I got in the car and drove to the gated community where they lived, the house I helped them buy when I was still welcome. I parked in front of the gate at 7:45 in the evening, 15 minutes before the agreed upon time. I didn’t want to be late and give her any reason to regret the invitation.

The front yard was different, more subdued, with fewer flowers. I remembered when we planted the blue hydrangeas together, which were now gone. I took a deep breath, fixed my hair in the rearview mirror, and opened the car door.

That’s when something strange happened.

As I was walking to the door, I saw Maria, the housekeeper who had worked for Emily for years, running in my direction. Her face was tight with an expression that mixed fear and urgency. She looked back several times, as if checking she wasn’t being watched, before getting close to my car.