Friday morning, the heat has broken. Outside, it’s that perfect temperature that licks up sweat the moment it appears. Kathryn finds her running pace. The sidewalk feels as if it has extra give this morning. Seeing Hannah return to group was a huge relief. Losing Lizzy was unexpected, but Kathryn feels good about the choices Lizzy is making. People really do change. The group will go through stages of growth, but it will not end. Last night Kathryn sent an e-mail to a number of colleagues informing them that she had a few open spaces. She is sure there are women who could use the support and wisdom Gail, Bridget, and Hannah have to share.
The moment Kathryn opens her apartment door, she hears the phone and dashes to pick it up.
“Kathryn Leblanc.” Her voice is alert, ready. She expects it is someone querying about the group.
“It’s Bridget. Did you see the news?” The words race out.
“No,” Kathryn answers. Her first thought is that there was some sort of report on missing children and Hannah’s daughter was mentioned.
“They showed Gail. A picture of her face.”
It’s likely some high-profile case, and Gail’s occupation will no longer be a secret. “What did they say?” she asks, beginning to stretch out her calf.
“She was found lying on some beach, naked.”
Kathryn mouths, What, but no sound comes out.
“They took her to a hospital. She may be dead,” Bridget shouts, then begins to cry.
“Did they say what hospital?”
“No.”
“You said you saw her picture? Are you sure it wasn’t someone else?” Kathryn asks.
“I know what Gail looks like.”
“Of course. I didn’t mean it like that. I was only wondering…” But she can’t think clearly. She doesn’t know what she was wondering. Just that Bridget must have the facts wrong.
“Did you know she was a judge?” Bridget asks.
“Yes.” That piece of information virtually confirms Gail’s identity.
“What are we going to do?” Bridget sounds desperate.
“First, I’m going to make sure it was actually Gail.” She puts a hand on the front table to steady herself. “Then I will find out if she’s okay.”
“I know it was Gail. It’s not like I wouldn’t recognize her.”
“Can I reach you at the number you’re calling from?” Kathryn closes her eyes for a second. Shadows reach out to her.
“You need to find out what happened,” Bridget says.
“I’m going to make a few calls right now, and I’ll get back to you.”
“Hurry.” Bridget hangs up.
Kathryn looks at the phone, not making a move. She knows she should be thinking of more logical, rational, concrete things, but her brain isn’t working the way it should. Was there something she should have done differently? Something she should have paid more attention to?
Dazed, she walks to her study, sits, and stares at the bookshelf. Minutes pass. She opens her laptop and types Judge Larson into her search engine. A picture of Gail fills the screen. Underneath it, Kathryn reads North Shore, esteemed judge, possible suicide attempt.