“Lots of traffic, huh?” Marge said.

“You wouldn’t believe it. There was no way to keep track of everyone without sign-up sheets.”

Marge said, “Do you remember anyone who looked like they didn’t belong there?”

“Not really. I don’t remember seeing anyone not in a uniform or surgical scrubs. Everyone looked like they were doing a job. But I wasn’t paying any attention, Marge.”

“She knows that, honey,” Cohen intervened.

“You’re doing great, Cindy,” Marge said. “Let’s talk about Marie for a moment. You stated she didn’t like you?”

“She didn’t. I stayed out of her way.”

“But occasionally you saw her.”

“Yes, a couple of times.”

“Did she appear professional when she worked?”

“Yeah, I suppose.” Cindy looked troubled. “Sometimes I’d overhear her talking to other nurses about the mothers. Marie had preferences in her mothers. It bothered me.”

Marge said, “Did you ever hear her say anything specific about Lourdes Rodriguez?”

Cindy’s eyes widened. “Marge, she did talk about Lourdes Rodriguez. She told me she was counseling her.”

Marge sat up. “What kind of counseling?”

“Baby counseling. How to bathe the baby, how to diaper the baby…basic stuff. Marie adopted this superior attitude when she lectured. That bothered me, too.”

“Superior attitude?” Marge asked.

“Yeah, like ‘They’d be lost without me.’ That kind of thing. Darlene told me Marie liked doing that kind of stuff—teaching mothers how to care for their babies. If the mother didn’t need her, she didn’t like that.”

“Marie told you that she didn’t like the independent mothers?” Marge said.

“No, that was just my impression after listening to Darlene.”

Jack said, “Honey, just stick to what you heard from Marie. The rest is what we call hearsay.”

Marge smiled. Once a lawyer…“So Marie told you she was counseling this baby’s mother?”

“Yes—maybe she didn’t use the word counsel. More like teaching the mother.”

“Okay,” Marge said. “She seemed to take a special interest in Lourdes Rodriguez. How about this, Cindy? Did you ever see Marie take a special interest in Lourdes’s baby?”

Cindy shook her head. “Not that I can remember. She talked more about Lourdes than about the baby. Marie didn’t think Lourdes was equipped to handle the baby.”

“She said that?” Marge asked.

“No, no, no, she didn’t say it,” Cindy said. “It was just my opinion.”

Jack said, “Honey, just stick to what you heard.”

“Grandpa, maybe Marge would like to hear my opinions.”

Gently, Marge said, “Sure, but maybe a little later.”

Cindy nodded. Marge thought she looked wounded. “Did Marie ever mention anything about how Lourdes Rodriguez wasn’t fit to be a mother?”

“Truthfully, no. Marie never said that Lourdes wasn’t fit. Just that she didn’t know much. And that she should appreciate the baby Jesus gave her.”

Marge’s ears perked up. “Marie spoke about Jesus a lot?”