Theo put a hand on Tess’s shoulder. But if they expected Tess to collapse, to scream, they were surprised. Because she did none of those things. Tess blinked, then a slow grin spread across her face.

“Tess?” said Mr. Biedermann.

“She got away,” said Tess. “She’ll come home now.”

“Tess.”

“She’s always been good at that. Escaping. And hiding. Like that time when she was a kitten and she got out of the apartment. She ended up in Mr. Perlmutter’s cereal cabinet. She ate all his Wheaties.”

“Tess—” Mr. Biedermann began again.

“And that time she decided to ride the dumbwaiter. She was gone for hours. I was so worried. But I was worried for nothing! I’m always worried for nothing!”

“Honey.”

“Remember, Dad? Remember how she likes to escape? How she likes to hide?”

Mr. Biedermann pressed his lips together. Then he said, “I remember.”

“She got away,” Tess said firmly. “She’ll come home.”

“Tess, are you—”

“I’m fine, Dad,” Tess said.

“But—”

“Honestly. I’m fine.”

Jaime didn’t think she was fine. He didn’t think anything was fine. But Mr. Biedermann picked up the cell. “Well. I’m going to let your mother know what happened.”

“If she doesn’t already,” Theo said.

“Yes. Well. I’ll call her anyway,” said Mr. Biedermann. He scooped up the phone and the files. He seemed about to say something else, but decided against it. They heard the front door slam as he left.

Jaime and Theo looked at Tess. She put her hands on her hips, her eyes and her smile overbright. “So. What’s for breakfast?”

Tess kept it up all morning, the smiling. All through breakfast—slowly munching her way through a bagel. While she bounced down the stairs wearing jean shorts and a Wonder Woman T-shirt. During the Underway ride to Manhattan, to the place where they’d taken Nine. Through their search of the surrounding blocks, hoping to find Nine hiding in an alley or napping in a doorway.