“She walks in beauty, like the night. Hello, Lily.” He inclined his head at me. It was a nod of recognition, and a reminder that we kept an adversarial distance from each other. “I am glad that you are safe. Perhaps you would consider putting that knife down.”

I looked at my hand and realized I’d put up the blade. As I lowered it, I felt embarrassment. “What are you doing here? I thought you were in Pakistan.”

“Where do I begin? Suffice to say I received a telephone call in Pakistan, informing me that you had visited my flat, and that Claudia is missing.” Tariq paused. “My source may have mentioned that you overturned a table in the parlor and made something of a mess.”

I stared at him in disbelief. “Did your source tell you that your crazy friend Tati attacked me?”

“I’m just thankin’ the good Lord you’re safe, Lil,” Jesse interrupted. “I was goin’ crazy with worry. Never run off in the middle—” Jesse broke off as he noticed, for the first time, that another person was in the room with us. “Hey there, ma’am. Are you doin’ all right?”

“This is Sarah,” I said. “She’s a neighbor. She took care of me tonight after someone attacked me here.” I looked around and was surprised to see that Sarah’s eyes were wet and glassy. She looked shell-shocked.

“You were attacked?” said Jesse. “What in hell did you get into over here?”

I was too surprised to answer him. “Are you okay, Sarah?”

She nodded slightly and recovered her composure. “I should go. It’s been quite a night.”

“Thanks so much for everything you did,” I said. “I’m so sorry to bother you in the middle of the night. You were amazing.”

She brushed against me lightly as she headed out the door, and Jesse stepped to one side and Tariq moved to let her pass. “You need to go to the hospital, Lily,” she said as she retreated down the hallway. “A doctor needs to take a look at that bump. The fact you’re up and walking doesn’t mean you don’t have a cerebral contusion.” Then she unlocked her apartment door and slipped inside. I felt guilty. I hadn’t liked Sarah when I’d first met her, or at the police station, but her willingness to help me when I’d been hurt touched me.

“Odd bird,” said Tariq, sotto voce.

“What are you doing here?” I demanded.

“I returned from Pakistan.” said Tariq. “Did I not yet mention that fact?”

“Why are you here in the middle of the night?”

Jesse butted in. “He came by my place, bangin’ on the door and shoutin’. Don’t think I’ll ever hear the end of it from my neighbor across the hall. She said she’d call the cops, and she’s mean enough to do it.”