“Oh, come on,” said Milo. “Let’s be just a little bit honest and ’fess up like they taught you in convent school: At the core, you’re devout, believe sin must be punished. And there’s no greater sin than murder. Especially the murder of an innocent like Dahlia.”

Helga Gemein’s eyelids scrunched tighter. Tears trickled out.

“You loved Dahlia, that’s not a bad thing, that’s a good thing, she loved you, too. Believing is a good thing, Helga. It helps me understand what you did. Everything you’ve done since you arrived in this country has been aimed at getting justice for Dahlia. You’re powerless to go to Sranil and do what you dream about—though I’m sure you haven’t given up on that. And maybe Daddy hasn’t, either. But meanwhile …”

She let out a cry. Clamped a hand over her mouth.

Milo bent close, spoke softly, inches from her ear. “You’re a survivor aiming for justice. That’s human, Helga, and no matter what you say, you’re a member of the species.”

The entire lower half of Helga’s face began to tremble. She pressed one palm to her cheek, failed to still waves of twitches.

Milo pulled his chair so their knees were just short of contact.

“Let the bastard dangle,” he said tenderly. “He deserves it.”

Moving in closer. “What I don’t understand is why you had to kill Des and Doreen?”

Helga opened her eyes. “What are you talking about?”

“I think we’ve moved past self-delusion, Helga.”

“You are ridiculous.”

He handed her a tissue. She swatted it away.

Milo watched it flutter to the floor. “Why’d you have to kill them, Helga? Did they get greedy and ask for more money?”

Helga Gemein shook her head. “Fool.”

Milo said, “Or were they just a nuisance and expendable? Time to cover your tracks.”

She tried to scoot her chair back. The legs stuck. He pressed closer. She cleared her throat. Drew back her head.

Boxmeister said, “Uh-oh—”

Milo jerked away just in time to avoid the missile of spit.

A wet gob landed on the floor.

Her hands were balled. Flush-faced, she panted.

Milo shook his head, ever the patient schoolmaster. “Looks like I touched a nerve, Helga.”

“You have touched stupidity,” she said. “I have never killed anyone. Never.”

“What’s the big deal? You claim to hate humanity—”

“Humanity is shit. I don’t put shit on my hands.”

“Except when it suits your purposes.” She shook her head. “Idiot.”

Reaching for his papers, he pulled out another sheet. The picture of the man in the hoodie. Adroitly, no more fumbling. “You killed Desi and Doreen with this guy’s help.”

Helga Gemein’s jaw turned smooth. A smile spread slowly. That serene smile tightened my gut.

“I have never seen this person.”

Maria Thomas said, “Uh-oh.”

“What?” said Boxmeister.