No trace of her husband or his chair on the ground floor. Milo said, “Professor Holman okay?”

“Ned? He’s at the doctor, one of his checkups. I use a special-needs van service because I never know how long it’s going to take.”

Marching to the sink, she poured Sapphire and ice cubes into a glass. “Anyone joining me—Judah, how about you? Glenlivet?”

“Not today, thanks,” said Cohen. He sat on the edge of an overstuffed sofa. Shifted position, cupped his hands over a bony knee. From the look in his eyes, nothing would make him comfortable.

Holman returned with her drink, perched next to Cohen. “Judah and I have some serious suspicions Helga had something to do with that fire.”

Cohen winced.

It didn’t get past Holman. “Would you care to take over, Judah?”

“You’re doing fine, Marjie.”

“So we’re together on this.”

“We are.”

“Well, then, onward. As I told you the first time, Helga boondoggled us—got us to leave some very nice professional situations under pretense of establishing a groundbreaking green-architecture firm. She claimed that her father was a wealthy industrialist, owned a shipping company, money was not going to be a problem. However, money turned out to be a serious problem. As in, Helga did nothing but talk, failed to follow through on financing the firm. At the time, Judah and I were puzzled. Now it becomes clear: Helga never had any sort of serious intention. Judah and I were part of a cover-up.”

Milo said, “Of what?”

“I’ll get to that.” Holman sipped an inch of gin. “I need to do this in an organized manner, Lieutenant … where was I? The ruse… one day, Helga announced that funding hadn’t developed, she was disbanding the firm, returning to Germany, have a nice day.” Turning to Cohen.

He said, “Bit of a shock.”

“You always were the master of understatement, dear. Basically, Helga played us for the fools we apparently were.”

Cohen said, “No sense beating ourselves up. Helga had valid credentials and her technical knowledge was solid.”

“She was an engineer, Judah, not a spark of creativity.”

“Be that as it may,” said Cohen. “The manner in which she described the initial project was valid, conceptually as well as structurally.”

Milo said, “The Kraeker Gallery.”

Both architects stared at him.

Holman said, “How do you know about that?”

“Helga told us.”

“Did she? Then you were played, as well. Yes, it’s an actual place and yes they are taking bids on a major expansion. But Helga never applied to be part of the bidding process. And they have never heard of her.”

“When did you find out?”

“A few days ago, Lieutenant, when it became clear that Helga had no intention of compensating us for our time and loss of prior employment.”

“We can’t find her,” said Cohen. “Or rather, our attorney can’t.”