Emma continued to give her an uneasy feeling with her odd reaction at the restaurant the other night. Maybe she swallowed wrong, like she said, but it looked to me like she’d gone into shock about what Dad said about his new book, or something. And Kayla still couldn’t find anything on the fatal fire at the so-called “Tony’s Diner” in Maryland.

It all seems so suspicious. But I can’t tell Dad about it; he’ll just try to analyze me and send me to Doctor Hirsch. It’s up to me to do this.

Kayla knew Emma would be at her school, knew that her dad was gone for the afternoon to deal with his passport, or something called a NEXUS card. For the moment, she had the house to herself. She’d done a little research and had formulated a plan. Now was the time to execute it.

Tug greeted Kayla at the door, happy to have company, following her upstairs to her room, where she got out her laptop and searched online for Darmont Hill College in Indianapolis, Indiana. She found the school and called the registrar’s office, mindful of the time difference. Counting on the office still being open, she exhaled when a live person answered.

“Registrar. Records.”

“Can you help me? I’d like verification of the graduation status of a former student?”

“Who’s calling and what does this concern?”

“I am an assistant for an author, Benjamin Grant. He’s considering hiring a researcher but needs verification of the graduation status of a former student. I’m calling on his behalf.”

“This is not military but for civilian employment?”

“Yes, civilian employment.”

“Please hold.”

Another person came on the line and after Kayla briefly repeated her request the woman said: “Student’s full name, please?”

“Emma Anne Chance.”

Kayla heard typing on a keyboard.

“Date of birth?”

Kayla had managed to get a look at Emma’s driver’s license in the kitchen last week. She’d taken a photo of it then and provided her birth date now.

More typing and something happening at the other end.

“Miss, our policy is that Mr. Grant make the request on the business letterhead. Only then will we proceed.”

Kayla thought of a way she could do it. “Will you accept it if I scan it and email it to you?”

“Yes, send it to the following email.” The woman provided the address and instructions. “Make sure the request includes the student’s name, date of birth and the request number I’m going to give to you now. We’ll respond to the requesting email but it can take up to two weeks to process.”

“Two weeks?”

“Most requests are completed sooner, but we are backlogged.”

“And is there a fee?”

“No fee.”

“Thank you.”