George was annoyed by this argument, the more so as Maria seemed to be winning it. But he saw an opportunity to bring up the subject that was really worrying him. He said: “Is this why you’re single?”

Maria looked uncomfortable. “Partly,” she said, not meeting his eye.

“When do you think you might start dating again?”

“Soon, I guess.”

“Don’t you want to?”

“Yes, but I work hard, and don’t have much spare time.”

George did not buy this. “You think no one can ever live up to the man you lost.”

She did not deny it. “Am I wrong?” she said.

“I believe you could find someone who would be kinder to you than he was. Someone smart and sexy and also faithful.”

“Maybe.”

“Would you go out on a blind date?”

“I might.”

“Do you care if he’s black or white?”

“Black. It’s too much trouble, dating white guys.”

“Okay.” George was thinking of Leopold Montgomery, the reporter. But he did not say so yet. “How was your steak?”

“It melted in the mouth. Thank you for bringing me here. And for remembering my birthday.”

They ate dessert, then had brandy with coffee. “I have a white cousin,” said George. “How about that? Dave Williams. I met him today.”

“How come you haven’t seen him before?”

“He’s a British pop singer, here on tour with his group, Plum Nellie.”

Maria had never heard of them. “Ten years ago I knew every act in the hit parade. Am I growing old?”

George smiled. “You’re twenty-nine today.”

“Only a year off thirty! Where did the time go?”

“Their big hit was called ‘I Miss Ya, Alicia.’”

“Oh, sure, I’ve heard that song on the radio. So your cousin is in that group?”

“Yeah.”

“Do you like him?”

“I do. He’s young, not yet eighteen, but he’s mature, and he charmed our cantankerous Russian grandfather.”

“Have you seen him perform?”

“No. He offered me a free ticket, but they’re in town tonight only, and I already had a date.”

“Oh, George, you could have canceled me.”

“On your birthday? Heck, no.” He called for the check.

He drove her home in his old-fashioned Mercedes. She had moved to a larger apartment in the same neighborhood, Georgetown.

They were surprised to see a police car outside the building with its lights flashing.

George walked Maria to the door. A white cop was standing outside. George said: “Is there something wrong, officer?”

“Three apartments in this building were burglarized this evening,” the cop said. “Do you live here?”

“I do!” said Maria. “Was number four robbed?”

“Let’s go look.”

They entered the building. Maria’s door had been forced open. Her face looked bloodless as she walked into the apartment. George and the cop followed.

Maria looked around, bewildered. “It looks the way I left it.” After a second she added: “Except that all the drawers are open.”

“You need to check what’s missing.”

“I don’t own anything worth stealing.”

“They generally take money, jewelry, liquor, and firearms.”