“Of course they could,” she said. “But Rand had adjusted, it wasn’t until his release approached that the symptoms began. He was an amazing person, Doctor. I don’t know if I could’ve coped with eight years of that place and not gone crazy. If only I could’ve guided him better . . . One thing about working with people, you constantly get reminded that only God is perfect.”

“Did you visit Troy as well?”

“Twice. There wasn’t much time, was there?”

“Did Troy ever express any guilt?”

Silence. “Troy never got the chance to grow spiritually, Doctor. That child didn’t have a chance in the world. Anyway, that’s what I wanted to tell you. Whether it’s relevant, I don’t know.”

“I’ll pass it along to Detective Sturgis.”

“Thanks . . . one more thing, Dr. Delaware.”

“What’s that?”

“Your report on the boys. I never got a chance to tell you at the time, but I thought you did a very fine job.”

* * *

Rick Silverman answered at Milo’s house. “I’m out the door, Alex. Big Guy flew to Sacramento a couple of hours ago.”

“Where’s he’s staying?”

“Somewhere in Stockton, near some youth prison. Got to run, car crash, multiple traumas. I’m off-call but the hospital needs extra docs.”

“Go.”

“Nice talking to you,” he said. “If you speak to him before I do, tell him I’ll handle Maui.”

“Vacation plans?”

“Allegedly.”

CHAPTER 20

CHAPTER 20

Fun.

A woman’s body curled next to yours, inhaling her skin, her hair.

Cupping your hand over the swell of hip, tracing the xylophone of ribs, the knob of shoulder.

* * *

I propped myself up and watched Allison sleep. Absorbed the rhythm of her breathing and followed the slow fade of the flush that had spread across her chest.

I got out of bed, slipped on shorts and a T-shirt, and made my escape.

* * *

By the time she wandered into the kitchen wearing my ratty yellow robe, I’d made coffee and checked my service for messages and thought a lot about Cherish Daney’s call.

Rand wanting to talk about Kristal. Same thing he’d told me.

No, that wasn’t quite right. He had mumbled and I’d raised the topic and he’d agreed.

Opening him up.

Allison mumbled something that might’ve been “Hi.” Her gait was unsteady and her black hair was loose and unruly in that nice way really thick hair can pull off. She blinked a few times, struggled to keep her eyes open, made it over to the sink, ran the tap and wet her face. Cinching the robe’s belt tight, she patted herself dry with a paper towel, shook her head like a puppy.

Gaping yawn. Her hand reached her mouth belatedly. “ ‘Scuse me.”