“Why don't you try to get in touch with Harrison in Ojai, see if he has any idea what's going on? If his number's unlisted, I can get it for you.”

“Okay,” I said. “And Harrison may be a good source for another reason. When therapists are suspended, they're usually required to get therapy. One of Harrison's specialties was treating impaired therapists. Wouldn't it be interesting if he treated Lerner? It's not that farfetched—Lerner turning to someone he knew. Get me that number right now and I'll call.”

He went to his car and got on the radio. Returned ten minutes later and said, “No listing at all, even though the address is still on the tax roles. Can you spare the time for a little drive? Ojai's nice this time of year. Cute little shops, antiques, whatever. Take the lovely Miss C for a cruise up the coast, combine business with pleasure.”

“Get out of town for a while?”

He shrugged.

“Okay,” I said. “And Ojai's close to Santa Barbara—I can extend my trip. De Bosch's school is defunct, but it might be interesting to see if any of the neighbors remember it. Maybe there was some kind of scandal, something that closed it down and left someone with a long-term grudge.”

“Sure, snoop around. If Robin can stand it, who am I to try and stop you?”

He slapped my back. “I'm off.”

“Where to?”

“A little more research on Paprock and Shipler.”

“Anything new?”

“Nope. I'm planning to drop in on Paprock's husband tomorrow. He's still a car salesman at the Cadillac place, and Sunday's a good day for those guys.”

“I'll go with you.”

“Thought you were cruising to Ojai.”

“Monday,” I said. “Monday's a good day for psychologists.”

“Oh, yeah? Why's that?”

“Blue day for everyone else. We get to concentrate on other people's problems and forget our own.”

I went back into the house and looked through the freezer. In our haste to move, we hadn't emptied it, and there were several steaks in the top compartment. I took out a choice-cut rib eye and put it in the oven to broil. The dog's eyes were glued to my every move. As the aroma of broiling meat filled the kitchen, his nose started to go crazy and he got down on the floor in a supplicatory posture.

“Restrain the caballos,” I said. “All good things come to those who salivate.”

I petted him and called my service for messages. Only one, from Jean Jeffers. The clinic director had called at eleven a.m. leaving an 818 return number.

“Did she say what it was about?” I asked the operator.

“No, just to call her, doctor.”

I did and got an answering tape with a friendly-sounding male voice backgrounded by Neil Diamond. I was starting to leave a message when Jean's voice broke in.

“Hi, thanks for calling back.”

“Hi, what's up?”