“A lawyer is not going to be able to get you access if Nano doesn’t want you to have access. Be reasonable. Let’s talk about something else.”

“Will a lawyer be able to make them tell me why they tried to kill us?”

Paul let out a sigh. “No, Pia, that’s not going to happen. Nor do we know for sure that they had anything whatsoever to do with the accident. I just have this imprecise recollection of a vehicle behind us just before we went off the road. But I’m not sure about that. You’re not going to get anywhere trying to reopen that can of worms. Because there are no worms!”

“I’ll never accept the idea that I just ran off the road. It’s absurd.”

“You are entitled to your idea, but I’m telling you that you can’t keep on with this monomania. It’s like Moby-Dick.”

“What?”

“Never mind. Do you still want to come down to Denver with me? We both could use a diversion. Come on, Pia, what do you say?”

“I’m good,” said Pia. “I’m not in the mood.”

“You sure?”

Pia nodded. She wasn’t in the mood for socializing and small talk at all. And she’d had enough wine for the night.

“Hey, Paul,” she said. She sounded brighter. “Do you still have that camera you borrowed from your friend? The one we fooled around with that time?”

“Yeah, it’s still here. Why?”

“Can I borrow it?”

Paul hesitated. He tried to look Pia in the eye, but she quickly looked away. “Why do you want to borrow it?”

“I don’t have a real camera, and I feel like going hiking tomorrow while you’re in the ER. I think my ribs can take it. I want to take some pictures of the wildflowers that are blooming in the foothills.”

“Pia . . . ?”

“C’mon, Paul, don’t be so suspicious. I’d use my phone’s camera, but I have in mind to make large blowups for all those bare walls in my apartment you’re always complaining about. So I need the high definition.”

“Exactly what’s brewing in that mind of yours?”

“Nothing,” Pia said casually. “I just feel like being creative, seeing as I have all this free time. What do you say? Or do I have to go out and buy one?”

“Okay. I’ll get it,” Paul said. She could be so damn willful.

“And can I have that cord that connects it to the Mac, too?” Pia called after him. “You’re an angel.”

“I know,” said Paul. “And probably a fool,” he said under his breath.

Chapter 40

40.

ZACHARY BERMAN’S HOUSE, BOULDER, COLORADO

SUNDAY, JULY 21, 2013, 9:15 P.M.