“She’s at a monastery,” Tessa said.

That took him aback. “A monastery?”

“Yeah. One with, like, real monks. Nighttime chanting. Weird haircuts. The whole deal.”

“It’s a spiritual retreat,” I explained. “Don’t worry, she’s not planning to join up.”

“Or become a nun,” Tessa inserted.

“Yes, yes, of course,” Dr. Williams said. “Well, say hello to her when you see her and be sure to greet her in the glorious name of Jesus.”

++++

When Tessa and I were outside, I asked if she’d enjoyed the service.

“No. I told you I didn’t want to come.”

“You’re welcome.” My phone vibrated with an incoming text. “But are you glad we came?”

“Absolutely not.”

“Perfect.” I unpocketed my cell and looked at the screen. The text was from the assistant director: Call me. Mannie wants to talk.

“Tessa, can you wait for me in the car? I need to make a quick call.”

She walked off, folding up the church bulletin and stuffing it into her back pocket.

I put the call through to DeYoung. “What do we know?”

“Mannie says he’ll talk, but only to you.”

“What? Why me?”

“Your guess is as good as mine. He gave us ninety minutes, said that after that he’s gonna ask for a lawyer. I need you here ASAP.”

“I have my stepdaughter with me.” I was thinking aloud. I knew that with a time window that tight, it would be tough to drop her off at home, which was in the opposite direction.

For a moment, I contemplated hailing a cab or having her take the subway—she was certainly used to getting around the city that way—but decided that, considering how upset she’d been last night, I didn’t want to send her home alone. She could wait for me in the lobby at the Field Office—she was always bugging me to let her see the place anyway. She might even think it was cool to hang out there.

I figured we could grab a late lunch after I spoke with Mannie. At least if I brought her with me she would know I cared about her. Last night there wasn’t much I could do to encourage her and let her know that I was here for her, but this morning there was.

“Patrick? You were saying? Your stepdaughter?”

“Never mind. From here, I’m guessing it’ll take me thirty to thirty-five minutes to get to the Field Office.”

“Cut that in half. I want you here ten minutes ago.”

17

Christie made her way through the woods, following the trail that skirted along the edge of one of the ponds on the monastery’s property. Today, the water looked deep and dark, like the surface of some vast obsidian ocean, though she guessed that, based on the size of the pond, it was probably no more than eight or ten feet deep at the most.