Marge gave a wave. They stood as Hollander made all the necessary introductions. Marge held Dotty’s hand and said, “I’m sorry for all the pain you’ve suffered. I really hope we’ve found your little girl. But I’ll tell you again what I told you over the phone, the child we found looks younger than two and a half.”

“Heather’s little. She looks young,” Dotty managed to say. She brushed her hair away from her face.

“I hope she is your Heather,” Marge said. “Has Sergeant Decker arrived yet?”

Hollander said, “He was called in on an emergency code seven. You can buzz him if you need him.”

Marge shook her head no and smiled inwardly. Code seven meant a meal break, but when they used it in front of civilians, it meant getting tied up with something personal. In Pete’s case, he’d probably gone home to catch up on sleep. No matter. Let the guy rest.

Hollander said, “Detective Dunn, take a look at this photo for me.”

Marge studied Douglas Miller.

“He look familiar?” Hollander asked.

“Yeah, let me think, let me think,” Marge said. She examined the picture, then handed it back to Hollander. “I’m blocking. It’ll probably come to me when I’m showering.” Marge turned to Dotty. “Are you ready?”

“As ready as I’ll ever be,” she answered.

It was nearly three in the morning when they reached Sophi Rawlings’s home. Sophi was dressed in a short-sleeved white cotton shift and a lightweight shawl. She was standing outside the door as Marge pulled the unmarked up to the curve. A thin layer of mist lay suspended in the early morning air. As they came out of the car, Dotty’s breathing became audible.

“I’m Detective Dunn, Ms. Rawlings,” Marge said. “I spoke to you on the phone. This is Mrs. Palmer, the possible mother of Baby Sally, and this is Mr. Benko. He accompanied her down from the Bay area.”

“Come on in,” Sophi said. “The girl’s asleep, but I left a night-light on next to the crib.”

“Let’s go,” Marge said.

Dotty grabbed Benko’s shoulder for support.

“Can you walk okay, Dotty?” Marge asked.

Dotty tried to answer yes, but the word wouldn’t come. She nodded instead. Marge took her hand anyway. Flanked by Marge and Benko, Dotty slowly made her way to the nursery, the walk seemingly interminable.