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Ellery reversed mid-step at the exact same moment Jack happened to glance in his direction. They locked eyes.

Could you feel the weight of someone’s gaze in your heart? Because that long, level look—

“Ouch!” someone said from behind Ellery.

Ellery started, turned to find Rob grimacing. “Rob! Was that yourfoot? I thought you were tree stump.”

“I’ve noticed.” Rob was kidding, but it was a rueful kind of kidding.

Ellery didn’t get it for a moment, then he remembered. He gasped. “Oh my God. I was supposed to phone about this evening.”

Rob laughed, but it wasn’t his usual laugh. “That’s okay.”

“Rob, I’m so sorry.”

“No worries. You’re on the case. I know.” Rob’s mockery seemed to be directed more at himself than Ellery, but Ellery still winced.

“There’s no excuse. I really am sorry.”

“No, come on,” Robert said. “It’s not a big deal. I’m glad I ran into you—or you ran into me. I was hoping for a chance to say goodbye.”

“Goodbye?” Ellery repeated. “Where are you going?”

Rob’s usually direct gaze seemed to avoid his own. “I’m taking some time off. Flying home to Oregon.”

Hometo Oregon? Since when was Oregon home? Granted, Rob was from Oregon. His family was still there.

“This is kind of sudden, isn’t it?”

Robert made a noncommittal sound. “Not really. I’ve been toying with the idea for a while. I have some thinking to do.”

Ellery’s brows drew together. “You can’t think here?”

Robert smiled faintly. “Not really. No. I think I need a complete break.”

That sounded serious. Seriously disappointing, for sure. Ellery enjoyed Robert’s friendship. It was nice having someone to do things with when Jack wasn’t around, which was more often than Ellery liked. That was the downside of dating a cop. It was probably worse when that cop was the chief of police.

“I’ll miss you,” he admitted.

Rob’s smile was wry. “I’m thinking not that much.”

Ellery groaned. “Rob, I’m sorry about forgetting to call. It’s just been a crazy day.”

One of the craziest days of his life.

“No. Really. I’m teasing you. I know you’re under pressure. Dylan Carter’s a good friend. Of course you’ve do to do everything you can to help him.”

“You’re a friend too, though, and I feel like I’ve let you down.”

“No.” Rob spoke firmly. “This isn’t about you. Except tangentially. It just finally dawned on me that it’s not going to be as easy to build a life here as I’d imagined.”

“Oh.” Ellery tried to read Rob’s face in the twilight.

“Originally, that wasn’t a high priority, but it’s become more so in recent months.”

“I…see.”

Rob’s mouth curved faintly. “I’m sure you do.”