“Let’s walk around to all the West Side Strangler kill locations today? Maybe we can talk to a few locals. We might uncover something the police missed.”

“I can’t go sleuthing for a while,” said Zoe, sighing but still pointing her magnification glasses on the street below. “Before he left today, Conner found my new binoculars and gave me the third degree. He made me promise not to investigate anything. He gets so worked up over this stuff.”

“Things did get a little bit out of hand last year,” said Sean.

“Are you taking his side? I thought you were my friend,” said Zoe, still looking out the window while playing with the focus controls on the binoculars. “These new binocs are incredible, so much better than my old ones. I see a man reading a newspaper across the street in the park and I can read the headline. There’s an old lady walking down Central Park West with a stroller. She’s coming towards me. Bet you a million dollars she’s got a dog in the carriage. Let me see.” Zoe played with her focus controls again. “Well, it’s either a beagle or a very hairy baby.” She put the glasses down and looked over at Sean’s face. “Why do people walk dogs in strollers? Aren’t dogs supposed to get exercise? Isn’t that the point of ‘walking a dog?’”

Zoe turned back to the window and looked through her binoculars again. “I’ll tell you one thing; all these masks are ruining everything. I can’t see anyone’s face. Six months ago, most people had never tried one on. Now, they color-coordinate their masks with their outfits.” Zoe shook her head in disgust.

“I bedazzled mine,” said a smiling Sean, holding up a royal-blue mask decorated with faux diamonds in neat rows. Zoe glanced down at her phone.

“Nice, Sean. Make me one?” she said, turning back to her binoculars and screwing around with the focus controls again. “I’m still getting used to these but I think if I get it just right I can see even more detail. There. Oh my God! Wow!”

“What?” said Sean.