“It is,” Laurie admitted. “I’m turning over a new leaf. I’m going to concentrate on work for a while. It’s something I always do when I’m upset about something.”

“I see,” Jack said. He wasn’t sure if he should ask her what she was upset about or not.

“I want to thank you again for last night,” Laurie said. “You really helped.”

“But I didn’t do anything,” Jack said.

“You were there and you made me feel comfortable,” Laurie said. “You acted like a friend, and that was what I needed.”

They boarded the elevator. Jack pushed the button for the fifth floor.

“Do you want to tell me what happened at your dinner last night?” Jack asked hesitantly.

Laurie smiled. “Not yet. I’ve got to process it a bit more myself. But thanks for asking.”

Jack smiled weakly He shifted his weight. It was amazing how easily Laurie could make him feel uncomfortably awkward.

“Are you going to work on your mystery cases today?” Laurie asked.

“I’m going to try,” Jack said. “Any other ideas for me about Connie Davydov?”

“Only what I gave you last night,” Laurie said.

“If you think of anything, don’t hesitate to tell me,” Jack said. “I might need it to keep the bounty hunters at bay.”

Laurie nodded. She knew what Jack was referring to.

They walked down the corridor together. When they got to Jack’s door they stopped.

“There is one thing I’d like to say,” Laurie offered. “I want to apologize for the way I acted when you and Lou told me about Paul yesterday afternoon. I wasn’t happy to hear it, but as you suggested, I was taking it out on the messengers. You two were right to tell me, although I’m not sure Lou was right to look it up in the first place.”

“Jealousy makes people do strange things,” Jack said. “And I’m speaking for myself.”

“I’ll take that as a compliment,” Laurie said. “And good luck today.”

“Thanks,” Jack said. “I’ll need it.”

Jack went into his office and got back to work. He concentrated on the prisoner-in-custody case. If nothing else, he hoped to have that done by tomorrow to keep Calvin happy. While he worked, he glanced up at the wall clock repeatedly. When it got close to eight, he put down his pen and descended a floor to the toxicology lab.

As he approached the door, it didn’t look promising. It was closed and the lab appeared dark through the frosted glass. Jack tried the door anyway. It was locked. As he turned around to head back to the stairs, he caught sight of Peter on his way along the corridor from the direction of the elevator. He’d just arrived, as evidenced by his coat over his arm.