the dark, from half a block, and after a few beers.”
“But they stopped it,” Cate murmured. “They called the police, called an ambulance. They stopped it. Noah—his sister said he didn’t really see the ones who hurt him either.”
“We’ll talk to him again,” Riley assured her. “He may remember more. Celebrities often get mail from fans, some obsessed fans, some who develop an unhealthy and possessive fantasy.”
“If I get mail, it goes to the studio, or to my agent. I’m not really a celebrity.”
“You’ve been in four movies,” Riley pointed out. “And you’ve generated a lot of media attention. Your relationship with Noah generated quite a bit not long ago.”
“If there’s been any mail like what you’re saying . . .” She gripped Lily’s hand. “The call.”
“What call?” Riley demanded.
“In June, when the company was performing their out-of-town openings, someone called on my cell.”
She told them all of it, told them about the call over the winter in L.A.
“You no longer have the phone?”
She shook her head at Riley. “I realize that was a mistake, but I just—”
“Reacted,” Wasserman finished. “Have either of you received any other calls that felt disturbing? Or wrong numbers, hang ups?”
“No, I haven’t.”
“Nothing like that,” Lily confirmed. “Do you think the calls are connected to what happened to Noah?”
“It’s something we’ll look into. Any other attempted contacts?” Riley asked. “Anything that’s made you uncomfortable?”
“No. I mean, people usually recognize Lily when she’s out, and sometimes they’ll come up to her. Since the last movie I did came out, I’ve had a little of that, but it’s not mean.”
“You’re taking classes at NYU.” Wasserman smiled at her, then glanced at his notebook. “Has anyone paid any particular attention to you, maybe asked you out?”
“A couple of people asked me out, but there wasn’t any push after I said I had a boyfriend.”
“You said he often meets you on campus. So you’re seen together.”
Cate looked back at Riley. “Yes. You mean a white girl and someone who’s not white.”
Riley met Cate’s gaze steadily. “If this attack was racially motivated, it could make it a hate crime. We take that very seriously. If anyone makes a push now, we need to know about it.”
“You will.”
“And if we could have the names of the friends you had dinner with? Someone might have noticed something off,” Wasserman explained. “Someone paying too much attention to you and Noah.”
“Sure. I don’t know all their last names.”
“We’ll take care of that.” Riley set down her empty cup.
“Can I get you more coffee?”
“No, thanks. It’s good coffee.”
Cate gave them the names she remembered, rose when the detective rose. “I know you might not find them. I know things don’t always, even usually, wrap up like a movie. It’s just, Noah didn’t deserve this.”
“No, he didn’t.” Riley slipped her notebook back in her pocket. “Neither of you did. Thank you for your time. You’ve been very helpful.”
“I’ll see you out.” Lily walked them to the door, then turned back to Cate. “Doing okay?”
“Yes. Even if it doesn’t go anywhere, telling them everything I can think of, it’s movement. It’s not just letting it all push me into a corner.”
“All right. I need to call your grandfather. You should call your dad. I’m going to call our director. He’ll need the understudies for Noah and me tonight.”
“Not for you, no. No.”
“I don’t want to leave you here alone tonight, sweets.”
“And I don’t want to disappoint a houseful of people coming to see Lily Morrow’s Mame. The show goes on, G-Lil. We both know it. I’m okay. I’m hoping Bekka texts to say I can go see Noah. If not, she promised to put me on the list so I can at least ask about how he’s doing. And I can send or take flowers so he knows I’m thinking of him.”
“Tell you what, you come to the theater tonight. You can watch from the wings. Unless you’re sitting with Noah, you come with me. That’s a good deal.”
“Okay. I’ll go call Dad.”
Bekka texted to come at four, to plan on a fifteen-minute visit.
She brought flowers, a cheerful summer bouquet. They kept the room dim, as before, the shades drawn. But this time his right eye slitted open, watched her come in.
She moved to him quickly, took his hand, kissed it. “Noah. I’m sorry, I’m so sorry.”
“It’s not your fault.”
But that right eye looked away as he said it, and his hand lay unresponsive in hers.
In that instant, that hard line between what was and what is,