"Ran out of the real stuff yesterday," she said, tucking the money into a box below the bar. "Chicory coffee okay?"

It wasn't, so I ordered an orange soda. It was lukewarm and flat. Something told me this café wouldn't be in business for long.

"Thanks," I said and toted the bottle with me back to the phone. I swallowed some more soda. It did quench some of my thirst. That was something.

Taking another sip, I called Itamar Levine's law firm. The same secretary as yesterday picked up.

"He just came in," she said once we got through the introductions. "Hold on a minute."

I did and soon heard a soft male voice: "Hello, this is Levine."

"Mr. Levine, my name is Adam Lapid. I'm an investigator from Tel Aviv."

"An investigator? Police?"

"No. Private," I said. Pretending to be a policeman is a risky tactic with lawyers.

"I see. What is this about?"

His voice was soft and cautious. The voice of a man who doesn't step off the curb before checking at least twice in both directions that the road is clear.

"Esther Kantor," I said.

A sharp intake of breath. "I haven't heard that name in a long while."

But from the way he said it, I would have bet the name had cropped up in his mind not that long ago.

"You worked together at Becker & Strauss."

"Yes. But why are you asking me about Esther?"

I told him.

"What hope is there after ten years?"

"More than there was two weeks ago," I said.

"If you say so. I don't know what I can tell you. I cannot imagine who might have killed her. I certainly didn't, if you're entertaining any such notion."

"I know you didn't," I said. "I read the police report. You were away."

"Yes. In Cairo. A conference. A very boring conference. But I did get to see the pyramids, which I doubt most Israelis would ever have the chance to see. When I returned, I learned Esther and her child were dead."

"How well did you know Esther?"

"As well as one can, professionally. As you said, we worked in the same firm. I was a young associate. She was a secretary."

"Was she a good secretary?"

"Excellent. Very bright and orderly. The best secretary I've ever worked with."

"And how was the other one?"

"The other one?"

"Leah Benowitz."

A short pause. "Not as good as Esther," Levine said, measuring his words.

"Can you tell me why Becker & Strauss would need two secretaries, when today there's only one?"

"Is there just one? I haven't been at the old place or spoken to anyone there in ages."