Disconnecting, Laurie reflexively checked her watch. The Indian visa place didn’t open until nine, so she had some time. The first thing she did was call up the airlines and use her credit card to pay for the tickets she had reserved. Next she called Jennifer. The phone rang four or five times, and when it was finally answered, Laurie expected voicemail. It was Jennifer, who sounded out of breath.

Laurie identified herself and then asked if she were calling at a bad time, because she could easily call back.

“No, this is fine,” Jennifer said, breathing deeply. “I’m having dinner in a fancy Chinese restaurant here in the hotel, and when the phone rang, I ran out here to the lobby to answer it. Guess who I’m having dinner with?”

“I couldn’t begin to guess.”

“A Mrs. Benfatti. She’s the wife of the man who died at the Queen Victoria last night.”

“That’s a coincidence.”

“Not really. I looked her up and we had lunch. I have to say his death has some strange parallels with Granny’s.”

“Really?” Laurie questioned. She wondered if they were real parallels or imagined.

“Gosh, here I am blabbing away, and you called me. Please tell me you are coming to India.”

“We are indeed coming to India,” Laurie said, the excitement showing in her voice.

“Terrific!” Jennifer cheered. “I’m so pleased, you have no idea. Tell Dr. Washington thank you, thank you, thank you.”

“He did send you his regards,” Laurie said. “Have there been any big changes in the situation there?”

“Not really. They are still trying to push me to give them the green light. I did tell them that you guys were coming and will be there Friday morning sometime.”

“Did you mention that we happen to be forensic pathologists?”

“Oh, yeah, most definitely.”

“And their response?”

“Another lecture that there will be no autopsy. They are very adamant.”

“We’ll see,” Laurie said.

“I made it a point to talk with the nurse who took care of Granny. She’s this beauty queen you won’t believe with a figure to die for.”

“Coming from you, that’s quite a compliment.”

“I’m not in her league. She’s the kind of woman who probably can eat anything, and she just looks better and better. She’s also really nice. At first when I met her she acted weird.”

“How so?”

“Shy or embarrassed, I couldn’t tell which. It turns out she was afraid I would be angry at her.”

“Why would you be angry?”

“That’s what I asked her. You know what it turned out to be? Granny was the first patient she has lost since she’d graduated from nursing school. Isn’t that touching?”