He retaliates by detaching himself from me. I can see by the look in his face that he has also detached emotionally. He is no longer here. Not really. Not the Todd that I know and love. I look away, saddened by what’s happened.

“Well,” I say slowly. “I guess I should go now.”

The new Todd looks at me and says bluntly, “You’re in danger. You have to go somewhere Tom doesn’t know about.”

“What?” I say instinctively. “You can’t be serious. Stop playing, Todd. This is what happens when you lie. I leave. Get used to it!”

“You can leave now, but I don’t want you dead, whether we’re together or not. Go home and stay there. I’ll keep you updated, I promise.” He turns back to Jim.

And then I remember what Todd is like when he’s on a mission: deadly, determined, deaf to any objections. To argue is futile. I turn around, defeated, and head home.

Behind me Todd plans his search on my behalf.