When Oswald ran down to the barn to talk to his ranch hand, Lily and I cleared the dishes. She said, “I hope you won’t let Mrs. Grant’s attitude bother you.”

I thought Mrs. Grant’s pointed remarks were as delightful as the stunning red barbs of the Wingthorn rose, but I tried to look wounded. “I’ll try not to, Lily. Thank you for your support and sympathy.”

When Oswald returned from the barn, his jeans were a little dusty and he had a strand of hay stuck to his shirt. The golden filament against the dark navy fabric disturbed me, and I was going to dust it off, but Lily was watching, so I just followed him to the study for our phone call.

“Come sit close,” he said as he made the call.

I took the chair near the desk and, after a few clicks, I heard Mercedes say, “I’m here with Gabriel.”

“Hey, girlfriend,” I said.

“This is Gabriel,” said a man’s voice. “Milagro, how are you doing?”

I reached over and brushed the hay strand from Oswald’s shirt. “I’m absolutely fine.”

Oswald glanced at me. “She looks much healthier today, but she still can’t remember anything. Lily Harrison is having a session with her later. We’ll see how that goes.”

The man, Gabriel, said, “Mercedes has updated me on everything she knows and I’ve contacted the Council.”

“What’s that? Or who—if it’s counsel?” I asked.

“What,” Oswald said. “The Council is our extended family’s governing body.”

“You sound very organized,” I said. Families were all a mystery to me, since I didn’t have one to speak of.

Gabriel said, “Wilcox’s assistant, Matthews, reported his employer’s disappearance two days after they flew into the country. In fact, Matthews is near the ranch now. Until things are cleared up, Matthews will be visiting his daughter, Nettie, in town. She’s Granddad’s new assistant.

“Wow, that’s a coincidence,” I said.

“Not really,” Oswald said. “His family has a longtime working relationship with our network of families.

“What does Matthews know?” I asked.

Gabriel said, “Only that he was on the flight after Wilcox’s and they were supposed to meet up. He knew that Wilcox was having a surfing vacation and visiting you. Wilcox was supposed to call him that night, but never did.”

“So we’ve still got nothing,” I said.

“Milagro, Matthews told the Council that you might be connected to his employer’s disappearance. He and his daughter are very upset. You met Nettie in London.”

“I can’t believe I forgot a trip to London.”

Mercedes said, “Gabriel would like permission to visit your loft with a forensics expert and see if they can find any fingerprints or trace evidence.”

I imagined a crime scene light illuminating body fluids everywhere. “Um, so long as you understand that I’m a single girl entitled to some privacy.”