North nodded and put the phone to his ear. “This better be important, Victor. I’m on a date tonight. My first in a very long time.”

Sierra slipped away from the table and threaded a path toward the discreet sign at the far end of the mezzanine.

She ended up in a long, shadowed hallway. At the end of it she opened a door and found herself in a gaudily decorated lounge lined with mirrors and dressing tables. Through an arched doorway she saw four gleaming white stalls and a couple of sinks. More mirrors were positioned behind the sinks.

The door of the stall at the far end opened. Kimberly Tolland emerged. She looked as if she was trying to conceal some strong emotions. She managed a polite smile as she walked across the space to one of the sinks.

“Hello again,” she said. “Enjoying the evening?”

“It’s been interesting,” Sierra said.

“I’ve heard some talk that you might be invited to join the museum staff.”

“Funny you should mention my career prospects,” Sierra said. “I was just telling North that I don’t do well in a corporate setting. How do you like working in a Foundation lab?”

Kimberly turned on the faucet and studied her own reflection in the mirror as she washed her hands. “I loved it, at least until tonight.”

“I don’t understand,” Sierra said.

“I just found out that bastard brought me here to dump me. I guess he thought it would be easier if he did it in a place where I was less likely to make a scene.”

“Are we talking about Grant Wallbrook?”

“We are talking about that lying, cheating creep, yes.” Kimberly turned off the faucet and yanked a paper towel out of the dispenser. She dried her hands and then she dabbed at her eyes. Her mouth trembled. “He used my research to get the promotion and now he no longer needs me. Oh, he didn’t phrase it that way tonight when he told me we had to stop seeing each other. He said it wouldn’t look right if we continued to date, but that was just an excuse. He used me, damn it.”

“I know this isn’t going to be much consolation, but I’m pretty good when it comes to assessing aura compatibility. Yours and Grant’s definitely did not sing.”

Kimberly crumpled the paper towel. “What?”

“It’s just a knack I have. If you want to know how it feels when two auras sing together, I suggest you ask Jake out on a date.”

“Jake?” Kimberly looked genuinely startled. “But he’s a cleaner. Everyone knows they go for flash and glamour. He wouldn’t be interested in someone like me.”

“Why not?”

Kimberly took a gold lipstick out of her purse and concentrated very hard on applying the color to her mouth.

“I’m sure that to him I’m just a boring nerd,” she said.

“You’re wrong. Take a risk. Ask him to dance and see what happens.”

“What if he turns me down? I’d be totally humiliated.”