In the morning, Chance was gone. He was simply not on the fold-out couch. His bag was not in the hall closet. His fuzzy man-sweaters were not lying around the room. His laptop was gone and so were his French novels. He had left his dirty dishes in the sink.
Gemma wouldn't miss him. She never wanted to see him again. But she didn't want him leaving without saying why.
What had Paolo said to Chance the night before? Only "I'm a friend of Willow's" and "Heard what?"—and his name. That was all.
He hadn't heard Paolo call Gemma Willow. Had he?
No.
Maybe.
No.
Why did Chance want Paolo investigated? Did he think Willow had been stalked and murdered? Did he think Willow had been romantically involved with Paolo? Did he think Gemma was lying?
Gemma packed her bags and went to a youth hostel she'd read about, on the other end of town.