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Something was clearly wrong. Dylan continued to grip Ellery’s arm as though hanging on for dear life. He was flushed and agitated. His blue eyes looked dark and stormy with emotion.

“September just left me a message saying that if I cared anything at all for her, I’d come to her cottage at once.”

With his free hand, Dylan held up his cell phone for Ellery to listen. Ellery dipped his head. He could hear that the voice was September—he thought so anyway—but her words were garbled.

“Is she whispering?”

“I think so. I had to listen three times to understand what she was saying. Do you think someone’s there with her? She sounds strange.”

Ellery drew back. “Doesshe?”

“Doesn’t she?”

“Honestly, Dylan, I can’t make out more than a couple of words. She’s asking for you to come over there, for sure. But—”

“I can’t leave,” Dylan said quickly. “Not in the middle of the concert. But even if I could, I wouldn’t. It’s over between us. I told her that. Repeatedly. But if sheisin-in some kind of crisis, I can’t just ignore it.”

“Yeah, but—”

“Please,please,Ellery. I know it’s not fair to get you involved, but you’re my closest friend. You’re the only person I can trust with this.”

Ellery stared in alarm. “But Dylan, if I show up instead of you, she’s not going to be okay with it. September dislikes me. A lot.”

“She only dislikes you because you dislike her.”

“I don’t dislike her. I—”

“Of course you do,” Dylan interrupted again. “She’sextremelyunlikeable. She’s the most unlikeable woman I’ve ever known. And I’ve knowna lotof women.”

“If she’s so unlikeable, why’d you get involved with her?”

“I didn’t know she was unlikeable when we met! I thought she was delightful. Warm and-and…”

“Willing?” Ellery supplied dryly.

“Yes!Of course. And easy-going and open and supportive. But she’s not any of those things. She’s…pretty awful, to be perfectly honest, and I wish I’d never gotten involved with her.”

“Then why the hell are you sending me over there? She’s just going to take it all out onme.”

Dylan’s eyes seemed to grow darker, even haunted. “What if she’s planning to kill herself?”

“What? Why would she?”

“She’s threatened it before when she wasn’t getting her way. What if she’s relying on me showing up to save her? And then I don’t show up!”

“But me showing up isn’t you showing up.”

“It’s me calling her bluff. But also making sure that if she’snotbluffing, she doesn’t ruin both our lives by doing something incredibly stupid. I’m sorry to ask it of you. Believe me, I know this is beyond the pale—”

“All right. All right!” Ellery cut him off. “I’ll go.”

“Will you?” Dylan seemed surprised.

Ellery sighed. “Yes.”

“Thank you. Truly.” Dylan seemed so relieved and grateful, Ellery wondered what he knew that Ellery didn’t. Especially when Dylan added candidly, “I wish I could promise you won’t regret it, but…you probably will.”

“Oh, I know,” Ellery said grimly. “Ofthat, I have zero doubt.”