“Laurie called me at four-thirty, too,” Jack said in a whisper. “She woke me up. Not that I’m complaining. Actually it was good she woke me up. I was having a nightmare. But I know it was exactly four-thirty because I looked at the clock.”

“Well, maybe it was four-forty-five when she called me,” Lou said. “I don’t remember exactly. It’s been a busy night.”

“What did she call for?” Jack asked. “That’s a rather strange time to call, wouldn’t you say?”

Lou fixed Jack with his dark eyes. It was apparent he was debating the appropriateness of revealing what Laurie had called him about.

“All right, maybe it’s not a fair question,” Jack said, raising his hands in mock defense. “Instead, why don’t I tell you why she called me. She wanted to have dinner with me tonight. She said it was important that she talk with me. Does that make any sense given what she said to you?”

Lou blew out through pursed lips. “No,” he said. “She said the same thing to me. She invited me to dinner, too.”

“You’re not pulling my leg, are you?” None of this was rational.

Lou shook his head.

“What did you say?” Jack asked.

“I said I’d go,” Lou answered.

“What did you think she wants to talk to you about?” Jack asked.

Lou hesitated. It was again apparent he was uncomfortable.

“I guess I was hoping she wanted to tell me she missed me. You know, something like that.”

Jack slapped a hand to his forehead. He was touched. It was obvious Lou was in love with Laurie. It was also a complication, because in many ways Jack felt the same way about her although he was reluctant to admit it to himself.

“You don’t have to say anything,” Lou said. “I know I’m a sap. It’s just that I get lonely once in a while and I enjoy her company. Plus she likes my kids.”

Jack took his hand away from his forehead and put it on Lou’s shoulder. “I don’t think you are a sap. Far from it. I was just hoping you could shed some light on what’s up with her.”

“We’ll just have to ask her,” Lou said. “She said she’d be a little late arriving this morning.”

“Knowing Laurie she’ll make us wait until tonight,” Jack said. “Did she say how late she’d be?”

“No,” Lou said.

“Even that’s weird,” Jack said. “If she was up and at ‘em at four-thirty, how come she’s late?”

Lou shrugged.

Jack went back into the ID room with his mind spinning about Laurie and terrorism. It was a strange combination. Realizing there was little he could do about either for the moment, he got Vinnie away from his paper for the second time and vowed to get his day under way. He looked forward to concentrating on a problem with an immediate resolution.

As Jack and Vinnie passed Janice Jaeger’s office, Jack leaned inside.

“Hey, you did a good job on this Papparis case,” Jack said.