Barb insisted on driving them straight to the police department.

“I’d rather not go there,” Amy said, watching the emergency vehicles pull into the parking lot through the passenger side mirror. Ahead, a TV news van was speeding toward the scene.

“You’ll see Alex sooner,” Barb suggested.

“I’m still hungry,” Amy pointed out.

“Okay…” she said, scanning the road, and then gestured toward a coffee shop whose giant sign dominated Amy’s side of the road within two blocks. “How about that one?”

“No,” Amy said, “but I like the idea of someplace without a kitchen.”

Ten minutes later they were sitting across from each other in a small coffee shop several blocks off of any main road. They had both headed straight to the restroom to clean up. Fortunately there wasn’t much of that to do.

This time Amy ordered a cold sandwich and some pastry, along with a large fruit smoothie. Still wanting a salad, Barb settled for having just a smoothie.