Or talk on the phone. Or maybe e-mail. Then Loren added: Without you two present . Loren wouldn't have thought it possible, but Erik Biel's spine goteven straighter. What the hell are you saying?

Okay, Loren thought. They didn't know. This was no act. It was time to shift gears, check their honesty. When was the last time either of you spoke to Mr. Bolitar?Yesterday, Claire said. What time?I'm not sure. Early afternoon, I think . Did you call him or did he call you?He called here, Claire said . Loren glanced at Lance Banner. Score one for the mom. That matched up with the phone records . What did he want?To congratulate us . What about?Aimee got accepted to Duke . A nything else?He asked if he could speak to her . To Aimee?Yes. He wanted to congratulate her . What did you say?That she wasn't home. And then I thanked him for writing the recommendation . What did he say?He said he'd call her back . A nything else?No . Loren let that sit . Claire Biel said, You can't think Myron has anything to do with this . Loren just stared at her, letting the silence soak in, giving her a chance to keep talking. She didn't disappoint . You have to know him, Claire went on. He's a good man. I'd trust him with my life . Loren nodded and then looked at Erik. And you, Mr. Biel?His eyes were out of focus . Claire said, Erik?I saw Myron yesterday, he said . Loren sat up. Where?At the middle school gym. His voice was a dull ache. There's pickup basketball there on Sundays . What time would this have been?Seven thirty. Maybe eight . I n the morning?Yes . Loren glanced back at Lance. He nodded slowly. He'd caught it too. Bolitar couldn't have gotten home much before five, six in the morning. A few hours later, he goes off to play basketball with the missing girl's father?Do you play with Mr. Bolitar every Sunday?No. I mean, he used to play a bit. But he hadn't been there in months . Did you talk to him?Erik's nod was slow . Wait a second, Claire said. I want to know why you're asking us so many questions about Myron. What does he have to do with any of this?Loren ignored her, keeping her gaze on Erik Biel. What did you two talk about?Aimee, I guess . What did he say?He tried to be subtle about it . Erik explained that Myron Bolitar had approached him and that they started talking about exercising and waking up early and then he segues into asking about Aimee, about where she was, about how troublesome teenagers could often be. His tone was strange . How so?He wanted to know how she was trouble. I remember he asked if Aimee was sullen, if she spent too much time on the Internet, things like that. I remember thinking it was a little odd . How did he look?Like hell . Tired? Unshaven?Both . Okay, that's enough, Claire Biel said. We have a right to know why you're asking all these questions . Loren looked up at her.