Chapter 78

"Good morning, Cassie," in response from Madeline. "You ought to be preparing for a wedding," I said. "Funny thing, my date is M.I.A.," she said, trying to be funny but sounding a touch crazy. Oh, she enquired. Indeed, Brian reported that he had to leave work due to an emergency. Is Brian your date? she inquired. "He withheld it from you?" Cassie enquired. Brian hadn't gotten back to me until he texted me last night to inquire about the office. Did he specify the nature of the emergency? "All right, long story short, we were paired at a wedding." "His stepson's nuptials?" "Yeah," Cassie murmured, holding up her nose, finding it difficult to articulate. "I'm a longtime family friend." "All right," she said, pronouncing the word. "All right, so, Brian told me last night that there was a problem at work and that nobody knew where he was." With efficiency, Madeline said, "Leave it with me." Gratitude, Madeline. I'll carry my phone along. Cassie let her head drop back into the cushions as t