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myself.”
    â€œSure, course you are,” Bennie told her. “There is one thing, though: I guess the police and the FBI are right on top of things—you know, finding your kids and all. But a couple of years ago my brother Myron found this great private detective when he was going through all of his custody problems with his first wife. He was a little off the wall, this guy, but he was some terrific detective. He saved Myron a bundle, and made sure that he got to see his daughters, too.”
    â€œOkay,” said Lily. “Thanks. I’ll bear that in mind.” She paused, and then she asked him, “How’s the Ridge Road development coming along?”
    â€œIt’s fine. Fiona’s handling it for you. I don’t want you worry about work at all.”
    Lily smiled at him. She knew how much he liked her, and she liked him, too, as a boss and a friend. But every time she looked into his eyes she could see what he really yearned for. He wanted to see her sitting on the opposite side of the breakfast table, while he watched her admiringly and blessed the Lord for bringing him such a pretty young wife.
    The last person who came to see her, late in the evening, when all of her other visitors had left, was Robert. He knocked very gently on her open door.
    â€œOkay if I come in?”
    â€œOf course it is! I didn’t think you were going to show.”
    He approached the bed in his long camel-hair overcoat, staring at her. “My God, Lil. What did they do to you?”
    She touched her scarf self-consciously and said, “Hey—it’s not as bad as it looks. Half of my hair was burned so I asked Agnes to shave it off.”
    â€œBut your
face
, too, honey. Your poor face.”
    He sat down on the edge of the bed and put his arms around her.
    â€œI’m okay,” she said. “I’m really and truly okay.”
    She had promised herself that if Robert came to see her she wouldn’t cry, but she couldn’t help it. Tears rolled down her cheeks and then she sobbed so deeply that her chest hurt. Robert shushed her and kissed the top of her head and waited until she had recovered enough to speak.
    â€œOh, Robert, it’s Tasha and Sammy. They must be so scared. How could anybody have taken them away like that?”
    â€œThey’ll find them, believe me. You’re going to have to be brave.”
    Lily sat up, her reddened face wet with tears. “I don’t feel brave. I don’t feel at all brave. But I feel really, really angry. I feel angry with the men who took them and I feel even angrier with myself because I couldn’t protect them. I’ve never felt so . . .
powerless
.”
    â€œDo the police have any leads yet?”
    She told him about FLAME, and all the questions that Special Agents Rylance and Kellogg had asked her.
    â€œDo you think Jeff had anything to do with it?” Robert asked her.
    â€œI don’t know. I never would have believed that Jeff was capable of being so vengeful. But who else could it be?”
    â€œPeople can surprise you,” said Robert. “People you thought you knew real well.” He lifted her hands to his lips and kissed them. “I’m sorry I didn’t bring you any flowers. I came straight over from a council meeting. I’ll bring you some tomorrow.”
    â€œYou don’t have to bring flowers. Look at all these. And they’re going to be letting me out in a couple of days.”
    â€œOkay, chocolates then. Or grapes. Or a bottle of champagne.”
    â€œI’m on antibiotics. Can’t drink.”
    He looked her in the eyes. He was handsome, in a rather ordinary way, with wiry blond hair and a short, straight nose and a cleft in his chin. Although he didn’t say anything, there was something in his expression that told her that their relationship was over. He was a plain man, with straightforward tastes—considerate, and fun to be with, but