“Nor do we expect you to,” Cal said. “And we know it is a little hard for you, since she reminds you of her grandmother. That’s natural. What’s also natural is that we don’t want bumps in the road like this in the future, especially when everything is going so well.”

“When do you want me to try?”

Cal and Durell looked at each other. It was a question they had not specifically discussed.

Cal shrugged. “No time like the present.”

“I want to get out of my uniform and take a shower. How about half an hour.”

“Half an hour it is,” Cal said.

Veena got up and headed toward the door. Just before she got there, Cal called out, “Thanks, Veena. Once again, you’re a life-saver.”

“You’re welcome,” she said. “We really do have to find out what made her suspicious. I’m not going through all this again.”

“Alright, here’s how we’re going to do this,” Cal said. He, Durell, and Veena had walked to the garage from the house. “First, I’m going to put in the electrical fuses. Then we’re all going to walk down the stairs, with me in the lead. I’ll unlock the door, and Veena, you step in and call out her name. If she doesn’t respond, like last time, say you’ll be back when she feels more like talking. Apologize for having to turn out the light again, but say it’s the nasty men who insist. And then leave. We might have to do this a few times. We think she has the potential to be violent.” Cal shared a glance with Durell, who merely raised his eyebrows and offered a slight nod in agreement.

Everything went as planned. After Cal had opened the door, Veena stepped in and was about to call Jennifer’s name when she saw her sitting on the couch. Veena grabbed the door and closed it in Cal’s face. She then walked over to Jennifer and sat down next to her.

Neither spoke; they just warily eyed each other. Despite her squinting eyes, Jennifer’s face had registered surprised recognition almost from the moment Veena had stepped into the room.

“I believe you understand that there is something specific we have to know,” Veena began. She held herself stiffly.

“I understand there is something you would like to know,” Jennifer said. “Get me back to my hotel and I’ll tell you.”

“The deal is you go back to your hotel after you tell us. Otherwise, you have no reason to be cooperative.”

“Sorry. You’ll just have to trust me.”

“I think it is to your advantage to deal with me instead of the two men who run this show.”

“You are probably correct, but the fact of the matter is that I don’t know any of you people. But I can tell you this, I’m shocked you’re involved.”