“I think she’s alright. I heard her crying in her bedroom on Saturday, but she’s seemed fine since then.”

“Do you know what was wrong?”

“On Friday, she said that she thought you were angry at her. Also, I think she’s still lonely from Azaliya leaving. I’m guessing it might’ve been a combination of the two things.”

“Did she say why she thought I was mad at her?”

“No. It was just the way you took off, I think. Kind of abrupt. And you were more quiet, more reserved than usual before you left.”

“I’m not angry. It’s not that.”

“Okay. I told her you weren’t, but you should probably talk with her when you get back.”

“Yes. Of course.”

++++

Christie knew that Tessa’s school didn’t allow cell phone use during class, but she figured that her daughter would be checking her messages during lunch, so she decided to text her as soon as she was off the line with Pat.

“My flight is delayed,” she told him, “but I should get to LaGuardia around three. When are you off work?”

“Probably not until six or so. The case has taken a few turns I didn’t expect.”

“Let’s meet somewhere nice for dinner. Just the two of us.”

“Great. Do you have a place in mind?”

“No. Surprise me.”

“Hmm. Alright. I’ll see what I can do. Maybe try to snag a seven o’clock reservation. That sound good?”

“Perfect. It’s a date.”

“Try ‘extinct insects,’” he said.

She loved tongue twisters, and he was always searching for one that would stump her. She tried this insect twister five times fast and did pretty well until the fourth time through when she caught herself saying, “extinct inkstects.”

“I like it. You try.”

“I think I’ll sneak in a little more practice first. I’ll give it a shot when I see you tonight.”

“Deal. I’ll try to come up with one for you by then.”

“I love you, Christie.”

“I love you too.”

After their good-byes, she texted her daughter, asking her to call when she had a chance, then she left the monastery and headed for the airport.

++++

After I was off the phone, I heard Ralph confirming to Sasha that his team had indeed found Selzucaine residue around the drain. “It looks like the mannequins aren’t being used as vessels to smuggle the drug inside of them,” he said, “they are the drug. And hot water disintegrated them? Or do you think they needed another chemical to do it?”

“I kissed a mannequin and it didn’t dissolve. But enough pressure, enough water, if it was hot enough, based on its chemical structure it’s possible that could have been all that was needed.”

Talking drugs and the next step for the task force, the two of them went on ahead. Greer caught up with me.