“Do you truly think that it could have been Claudia inside the flat?” asked Tariq. I’m not sure what it said about my sister or our relationship that neither Tariq nor Jesse were startled by the idea that she had slammed me with a door. We were sitting in the back of a tricked-out Range Rover that probably had its own zip code. Inside, it looked like the Earl of Chesterfield sent over his decorator. The seats were burgundy velvet and there was a plush rug on the floor. A polished bar sat between us, made of beveled wood with gilded edges. All the SUV was lacking was a chandelier.

“It could have been,” I said, picturing the hand. When I concentrated, I was sure the fingers were small and delicate enough to be Claudia’s. But the nails were so grubby, as if they’d been digging through dumpsters. Even when she’d been living on the street and subsisting on church meals, she’d had a certain amount of pride in her appearance. She covered up her track marks, and she kept her hands and face clean. “I’m not sure.”

“We’ve gotta take you to the hospital, Lil,” said Jesse.

“We cannot risk a hospital. It is essential that we keep this quiet,” said Tariq.

“Well, ain’t that great. Tariq just parachuted in with some rules and regulations for us, Lil.” Jesse leaned forward. “I’m gonna tell you this once. You got no say in anythin’ Lily decides. Got it?”

I put my hand on Jesse’s arm. “I’m not going to the hospital.”

“Lil, I don’t wanna be the one to say you’re addled, but bein’ smacked in the noggin can’t be doin’ your brain any favors. C’mon now.”

“I can’t go. I’ll tell the police what that witch Mrs. Decarno said, but I don’t want them to know that anyone attacked me at Claudia’s. If there’s a chance it was my sister… Look, if I go to the hospital, they’ll be suspicious that something happened.”

“For cryin’ out loud, Lil, somethin’ did happen!”

“I know a physician, an excellent one,” said Tariq. “He will be discreet.”

Jesse dug in his heels. “Lily needs some of those brain scans you can only get at a hospital.”

“My physician has top-scale equipment, and he will be able to make those scans. It will be precisely like visiting a hospital, only without the four-hour wait.”