“I let it go then, but I did wonder about it,” said Tariq. “I left something with the supposed sobriety companion. It was something Claudia wanted passionately. Or at least, she had wanted it, back when I saw her at dinner in August.”

“What was it?”

“She had pawned something that she wanted to find again. However, the point is that she did not call me about it. I went back to her flat on Christmas Eve and this nanny character claimed that she had passed the package along. That was when I began to have the building watched. Two of my people reported seeing Claudia, but I am quite certain it was just the imitation of which they caught a glimpse, not my Claudia.”

Hearing Tariq use the possessive made my stomach churn. “It took you how long to figure out that Claudia wasn’t in the apartment?” I asked, incredulous.

“I have been to Pakistan four times in the past six months. That is in addition to other travel for my business interests. I have been distracted, I admit that.”

“You went over there and acted like a crazy person on December twenty-eighth,” I said.

“Was that how it was reported? No one answered the door and I became agitated. The old bat across the hall screamed that she would call the police, so I left. I flew to Pakistan the next day.”

“Why did you get all worked up in the first place?”

“I received a message that Claudia did not want me to contact her again. At the time, I was livid.” Tariq looked at his hands. “Later, I realized that the message was probably Tati’s own creation.”

“The same Tati who attacked me yesterday?”

“The same. I owe you a sincere apology for that, Lily. Padma told me all of the shameful details. To treat any guest in that way is inexcusable. To treat the sister of my… of my dearest friend in that manner is unforgivable.” Tariq bowed his head, formally and respectfully.

“Tell Tati I’m up for a rematch anytime.”

“You would have to travel to France if you wished that,” said Tariq.

“France?”

“I sent her packing as soon as I arrived home.”

“Because she attacked me?”

“There were several reasons. That was the most recent,” Tariq said, folding his arms. “She meant nothing to me.”

“So you kept her around because she had a physical resemblance to Claudia?”

Tariq looked out the window again before he answered. “If all that you can have is the shadow of the original, you tell yourself that is better than nothing at all.”

CHAPTER 21