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former employee? Nicole and I made eye contact, but we remained stone-faced.
    “No sign of the culprit either, then, I suppose,” the doctor said.
    “Nothing. But I heard the shot just before I lost the telemetry signal. The three of us will be heading back up to the area first thing tomorrow morning. If we can find the dead bird, maybe we can come up with some evidence that will point us to the shooter.”
    “Is there anything we can do to help?” Dr. Clayton asked. The physician seemed sincere. In spite of his money and celebrity and all, I already sort of liked the man. I supposed the millions who bought his books and watched him on TV liked him for the same reason: we all bought image. I wasn’t sure what Jake was up to yet, but I would find out soon enough.
    “Your old chef, Maria Andros,” Toronto said. He had told me about her earlier. “She hasn’t come around here again, has she?”
    “No. You don’t mean ... you don’t think Maria was involved in this, do you?”
    “I don’t know. But I’m not exactly at the top of her dance card, if you know what I mean,” Toronto said.
    “I know, but—”
    “Have you been sending her any severance?”
    “Of course, but that’s just about come to an end.”
    “She’s still in the area then?”
    “As far as I know. She’s moved, but not that far away. I think she works at the Homestead now.”
    “You have her new address?”
    “I do. I have it in my files in the study. Would you like me to get it for you?”
    “That would be great, if you don’t mind.”
    “Of course. It’ll only be a minute,” he said. “Sylvia, maybe you could see if these gentlemen would like something to drink?”
    “That’s okay, Doc,” Jake said. “We’re fine.”
    “All right then.” He disappeared into the house.
    The mistress of the manor regarded us with calm eyes. “I feel terrible about your bird,” she said. “I can’t imagine why Maria would ever do such a thing.”
    “I hope she didn’t,” Jake said. “But she was pretty angry with me when she left your employ.”
    “Yes,” Mrs. Clayton said. “But not that angry.” She and Jake looked at one another for a few moments.
    I shoved my hands in my pockets and leaned on the truck. “Did you know Maria Andros well, Mrs. Clayton?” I asked.
    She tore her gaze from Toronto. “Maria? Oh, not that well. She only worked here for a few months.”
    “How did you happen to hire her?”
    “Ricardo sees to all the employees. I believe she was referred by an agency.”
    “I understand she’s quite an attractive young woman.”
    “Well, I . . . I suppose she is. That is if you—”
    Sylvia Clayton stopped speaking and turned to look as her husband reappeared through the back door and strode toward us on the pavement. If she knew about the affair between her husband and Maria Andros, she wasn’t making it obvious. She seemed even more upset about what had happened to Jazzman than we did.
    Dr. Clayton handed Toronto a business card with the information written on the back. “You know, Jake,” he said, “it occurs to me that if Ms. Andros was involved in any of this, she might be a threat to me or my family again. Do you think we need to reactivate our arrangement?”
    “Not yet, sir,” Toronto said. “Why don’t you let us talk with her first.”
    The doc seemed to think it over for a moment. “All right,” he said. “You’ve still got my cell phone number?”
    Jake assured him that he did.
    We said our good-byes all around and climbed back into the Jeep. The doctor slipped his arm around his wife again. They waved as they watched us drive away.

9
     
    I waited until we had cleared the guardhouse before speaking.
    “So what are we doing? Playing Agatha Christie here?”
    Toronto smiled. “You might say that.”
    “I didn’t come all the way over here to waste my time.”
    “You’re right. No reason to be jerking your chain.”
    “Why are you feeding a setup to Clayton and his wife, too. You