She asked a few more follow-up questions. There was nothing that they could really do now. The girl was eighteen. There was no reason, from this description, to suspect foul play. On TV, the feds get involved and put a team on it. That doesn't happen in real life . But Loren felt a niggling at the base of her brain. Some would call it intuition. She hated that. Hunches . . . that didn't really work either. She wondered what Ed Steinberg, her boss, would want to do. Nothing, probably. Their office was busy working with the U. S. Attorney on two cases, one involving a possible terrorist and the other a Newark politician on the take . With their resources so limited, should they pursue what appeared to be an obvious runaway? It was a tough call . Why now? Loren asked . What?Three weeks, you didn't say anything. What made you change your mind?Do you have children, Investigator Muse?No . I do . Loren again looked at the desk, at the credenza, at the wall. No family pictures. No sign of children or grandchildren. Skylar smiled, as if she understood what Muse was doing . I was a lousy mother . I 'm not sure I understand . I was, shall we say, laissez-faire. When in doubt, I'd let it go . Loren waited . That, Edna Skylar said, was a huge mistake . I 'm still not sure I understand . Neither do I. But this time . . . Her voice faded away. She swallowed, looked down at her hands before turning her gaze to Loren. Just because everything looks okay, maybe it's not. Maybe Katie Rochester needs help. Maybe this time I should do more than just let it go . The promise in the basement came back to haunt Myron at exactly2:17 a.m . Three weeks had passed. Myron was still dating Ali. It was the day of Esperanza's wedding. Ali came as his date. Myron gave away the bride. Tom real name Thomas James Bidwell III was Win's cousin. The wedding was small. Strangely enough, the groom's family, charter members of the Daughters of the American Revolution, was not thrilled with Tom's marriage to a Bronx-born Latina named Esperanza Diaz. Go figure . Funny, Esperanza said . What's that?I always thought I'd marry for money, not love. She checked he r self in the mirror. But here I am, marrying for love and getting money. Irony is not dead . Good thing. You're going to Miami to see Rex?Rex Storton was an aging movie star they were repping. I'm flying down tomorrow afternoon . Esperanza turned away from the mirror, spread her arms, and gave him a dazzling smile. Well?She was a vision. Myron said, Wow . You think?I think . Come on then. Let's get me hitched . Let's . One thing first. Esperanza pulled him aside. I want you to be happy for me . I am . I 'm not leaving you .