“It’s funny,” Bobby says. “Funny how these Russians are sort of programmed to say people’s full names. The guy doesn’t call her just Nina. He calls her Nina Kozlova.”

I had never thought of that, but it feels like it could be true. Nina Kozlova.

The dialogue between Blumenthal and Orlov has fizzled, and I decide it’s eating up time that could be better spent looking for both Tracy Anne and Nina. When I mention this to Bobby, he says, “You’re right. But Detective Blumenthal has his own way of doing things. And his own way of doing things has been proven mostly successful in the past.”

“So you think he’ll spend the rest of the day sitting here and allowing Orlov to laugh at him.”

“No, I don’t, not at all,” Bobby says. “I think he’ll move Orlov into a private interview room.”

“I’m new to all this. This room here looks pretty private,” I say.

“Pretty private. The other room, the private room, is very private.”

“And that means?”

“That means there’s no video recorder, no two-way mirror, no observers. It’ll be just Detective Blumenthal, maybe myself, maybe another detective, probably an emergency medic. Absolutely no one else.”

I say nothing. I’m an enthusiastic amateur, but I’m an amateur. Yet I absolutely get what Bobby is saying.

The liberal in me abhors the concept. The midwife in me says, Why the hell not try it? The babies! How can I forget the babies?

As if on cue, I look back through the two-way mirror and watch Blumenthal stand up. He looks at Orlov. There’s a slight smile—not quite a pleasant smile—on Blumenthal’s face.

“I want to thank you for your help and cooperation, Fyodor. In fact, you’ve been so helpful that I’d like to continue this conversation.”

Blumenthal looks at the cop standing by the door. “Officer, would you please escort Mr. Orlov to room 301B. And after you’ve secured the interviewee, please make the usual arrangements.”

All Bobby Cilia says is “Told ya, ma’am.”

Chapter 64

Chapter 64

SECONDS LATER LEON BLUMENTHAL enters the observation room.

“Where will you be taking Orlov?” I ask Blumenthal.

He ignores my question. Instead he thrusts an iPad into my hands.

I assume that whatever is on the iPad has something to do with the baby-napping cases.

“Read it,” Blumenthal says. Then he looks at Bobby Cilia and says, “It’s the official release from the AG’s office.”

Bobby nods. Obviously Cilia and Blumenthal know something I don’t know. I look down at the screen and read: