After Miller had signed the agreement. Ted stood. He was angry and frustrated, and patience wasn’t accomplishing a thing. “I need to find her. If someone here doesn’t become a lot more cooperative in the next few seconds, I am going to call the police. You could be an accomplice to kidnapping.”

Again, he had misjudged her. Rather than wilt at the threat of police, she put her back to the wall and stood her ground. “We have nothing more to discuss.”

“No,” he said, meeting her eye. “You need to give me some answers.”

Lester stood and took Ted’s arm. “I think we all need to step back and take a deep breath.”

“I don’t know what any of you are up to, but rest assured I am going to find out.” The woman, eyes locked with Ted’s, barely registered Lester’s presence.

“I’ve got a feeling we’re all really on the same side here,” Lester said. Ted let him take the wheel. “Am I right? We are all concerned for the welfare of Miss Barbara Miller. Can we keep that in mind and try to talk nice to each other?”

The woman gave Ted one final defiant look before turning a softer face to Lester. “I am confident that she is in good hands.”

“Would you at least share the name of the ambulette company?” Lester asked.

Ted could see her mulling over the ethical issues involved in releasing this bit of inconsequential information. It took her a minute, but she came down on the right side. “I don’t see how that would violate confidentiality. Let me check with the director.” She scurried to the office.

“How did you do that?” Ted asked.

“I have no idea,” Lester said. “But it won’t be that easy getting the ambulance people to open up.”

Whoever was orchestrating the defense was a magnificent chess player, anticipating Ted’s thoughts and plans. He was beginning to feel hopeless. Which was the point, of course.

The director reappeared. “I am uncomfortable offering any further information. If you would like to leave a business card, I will call the ambulette service and ask them to contact you directly. That is the best that I can do.”

Ted could tell when he was beaten. The woman wasn’t going to budge. He thanked her and gave her his card.

But Lester wasn’t done. “One more thing, if you don’t mind. Could we talk with Miss Miller’s aide for a minute? I think her name is Anora. She was a big help, and I need to thank her.”

“She’s been reassigned to another patient and is working right now,” the director said.

She was probably watching her new charge play bingo. Or they were both nodding out in the lounge in front of CNN.

Lester worked his magic again. “We won’t keep her long.”

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