I had to rely on the breathing techniques I’d learned in yoga to calm myself as I made the drive to the fancy boutique in the mall where Autumn worked. I’d purposely avoided this mall because I never wanted to run into her, so once I got inside I would have to rely on a directory to help me find her store.

I snatched the queen off my rearview mirror and stuck it, along with the crumpled note, in the pocket of my sweater. I’d just locked the door and was getting ready to stick my keys in my back pocket when I realized my car had been locked when I left work. How did Autumn manage to get inside it at the museum?

I had to bite the inside of my cheek to keep myself from screaming when I remembered the set of spare car keys that went missing months ago. Maybe Abby’s fascination with swiping chess pieces had morphed into something more. I shook my head to clear away the thought. No. My keys and chess piece? Those are too specific.

I saw red when the truth became obvious. All of the parts started to fall into place at the same time. The empty bottles of bubble bath. The milk in the cupboard. And so much more. Autumn had been in my house.

My feet pounded so hard it felt like the pavement shook as I barreled into the mall, and instead of looking for a directory I asked the security guard I passed where to find the upscale shop. When I got there, I stopped and took deep breaths. I couldn’t see Autumn through the glass displays, but that didn’t mean she wasn’t in the back. I approached the first woman who looked like an employee. She gave me a polite smile, but I wasn’t fooled. She had snob written all over her. I didn’t give her a chance to speak. “I’m here to see Autumn. Is she in the back?”

Her eyes narrowed in displeasure, and she shook her head slightly. The clothes she’d been straightening were ignored as she clasped her hands together and replied, “Autumn decided to take her vacation during the busiest two weeks of the year.”

Yeah, so she can focus on stalking me.

“Do you know if she’s vacationing locally?” I asked, trying to hide my disappointment at not being able to strike while the iron was hot.

“No. I didn’t ask and she didn’t offer. Maybe Britney can help you.”

A woman who’d obviously been eavesdropping on our conversation made her way over. “Are you a friend of Autumn’s?” she asked sweetly. Her name tag identified her.

If Britney was Autumn’s friend, she would’ve heard about me, and might not be cooperative.

“I am!” I lied with a smile. “We haven’t talked recently.” I paused and tried to look dumb. “Obviously, since I didn’t even know she was on vacation. But I recently lost all the numbers in my phone, and since I was shopping here I thought it was the perfect time to drop in and say hello.”

I could only hope my earlier angst hadn’t shown on my face, and that Britney believed me. Apparently she did because she reached into her pocket and pulled out her phone. “I can forward her number to you.” She handed me her cell and said, “Here. Just send it to yourself.”

The number was displayed. I already knew Autumn’s cell phone number, and had no intention of forwarding it to my cell phone from Britney’s.

I started punching in a random number when Britney’s next comment caught me by surprise.

“I hope she’s not in the subway when you call her,” Britney giggled.

I looked up sharply. “The subway?”

“Yeah,” Britney replied. By now the other woman had lost interest in our conversation and had walked away. Britney glanced over at her and looked back at me. “Carol has never liked Autumn. Thinks she has a dark side.”

I couldn’t agree more.

“And is a rotten mother,” Britney added. “But I know she’s a good mom. It’s not Autumn’s fault that her daughter’s new stepmother has turned the little girl against her.”

Now I’ve heard it all. I had to battle an eye roll.

“You said something about a subway?” I interjected. I was anxious to put the conversation behind me, but the subway comment had stumped me.

“Autumn called me from New York today.” She tilted her head sideways before continuing. “Her new boyfriend’s family is there, and they’re visiting. She was in the subway, and the trains were so loud I could barely hear her.”

“Autumn called you today?” I repeated.

She nodded.

“From the subway in New York City?”

“Yeah. I’ve always wanted to go there. It sounds like the most romantic place in the world. I mean, I know there’s crime, but the subways sound so cool.”

I could hear Britney still babbling to herself as I headed for the exit.