“The granddaughter of my victim came to see me this afternoon, and I found it very uncomfortable having to speak with her. Cal never suggested I’d have to do anything like that. She scares me. She told me she’s not happy about her grandmother’s death and she’s looking into it. I don’t like it.”

The elevator came to a bumpy stop at the lobby level and disgorged its full load of passengers. After only a few steps, Veena came to a halt. Samira did the same.

“Maybe it would be best if you didn’t do anything until we talk with Cal and Durell,” Samira said after making certain no one was listening.

“I want to find out where she is staying in case Cal wants to know. I’m sure the case manager knows.”

“I imagine she does.”

“The granddaughter mentioned your victim as well.”

“In what regard?” Samira asked with increasing alarm.

“She wondered if the same person who’d found Mrs. Hernandez also found Mr. Benfatti.”

“Why would she care?”

“I don’t know.”

“Now you have me concerned,” Samira said.

“I’ll wait for you here,” Samira said, as Veena turned and headed toward the information desk. She merely waved acknowledgment over her shoulder. Rounding the desk, Veena peered beyond Kashmira Varini’s open door. She was hoping the case manager would be alone, and she was.

“Excuse me,” Veena called out, and bowed as Kashmira looked up. “May I ask you a question?”

“Of course,” Kashmira replied, returning the greeting.

Veena advanced to the desk. “I spoke with Mrs. Hernandez’s granddaughter, Jennifer, this afternoon.”

“Yes, so Nurse Kumar informed me when she called to let me know she was here. Sit down!” Kashmira pointed with her chin toward one of the free chairs in her office.

Although Veena was planning on staying only for a few moments, she sat down.

“I’m interested in your reaction to her. We are finding her difficult to deal with.”

“In what regard?” Veena asked, feeling progressively more unsettled toward the American.

“In most every regard. We need her simply to stipulate what she wants us to do with her grandmother’s body and be done with it so we can dispose of the body. But she refuses. I’m afraid she has some paranoid notion this tragedy was either a medical error or intentional. She’d even arranged that several American forensic pathologists are coming for heaven knows what. I’ve repeatedly made it clear there is to be no autopsy.”

Veena had reflexively sucked in a bit of air when she’d heard Kashmira say “intentional” and hoped it hadn’t been apparent. Her sense that Jennifer Hernandez was potential trouble had ratcheted up several notches.

“Are you alright?” Kashmira asked, leaning toward Veena.

“Yes, I’m fine. It’s been a long day is all.”

“Do you need a drink of water or anything?”