“Beth and Sean.”

“American love,” she said.

“What can you tell us about Katrina — the kind of person she is.”

“Kat, we call her Kat. After the big damage, never Katrina.”

“She doesn’t like being associated with a hurricane.”

“All the damage?” said Rianna Ijanovic. “It’s like being… a bad, wild-animal name.”

“Katrina’s not a wild girl.”

“An animal? No.”

“Is she wild in another way?”

“What do you mean?”

“Does she like to party?”

“Very much.”

“What else does she like?”

“Clothes.”

“Sounds like she found the perfect job.”

“Pardon?”

“La Femme Boutique.”

“Too expensive,” said Rianna. “Even with employee discount. She make fun of the fat ladies in the big sizes.”

“Katrina doesn’t like the customers.”

“Old, fat, rich,” she singsonged. “Maybe remind her of Mother?”

“You ever meet her mother?”

“Never.”

“She’s skinny.”

“Okay.”

“Does Katrina have a thing about money?”

Confusion in the black eyes.

Milo said, “Is money really important to her?”

“Not to you?” said Rianna.

“I mean especially important. More than most people. Like, would she be impressed by a man with money?”

Rianna’s smiled spread slowly. “She should be impressed with losers?”

“Did she ever date anyone rich?”

“All the time I know her she never date anyone.”

“How long is that?”

“Two, three months.”

“How come no social life?”

“She says she never meet the right guys.”

“What about cars?”

“What about?”

“Did she have a special interest in cars?”

“Special… no. In the beginning she like her Mustang. Paid for by the rich stepdaddy.”

“She have something to say about him?”

Head shake. “Rich.”

“Why’d she stop liking the Mustang?”

Shrug. “Maybe she tired of it.”

“Katrina bores easily?”

“She move around — from thing to thing. Like a butterfly. ADD, you know? She say she have ADD in school. Lots of ADD in America, no? Lady customers talk to me about kids jumping like kangaroos. Everyone seeing psychiatrist.”

“Does Kat have a psychiatrist?”

“Don’t know — you ask these questions because her mother hire you to find her?”

“We work for the city, Rianna.”

“The city wants to find Kat?”

“If she’s been hurt.”

“I think not.”

“Why not?”

“ADD. Always like this.” Black irises zipped from side to side, bobbed up and down. “Jumping.”

“Restless,” said Milo.

“Not happy,” said Rianna Ijanovic. “Sometimes when she drinks, she talks about moving somewhere.”

“She drink a lot?”

“She like to drink.”

“Where does she talk about moving?”

“She never say, just somewhere. Not a happy girl. I don’t like being with her all the time. She… sometimes you can catch unhappy — like a cold, yes? She is Beth’s friend, I hang out.”

“Could we have Beth’s cell phone number, please?”

Rianna recited the digits. “Can I go back to work? I need this job.”

“Sure,” said Milo. “Thanks for your time. Here’s my card. If you hear from Kat, please let me know.”

“Yes. But I will not hear.”