“She told us you thought you were going in for a routine visit,” Decker said. “That it was your first experience in a gynecologist’s office. Otherwise you’d have known they don’t put you to sleep.”

“Must have been quite a shock to wake up and suddenly find yourself unpregnant,” Marge said.

Decker said, “What kind of doctor would do such a thing?”

“What kind of mother would do such a thing?” Marge said.

Tandy blinked her eyes in rapid succession.

Eat! Eat, eat, eat—

Shut up!

“Tandy?” Marge said.

“Think you’re going to win me over by beating me down?” she said softly. “Or do you just like nosing into other people’s pasts?”

“No, we’re simply wondering what kind of doctor would do such a deceptive, unethical thing,” Decker said.

“I’m still amazed by your mother’s action,” Marge said.

“Not as amazed as I was.” Tandy’s voice was flat. “I wanted to kill her.”

Marge and Decker exchanged looks.

Tandy lit another cigarette. “The office looked so clean and efficient. I thought to myself…‘This is going to be a snap.’” She let out a bitter laugh and lit another cigarette. Realizing she had one in her mouth, she blushed slightly and put them both out. Fury seeped into her eyes. “If you’re so curious about my mother’s motivations, why don’t you question her?”

Decker said, “I sort of did just that.”

Tandy paused. “What’d she say?”

That you were unbalanced, girlie. Decker said, “That she thought she was doing what was best!”

“That’s a laugh,” Tandy muttered.

“A mother deceiving her own daughter like that,” Marge repeated. “You must have felt such betrayal.”

“To say the least.” Tandy flipped her hair off her shoulders again. “I know what you’re doing. You’re trying to build rapport! Get me to confess something. If you’re looking for suspects, arrest my parents. They were the ones with the kid.”

“Your parents are being dealt with,” Decker said.

“That’s good. I hope a judge locks them up and throws away the key.” She was suddenly impatient. “Look, Marie’s missing, not me! If I was going to kidnap a kid, do you think I’d be stupid enough to drop the kid off with my parents, then stick around?”

No one spoke.

Crazy like a fox, Decker thought.

Tandy said, “I haven’t talked to my parents in years. I didn’t even know they were back together again.”

“Bet you’d never thought that would happen,” Marge said.

“You’re right about that,” Tandy said. “Life’s full of surprises. Anyway, my feelings about my parents have nothing to do with this kidnapping business. I’m still here, guys, in case you haven’t noticed. I’m going about my daily life. Marie’s gone. And talk about motivation for wanting a baby. Geez, what can I say?”

“What can you say?” Marge asked.