Bernie joined us at that moment. “There you are. Again you are not answering your phone. I went to the Hippo, but they could tell me nothing. I have been trying to do your work. I am sure the Protestants are hiding something.”

It turned out she’d gone over to Riverside Church. Pastor Weld and Pastor Carmody had both read her the riot act when they found her hunting through the basement; according to her, if I’d been there, I could have entertained them while she, Bernie, searched for August—“Since only I care what has become of him. Are you doing any investigating today or only reading diaries created by femmes folles?”

“I’m going to visit one of these women right now. She’s near death, so your hypervibrant presence might do her good.”

“Maybe I can go over to Cady’s school,” Bernie said. “It is possible I myself will become a teacher.”

“God help the children,” I said, but I was relieved when Cady reinforced the idea: she could use a teacher’s aide; budget cuts up and down the line in the state meant classrooms were bulging and support staff shrinking.

“As long as Bernie doesn’t think she can start questioning my judgment,” Cady added, with a pointed look at me.

I drove over to the hospital, my own spirits sagging. Sandy Heinz was on duty, fortunately, and told the security guard on the floor that it was all right for me to visit Sonia.

There were two large bouquets in the room, one from each brother. “We’re pulling for you, little bear, get well soon,” Stuart had written. “Go get those demon seals, little bear,” Larry’s card said.

I sat with her for a time. She was breathing on her own but still not conscious, and she seemed to have shrunk since my Saturday visit. I told her I’d read her journals and seen her sketches of Matt Chastain. “I put them out on Instagram and Facebook. I’ll let you know if I hear anything. Your brothers love you, little polar bear.”

Finally, with a nervous glance around to make sure the security guard’s attention was elsewhere, I took out a sample bottle and swabbed her cheek.

I texted Aanya, saying I was going to drive the samples over to Kansas City to hand to her personally. She gave me directions to the lab, on the outskirts of the city.