“The questions I have to keep asking.”

“Good Lord, now what?”

“Your name came up as a patient at a rehab program. Where Steve Muhrmann was also in treatment.”

Her hands gripped the table. “This is psy-cho-tic. Where is this supposed place?”

“Pasadena. Awakenings.”

“The only thing that takes me to Pasadena is the Rose Bowl, and the last time we attended the game was four years ago. This has to be an identity theft thing.” Her brow furrowed, then smoothed. “Maybe it’s one of those Medi-Cal frauds, where they bill for services that never take place? I will swear on a stack of Bibles that I have never ever been in any kind of rehab, nor do I have a drinking problem, nor do I know any of my father-in-law’s sluts by name, nor have I rented a post office box.” Pausing for breath. “The same goes for any relationship with a Mer-Man.” Giggling. Shrill. She turned a hand into a swooping jet plane. “Watch out, Tokyo.”

The chef peered our way.

“Hilarious,” said Connie Suss.

Milo said, “Tiara Grundy’s face was on the news.”

“I never watch the news, too depressing.” She patted Milo’s cuff. “Thanks, Lieutenant.”

“For—”

“Totally eradicating my appetite, I’ve been trying to take off a few pounds, you made it easy.”

Sliding bills from an alligator purse, she walked over to the chef. “It was delicious, Françoise, but I’m going to take this home.”

“Certainly, Connie.”

Françoise took the plate into the kitchen. As Connie Suss waited, she kept her back to us.

Milo said, “Thanks for your time, ma’am.”

No answer.

As we left, she said, “You should thank me. It’s people like me who finance this comedy routine you pretend is a job.”

Chapter 30

series of calls to Valley Traffic confirmed the details of Connie Suss’s DUI.

“I hate when they’re credible,” said Milo. “You feel anything deceptive about her?”

“Anyone can be fooled,” I said, “but she seemed real.”

“So scratch one family member. Along with the whole damn case I’ve been building. Maybe she’s right and it’ll come down to a scam—and that psychiatrist Manlow was in on it. She also seemed straight, but like you said.”

I said, “If Manlow was involved in fraud why would she let on that someone using Connie’s name had entered the program?”

“She actually didn’t come out and say it, Alex, she just didn’t deny it.”

“Basically, she told us without having to come out and say it.”

“That could be because we caught her off guard. Or she’s one of those liars who figures it’s best to sprinkle in partial truths.”

He phoned the medical board, got voice-mailed to the ethical complaints section. Nary a gripe about Elizabeth Allison Manlow.