“I’m sure there must be,” Marge said. “They regulate just about everything except palm readers.”

“What about the tarot-card interpreters?”

“They have their own board,” Marge said.

Decker smiled. “Call up Sacramento. Find out about Tandy’s license from them. I’ll find out if Mike dug up any interesting gas purchases billed to Tandy.” He paused. “So, we have Marie and Lily at the scene, Tandy possibly at the scene. Where’s the thread?”

“Tandy and Marie both lost babies. Maybe one took the kid and the other is abetting. Maybe they were in it together.”

“Why would Tandy help Marie if Marie took the kid?”

Marge paused. “I don’t know.”

“So reverse it,” Decker said. “Why would Marie help Tandy if Tandy took the kid?”

Marge said, “Didn’t Darlene say that Marie treated Tandy like her kid? Maybe she was her kid.”

“You’ve seen both women,” Decker said. “Do they look alike?”

“No.”

Decker said, “Did Lita Bellson mention her daughter giving birth at fifteen? She certainly told you everything else about her daughter.”

“No, Lita never said anything like that. But Lita’s kind of out of it. Tell you what, Pete. Why don’t you pop over to Golden Valley and ask her?”

“I’ll do just that.”

“In the meantime, I’ll keep an eye on Tandy.”

“Right.”

Marge said, “What’s your take on Darlene? Do you think she might be involved?”

“I’m not ruling out anybody, but my instinct tells me she just honestly fucked up.”

“Sounds like you feel bad for her.”

“Part of me is angry as hell. And the other part says we’re all human.” Decker didn’t speak for a moment. Then he said, “I’m outta here.”

“Kiss Hannah for me.”

“A big kiss from Auntie Marge, huh?”

“Auntie Marge?”

“The kid doesn’t have a lot of extended family,” Decker said. “We improvise.”

He cut the line. Marge laughed and hung up the phone. Her eyes had never left sight of the entrance to the juice bar. They had been in there for almost an hour. She was getting antsy.

Ten minutes later, the women emerged. Marge breathed a sigh of relief. Tandy headed back to the gym; Cindy appeared to be walking to her car. Marge waited until the doors had closed behind Tandy to sprint over to Decker’s daughter, catching her totally off guard. Cindy turned red and looked at her feet.

“I’m in trouble, aren’t I?”

“Be thankful it’s me and not Daddy.”

“Yeah, I was thinking the same thing.” Cindy followed Marge over to the Beemer. “Nice car. Is it yours?”

“Just get inside and don’t ask questions.”

Quietly, Cindy slipped into the passenger’s seat.

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