Josiah Reynolds opened her front door to find Sandy Sloan, a neighbor, clutching her poodle mutt, Georgie. Hi Josiah. Sorry to bother you. Can you keep my dog for a couple of days while I check on my mother? She’s ill and needs help.

Josiah reluctantly said yes, not because she didn’t want to take care of the animal. She had plenty of room for a little dog like Georgie. She was reluctant because Sandy’s mother couldn’t be ill. She was, in fact, dead. Josiah knew this since she had attended the woman’s funeral.

Why would Sandy tell such a lie? And a stupid lie at that. Was Sandy trying to signal she was in distress and needed help? Josiah was trying to sort out a possible reason when Sandy handed the dog over, and waving farewell, jogged to her minivan.

Josiah returned Sandy’s wave while Georgie barked goodbye, neither one having a clue when they would see Sandy Sloan again. They could not know that in four hours, Sandy would disappear from the face of the earth, and no one-not even Josiah-would be able to find her.