Jennifer took it, and seeing her grandmother’s name gave her a stab of emotion. The languages were Hindi and English, so she had no trouble going over it. She scanned the hand-lettered entries to alight on the cause of death, heart attack, and the time of death, ten-thirty-five p.m., October 15, 2007. Jennifer committed it to memory and handed the paper back to Kashmira. Kashmira returned it to the file and the file to its rightful place in the cabinet.

Scooting her chair once again back to the desk, Kashmira glanced over at Jennifer. “Now! After all is said and done, are you ready to tell me what we are to do, cremate or embalm?”

Jennifer shook her head. “I’m at my wit’s end as well. But there’s hope on the horizon. My grandmother was nanny to a woman who has conveniently become a forensic pathologist. I spoke with her, and she’s on her way here, which will, I believe, have her arriving tomorrow night. I’m going to defer to her and her husband, who is a medical examiner as well.”

“I remind you, forensic pathologists or not, it will make no difference. There’s to be no autopsy, period. It has not and will not be authorized.”

“Maybe, maybe not. At least I’ll feel like I’ve got someone on my side. I know I’m not thinking too well. I’m utterly exhausted, but I can’t sleep.”

“Perhaps I could get you some sleeping medication.”

“No, thanks,” Jennifer said. “What I would like is a copy of my grandmother’s hospital records.”

“That can be arranged, but it might take twenty-four hours.”

“Whatever! And I’d like to talk to the chief surgeon.”

“He’s very busy. If you have some specific questions, write them down, and I’ll try to get some answers.”

“What if there was malpractice involved?”

“There is no such thing as malpractice in an international setting. Sorry.”

“I have to say you’re not being very helpful.”

“Listen, Miss Hernandez. You would undoubtedly find us more helpful if you would be cooperative with us.”

Jennifer stood up.

“Really,” Kashmira said. “I could get you something for sleep. Perhaps after a good night’s rest you’d come to your senses and realize you must make a decision. Your grandmother cannot stay in our cooler.”

“I already realize that,” Jennifer said. “Why not transfer the body to a regular city mortuary?”