That seemed to be the general consensus.

Kate went back to the kitchen to talk to Jules, who was assembling ham hocks and beans in a stainless steel pot the size of a small water tower. He was still upset, with the occasional tear dropping into the beans. His staff was giving him plenty of room. Jules, when I was here last time, Kate said, you gave Lyda a cookie. He nodded. Chocolate chip. I remember. That was a good batch. She told me over the serving line at dinner the next night she really liked it. He began to dissolve again. You know, he said, a sob catching in his voice, they‘re different every batch. No matter how much you stick to a recipe.

Jules, I need you to hold it together for me, Kate said, her voice gentle. I need some answers only you can give me, so I can figure out what happened to her. He brought out a red kerchief the size of a mainsail and blew his nose. Anything, he said. Anything you need.

When you gave her the cookie, she asked if there were any peanuts in it. Yes. She didn‘t have to. I was always very careful, because of her allergy. She was allergic to peanuts?

He nodded. I stopped ordering snack packs with peanuts in them after she told me. I even got rid of all the peanut oil, even though there‘s nothing better for deepfrying chicken and French fries. But we made do.

You don‘t have peanut anything in this kitchen?

Peanut butter, he said, and three kinds of jam, because people get cranky when they can‘t have their PBJs, especially the night shift when they come in for mid-rats. Do you make peanut butter cookies?

They‘re a staple, he said. But they are clearly marked and the baker knows not to mix the doughs and to scour the mixing bowls and the baking sheets between batches. Jules gulped and sniffed. Are you saying Lyda had an allergic reaction to peanuts? That that‘s what killed her?

We don‘t know yet how she died, Kate said. I‘m talking to everyone who knew her, getting all the details I can. It‘s just routine. She heard the engine of the Cessna pass overhead, and left Jules with more tears rolling down his plump cheeks. She and Vern arrived on the airstrip at the same time. From the moment Jim climbed out on the strip Vern spoke to him and only to him, as if Kate no longer existed. He walked them back to Lyda‘s room. Kate unlocked the door. Jim put his kit down and opened it to extract his camera. He took several shots of the room and donned gloves before stepping inside.

Go on back to your office, Kate said to Truax. We‘ll come to you when we‘re done.

He didn‘t like it, especially not coming from Kate, but once the door was open again he wasn‘t enjoying himself so he left.