But really, who knows their neighbors anymore, anyway?”

“We do.”

He looks at me like we’ve been over this. His expression grows more concerned. “I’m not crazy, Tyler.”

“I know you’re not. I think you’re just overthinking it.”

“It’s not like I could point out the house,” I say, trying to ease his mind. I don’t want him to think I’m losing it, because it’s clear we’ve had this discussion before. “I tried that. They all look the same.”

“I want to help you find the answers,” he says. “Even if it means callingBarry. I hate that guy.”

“I know,” I say.

He gets up and walks over to me and kneels down on my side of the bed. Tyler doesn’t like to talk about the details of what happened to me. He doesn't want to discuss memories or what did or didn’t happen. He just wants to fix it, but there is no easy fix. “I want to kill those motherfuckers, Hailey.”

“I know.”

After a long while, he stands and walks over to the closet. “I have to go back to work tomorrow. Full time.”

“I know,” I say, because I do. Somebody has to pay the mortgage. My work has essentially come to a standstill. With all the negative press around me, my assistant tells me that brands seem to be of two minds. Some are shying away, eager to pull out of existing contracts, whereas others are all in, excited about the additional eyes on their products. Either way, I have no energy to think about any of it.

“Then where will I find the time?” he asks. “It turns out plotting revenge is quite time-consuming. Throw in murder, and I can’t even imagine.”

We both laugh. It’s a welcome sound.

Tyler goes back to work and I start seeing Dr. Bennett again, the marital counselor he and I visited a few times in the past. I go mostly because he’s seeing her, and I don’t want to deal with anyone new. That would feel like starting over, and I don’t have the energy for that either.

Marcia Bennett is a tall, skinny brunette with big eyes and a nasally voice. She’s cynical and blunt. She doesn’t believe in sugarcoating anything. Sometimes it’s kind of nice. It passes the time, anyway.

“You feel like talking about what happened to you?” she asks me coldly at one point. “Then go ahead. You don’t feel like it? Then don’t. It’s no one’s business.”

“The police would disagree with you.”

“Let them dotheirjob. You do yours.”

“You sound like my father.”

“Do I?”

I cock my head and study her, wondering what my husband sees. Why does he think this woman can fix me orhimorus? “Whatismy job?”

She cocks her head and studies me right back. “Are you taking care of yourself, Hailey? You don't look like you're taking care of yourself.”

The answer is no, obviously. I no longer go to the gym. I don't workout at home. I can barely pull myself out of bed. My mother is mothering both me and my children. My husband has been left to fend for himself, and half the time I can't bring myself to care. “I doubt a workout routine is going to help solve my case.”

“It's your job, though, isn't it? Taking care of yourself?”

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