THE Dog ‘n’ Suds was a cozy diner in Memphis, Tennessee. Emma and Shawn sat on tall stools at the speckled-laminate counter, while Shawn shoved a hot dog into his mouth and Emma pretended to eat. She was too nervous to put anything into her mouth and Shawn’s belligerent attitude wasn’t helping. “It’s time.” Emma held out her hand. “Give me the phone.”
Shawn held the phone above his head, smiling meanly.
“It’s 2:30, Shawn! I have to call him.” The beginnings of a headache throbbed behind Emma’s eyes. She glanced at the clock on the wall behind the counter and panic set in. “Give me the phone or I swear I’ll shoot you myself.”
His smile slipped away and a mean glint sparked in his gaze. “You don’t want to say things like that.”
In desperation, she lunged for the cell. He held it away, sm
