I knew that smooth, persuasive pitch after twenty-seven years of marriage, the exact voice Mark used when he was talking a customer into a higher interest rate on a car loan.

“Sir, I need you to step away from the house while I talk to the owner,” Hale said, his voice moving farther from his microphone.

“Diane?” Mark called out, his tone turning sweet and familiar.

“Diane, honey, is that you on the phone?

Why did you call the police?

We discussed this whole timeline on Tuesday.”

“I never spoke to you on Tuesday, Mark,” I whispered into the phone, though I knew he couldn’t hear me through the officer’s phone.

“Ms.