I considered telling her the truth, but decided against it. Telling Natalie Davidson had yielded no new details. I doubted enlightening Leah as to Esther's true name and identity would prove different.

I said, "I know Esther went out dancing a lot, to a club on Hayarkon Street. Ever go with her?"

Leah said that she hadn't.

"So you have no idea if she ever met a man in that club? Or if anyone ever approached her too forcefully?"

"No, I don't."

"What about at work?"

"What about work?" Leah asked.

"Did any client ever show any undue interest in Esther?"

"No."

"That seems hard to believe, she was so beautiful."

"Oh, I thought you meant did anyone step over the line. Sure, clients used to flirt with her, with both of us. That's what men do—there was no harm in it. You learn how to let them down easy, without hurting their feelings. I taught Esther how to do that."

"No one tried too hard?"

"No. No one. I would have known if anyone had."

Which left Alon Davidson as the only man in Esther's life. Someone who was in an illicit relationship with her, a relationship he had kept secret from the police.

But he had an alibi, I reminded myself. Unless that alibi was false, he could not have been the killer.

I needed to go talk to Davidson. Just as soon as I heard from Reuben whether he had a history with the police.

Having the affair confirmed was enough to make my visit to Leah Goldin worthwhile, but perhaps she could solve another little mystery for me.

"Was Esther happy working at Becker & Strauss?"

"Yes. It's a great place to work. Mr. Strauss is a wonderful man, a wonderful boss. You talked to him?"

"Not yet. I went by the firm earlier, but he was out. So Esther told you nothing about having trouble at work?"

Leah slowly shook her head.

"It would have been in the last few days of her life. According to her neighbor, she was upset about something related to her job. Any idea what it might have been?"

"No. The neighbor didn't know?"

"Esther was vague about it, she said."

"It was probably not that serious, then."

"Maybe not," I said, remembering Natalie Davidson telling me that Esther had assured her she could handle this problem, whatever it was. Still, I was disappointed that Leah Goldin could not fill in this gap in my knowledge.

I scratched my knee through the fabric of my pants. Leah clasped her hands together over one thigh. Her expression was one of solemn reflection. Probably thinking about Esther.