“Really, I don’t see any reason to leave the center of town,” said Sue. “I mean, when you visit New York, you don’t go to the Bronx, do you?”

“I do. To see the zoo,” said Lucy, “and the botanical garden.”

“Not me. I stay as close to Bloomingdale’s as possible,” declared Sue.

“That’s true enough,” grumbled Sid.

“Ith wath rethearth,” said Ted, speaking with a very swollen split lip.

“Research?” asked Lucy. “For what? The Pennysaver? ” Lucy doubted that folks in Tinker’s Cove were interested in the plight of immigrants in France. They didn’t even seem interested in America’s immigration problem.

“It was Richard’s idea, a way to break into the big time,” said Pam. “He was going to share the byline with him. . . .”

“Foh ma rethumay,” said Ted.

“I think your résumé should include a trip to the emergency room,” said Sid.

“That would be an interesting story,” said Rachel. “Now that we have Obamacare, you could write about your experiences with the French universal health-care system.”

“Nuh,” said Ted, shaking his head.

“He hasn’t heard good things about French medicine,” said Pam.

“Rithard thayth—” began Ted, only to be cut off by Pam.

“Richard says. Richard says. I’m getting pretty sick of what Richard thinks!” she exclaimed. “If Richard’s so terrific, how come he isn’t helping us get our passports, huh?”

“He’th tryink,” said Ted.

“I don’t think so,” said Pam, abruptly marching off to her room and shutting the door firmly behind her.

“Well, there is another couch, buddy,” said Bill, slapping Ted on the back.

“But Elizabeth needs it,” protested Lucy, with a nod to her daughter, who was busy with her smartphone. “She can’t go back to the apartment.”

“She can sleep with Pam,” said Rachel, who was always ready with Plan B. “I’m sure she wouldn’t mind sharing with Elizabeth.”

“I’m thleeping with Pam,” insisted Ted, encountering some skepticism from his friends.

“Maybe not, buddy,” said Bill.

“Might be wiser to give Pam some space,” said Bob.

“She seems pretty angry,” said Sid.

“And jealous of all the time you’ve been spending with Richard,” said Rachel. “She feels neglected.”

“I don’t blame her,” said Bill, giving Lucy a meaningful glance.

She knew what he meant, thinking guiltily of her efforts to solve the murders. She knew only too well that he didn’t appreciate her tendency to investigate crimes that sometimes put her in compromising situations.

“I don’t go looking for trouble. It seems to find me,” she said. “Take today. Elizabeth’s bag was stolen in the Métro.”

“You don’t think it’s connected to the murders, do you?” asked Sue.

Lucy seized on the idea. “I didn’t, but now that you mention it . . .”

“No, Mom,” said Elizabeth. “It was just a pickpocket. Happens all the time.”