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Nothing.
“Hello?” I said again.
“Is it her?” Jayne asked. “Is it Brie?”
I wasn’t going to ask that question, but I allowed whoever was on the other end another five seconds to say something, anything. When no one spoke, I finally ended the call.
“Who was it?” Jayne asked.
“Nobody.”
“How do you know?”
“Well, they didn’t say anything. It was probably a nuisance call, like, from a telemarketer or something. Or someone threatening to come arrest me because I haven’t paid my taxes. I hear that half the time, when you answer, these scammers are still busy annoying someone else and never get to you. I’m sure that’s all it was.”
Jayne did not look convinced.
“Honestly,” I said, “I’m sure it was—”
The phone, still in my hand, rang again, causing us both to jump for a second time.
“Jesus,” I said. This time, however, there was a name on the screen. GREG. I answered. “Hey.”
“Hi,” Greg said. “Thought I’d check in, see if you knew anything more than you did a few hours ago.”
“No,” I said, looking at Jayne.
Jayne mouthed the words “Who is it?” and I mouthed my friend’s name.
She whispered back, “What does he want?”
“Hang on,” I said to Greg, then put my hand over the bottom half of the phone. “I went to talk to him. About this morning.”
“You talked to him before you talked to me?” she asked.
“I wanted his take, to—”
“Hello?” Greg said. “You there?”
“Yeah, I’m here,” I said.
Jayne was visibly pissed, no doubt because I had talked to Greg before I’d come clean with her. She pushed back her chair, stood, and walked out of the kitchen.
“Shit,” I said under my breath.
“What?” Greg said.
“Nothing. Just … not a good time.” I heard the front door open and close.
“Sorry, but I had a thought and wanted to pass it along.”
“Fine,” I said. “Go ahead.”
“I don’t want you to take this the wrong way,” he said. “Because you’re my friend, no matter what, and I’ve got your back regardless, you know? I mean, I’ve always been straight with you, haven’t I?”
“What are you getting at?”
“I think you need to be careful.”
