“Vida visited me at our Miami office,” Jeff said.

“When was this?”

“Oh…” Jeff looked down at his hands; his cut was fading. Reflexively he kept them flat on his upper legs under the table. “I guess it would’ve been over two or three weeks ago. Not sure when exactly.”

“Why did she visit you?”

“She wanted me to help her get a job in our Miami office. She had a lot of trouble in her life with drugs in Cleveland. Asgaard let her go. I believe her relatives here in Florida have custody of her son. She was getting her life on track, trying to regain custody, something like that.”

“And did Vida ever mention to you if she had any sort of relationship with Clete Loften?”

“No.”

“Was there anything else Vida told you when you talked with her in your office?”

Lisa looked at Jeff as if silently urging him to reveal everything about Vida, how she had threatened him. Without returning Lisa’s gaze, Jeff blinked a tense acknowledgment and told the investigators, “No.”

Reddick took a moment, nodded and looked at the other investigators.

“Do you know anyone else in Florida Vida may have associated with?” Morrow asked.

“No,” Jeff said.

“What’s this about?” Lisa asked. “Does Vida have a connection to Loften?”

“We’re not clear on that,” Reddick said. “We’ve learned that she was staying at the same motel as Loften, and that recently one of Vida’s relatives, or someone claiming to be a relative, was there looking for her.”

“Oh my God,” Lisa said. “So Vida and that creep could’ve had some kind of relationship?”

“It’s possible,” Reddick said. “Jeff, you worked with Vida Warren. You’ve had recent contact with her. We’re trying to locate her. Would you have a number for her, one that we may not have?”

When Jeff picked up his phone, Morrow noticed the cut on his hand. So did Cruz and Reddick.

“How’d you get that, Jeff?” Morrow touched her palm.

“Slicing an apple. Damn thing keeps opening on me and won’t heal,” Jeff said, scrolling through his phone. He recited a phone number. “That’s the one she gave me,” he said. “Why’re you looking for her?”

“Thanks. We can’t go into details,” Morrow said. “But we’re concerned about her safety and her possible connection to Loften. So if you hear from her, let us know as soon as possible?”

“I will,” Jeff said.

After seeing the investigators out, Jeff rubbed the back of his neck and rejoined the others in the kitchen. He leaned against the counter, folded his arms across his chest and briefly withdrew into his thoughts, then said: “I don’t understand how Vida fits into this, how it’s all connected.”