Andee didn’t think she would either, and letting the subject drop for the moment she opened her laptop to the notes she’d made during her most recent session with the dog owners. They, and the person who’d harmed them (to use RJ speak), were due to arrive ten minutes from now, so there was plenty of time for her and Dan to acquaint each other with how far they’d come with other cases these past few weeks.

The meeting went well, and by the time it was over the pet owners were much closer to believing that the “abductor” had not targeted them personally. He’d had no idea that there was a dog in the car when he’d taken it, and he had zero intention of ever doing anything to harm them again. So both sides left satisfied with the encounter, and thankful that they’d engaged in the process.

It had been one of their easier cases.

“How are you getting along with the girl who was stabbed?” Dan asked as he and Andee packed up their notebooks and laptops.

“Pauline Mansfield. She’s still not sure about meeting her attacker, but her counselor’s advising it so we’re meeting again next week.”

“OK, just keep me updated.”

“Of course. So now, would you like to come home with me for something to eat?”

Checking his watch, he said, “It’s late, so I’ll take a rain check if you don’t mind. I’ve got a lot of day stuff to catch up on.”

“No problem. Email me some of the RJ referrals if you like, let me help to assess and assign.”

As they left the room to enter his office, he said, “Going back to Claudia. I’ve been debating with myself whether or not to do some research on Marcus Huxley-Browne.”

Andee’s eyebrows rose. “With a view to mediating between them?” she asked skeptically.

He let out a laugh. “God no, I’d have to be insane to consider that when she’s gone to such lengths to escape him. I wouldn’t even want to admit I know his name.”

“So why do you want to find out more about him?”

“Natural curiosity, I guess, and maybe it’ll give me an insight into what sort of life she had before coming here.” He was looking and sounding doubtful about his own proposal. “I guess it’s a bad idea, too interfering, too . . . disloyal somehow. Forget I said anything, but thanks for listening. It helped me come to a decision.”