“Zelda Tapply, How do you do,” the tiny old lady said, holding out one withered hand as if waiting for her ring to be kissed. It was quite a ring, a star sapphire that would have made the pope proud. I touched her papery fingertips briefly. She had white hair and a complexion so translucent that I could see tangled blue veins behind it. “Of course, I would do anything to help.” Zelda shook her shriveled head slowly, as if it would fall off with a quick motion. “I’ve been beside myself with worry about Claudia since the police called.”

“Anything you can tell us would be helpful,” I said. “Do you have a file on Claudia’s stay here?”

“I’m afraid we aren’t able to share our patient files. It conflicts with patient confidentiality.” Zelda smiled at the man who carried in the tea tray. He was dark-haired, pasty-skinned and pudgy-faced, reminding me of Bela Lugosi in Dracula. Only this vampire had a gun holstered on his hip. Guard and houseboy, all in one.

“We’re looking for anything that could help us find Claudia,” I said. “Since she was at Idylhaven right before she disappeared, this is obviously the place to start.”

Zelda smiled indulgently, as if dealing with a particularly stupid child. “I do understand your concerns, Lily,” she said, while Bela Lugosi poured tea. “I have already discussed this matter with the police. Our patient files are confidential.” She spread out her pale gnarled hands in a gesture of regret. “Of course, I would be happy to tell you anything that isn’t confidential.” Her servant half bowed as he left the room.

“What exactly would that be?” asked Jesse.

“Won’t you have some tea?” Zelda poured milk into her cup. “I can tell you that Claudia signed herself out of our treatment center on September twenty-ninth. That was at three P.M. I had to look that up for the police.”

“Signed herself out—does that mean her treatment program was complete?”

“Not necessarily. Every patient is different.”

“So when Claudia left, she was in the middle of detoxing?” I asked.

Zelda steepled her fingers together. “While I can’t provide specific details, I can say that our ideal scenario for a patient with your sister’s issues would be to stay here for six weeks to two months. A residential program, with counseling, medical support, and continuing support is necessary to combat her particular addiction.”

“Look, I know my sister was a heroin addict. You can say the name of the drug.”

“Very well. Since you know the drug, you should also know that the average heroin user attempts detoxification between ten and twenty-five times,” said Zelda, sipping her tea. “It’s a very long and complicated process, and unfortunately relapses are very common.”

“Do you think Claudia relapsed after she left here?” I asked.

Zelda shook her head. “I wouldn’t be able to say.”