Doreen and Phillip were both in bed when the phone rang. Phillip lowered the volume on the bedroom television as Doreen picked up the extension.

“Hello?”

“Hey, mom,” Reese’s voice crackled over the line. “Sorry I didn’t get back to you sooner. I thought I’d told you that Jenny and I were going up to the lodge for a couple of days.”

“Oh... Oh, yes, I guess I forgot, honey,” Doreen replied. She placed a hand over the receiver for a moment and told Phillip, “It’s Reese.”

“Well, what other ass would be calling so inconsiderately at this hour?” Phillip barked in mock irritation when Doreen lowered her hand. She swatted at him.

“Tell dad I heard that,” Reese said witheringly.

“He heard you, Phillip!” Doreen said accusingly.

Phillip just chuckled and went back to watching his television program.

“So mom, what’s up?” Reese asked. “Your messages all sounded pretty serious.”

“Oh, honey, it is serious,” Doreen said, shaking her head. “I hardly know where to begin.”

“Well... Is Desiree... I mean... is it bad news, Mom?” Reese asked, a hint of worry in his voice.

“No, no,” she said quickly. “Well, yes. Yes and no, I guess. It’s complicated.”

“Well, what’s up, Mom? Just spill it!” he urged.

“Okay,” Doreen agreed. “First of all, what I’m about to tell you, you can’t tell anyone. It is about Desiree, and we have to keep it in the family, all right?”

“Sure, Mom,” Reese said, his tone serious.

“Well... the good news is that Desiree is awake; she’s out of the coma,” Doreen said.

“She is? That’s awesome!” Reese cheered. “But... I don’t understand. Why would I have to keep that a secret?”

“I’m getting to that,” Doreen said. “Desiree has witnessed a terrible crime, and because of that, someone may be trying to kill her.”

“What?” Reese exclaimed in shock. “Someone’s trying to kill her? Well, who? Can’t you have him arrested? Is it a him? What kind of crime did she see?”

“Slow down, Reese!” Doreen said. “I can’t give you all the details, but just know this: what happened was terrible, and until this man—yes, it is a he, by the way—until he can be brought to justice, we are going to have to hide your sister. Now, are you willing to help us?”

“Sure, Mom, of course,” Reese said instantly. “What do I need to do?”

“Well, we were hoping that Desiree could move out to Colorado and start her life over there,” Doreen said. “We were hoping you could help her. You wouldn’t have to tell anyone you knew her, really. You could just... secure her a place to live and... maybe help her find a job somewhere. But listen, we can’t tell anyone about this. We are going full out on this thing. It’s what Desiree wants.”

“Sort of a reverse dying wish?” Reese joked.

“That’s not funny, young man,” Doreen admonished.

“Sorry. But just... I don’t understand. Why do I have to make the arrangements?” Reese said. “Shouldn’t the FBI or whoever be doing that?”

“It’s not that simple,” Doreen said. “Anyway, this is the way we’re doing it. And we need your help. We’re going to fake your sister’s death, so you’re going to have to come home for her funeral.”

“What? No way!” Reese protested. “I’m not wasting money on a plane ticket home for a fake funeral! Especially not if I’m supposed to be doing all this extra work to hide Desi here!”

“Oh, now, Reese, come on, son,” Doreen pleaded. “What will everyone think if her own brother doesn’t come to her funeral?”

“Well, I think you’re making a mistake having a funeral anyway,” Reese said hotly. “Especially since it’s all a lie. What will your friends think after her case is cleared and you have to tell all of them that you faked her death?”

Doreen had thought of that, but what no one realized was that she doubted her daughter would ever be free to be Desiree Carlson again. She took a deep breath, “All right, honey, well, we’re going to say she’s cremated, so maybe we could all come out there when she comes and we could say we’re going to scatter her ashes in the mountains.”

“Oh, Mom!” Reese groaned. “You know how Jenny and I like our privacy.”

“Relax, Reese,” Doreen said dryly. “We have no intention of staying in your filthy apartment and watching you and Jenny suck face all day long. We will stay at the lodge or at that lovely bed and breakfast there in town.”

“I guess,” Reese sulked. “Well, so what all do I have to do? Wait, let me get a pen and paper.”

He was gone for a moment, then back, saying, “Okay, shoot.”

Doreen rattled off the list, “Find someplace for her to live. I’ll wire you money for a deposit tomorrow, but honey, it’s going to have to be a small place. Try to scout out a place that might be willing to hire for cash under the table. Waitressing, house cleaning, I don’t know, whatever won’t require credentials, I guess. And maybe buy a few things for her apartment after you found one.”

“Jeez, mom,” Reese said. “That’s an awful lot of stuff to do, and I’ve got work and all. Plus Jenny...”

“Yes, yes,” Doreen said, feeling she’d heard quite enough about Jenny for the evening. “Then how about just start looking for an apartment, a small one, and maybe keep your ears open for a job, okay?”

“All right, Mom,” Reese agreed. “Is that everything?”

“I think so, honey,” Doreen replied.

“Okay, then. Goodnight, Mom.”

“Goodnight, Reese,” Doreen said, “and thank you.”

“Yeah, yeah, yeah,” Reese grumbled, but she could hear the humor in his voice.

“Yeah, yeah, yeah, yourself,” she told him. “I love you and goodnight.”

“Same to you.” Click. Dial tone.

“Well, did you get everything squared away with Reese?” Phillip asked, turning up the volume on the TV when she hung up the phone.

“Yes, I did,” she said. “Now, for tomorrow, on to phase three.”