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nuts.” Like Wilcox.
    Crazy or not, though, there was no question in my mind that Wilcox wanted his wife back even if he didn’t understand what the hell was wrong with her. If he didn’t want her back, he wouldn’t be laying out the money he was. Since I’ve been doing this kind of work, I’ve found that money is as good a barometer of sincerity as anything, and a job like this could run Wilcox a substantial chunk of change.
    I thought about the meds Wilcox said his wife was on as I turned the car over. It groaned in the cold. I rubbed my hands to warm them while I waited for the heater to kick in. One of these days I had to remember to buy a new pair of gloves. That could be the cause of her problem right there. Recently, I’d read somewhere that serotonin reuppers can spark manic episodes in people who are susceptible to bipolar disorder. Maybe that was what happened to Janet. And now she was crashing.
    On the way back to the store, I checked in with Paul, then dialed the number Walter Wilcox had given me for his daughter. She picked up on the second ring.
    â€œYes?” she said.
    I introduced myself and explained why I was calling. “I’d like to see you if possible.”
    â€œI’m leaving to go back to New York City in an hour.” She sounded nasal. As if she had a cold.
    â€œI can come over now.” There was a long pause on her end. I got the feeling she was searching around for an excuse to say no. “This won’t take very long.”
    â€œWhy can’t we do this on the phone?”
    â€œBecause I’d like to meet you.”
    â€œOh”
    â€œIt might help me to find your mother.”
    â€œI don’t know anything. Didn’t my father tell you that?”
    â€œAs a matter of fact, he did. I’d still like to talk to you, though.”
    â€œOh, all right.” Stephanie sighed and gave me her address. “But I’m telling you it’s going to be a waste of time.”
    â€œI’m willing to take that risk.” And I hung up before she could change her mind.
    As I paused at a light, it occurred to me that Stephanie seemed amazingly unconcerned about her mother’s disappearance. Which meant one of two things: either she didn’t care or she’d heard from her. I guess I’d find out which soon enough.
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    On the way over to Stephanie’s, I called Leonard’s Animal Hospital to see how the dogs that had been taken out of the backyard on Fayette Street were doing. Leonard’s Animal Hospital was where Animal Control took all the animals they picked up.
    â€œOh, you’re the one that called it in,” the vet tech who answered the phone said when I explained who I was. “We had to rehydrate the beagle, but everyone else looked worse off than they were. It’s amazing what some food and water and warmth will accomplish.”
    â€œYou forgot kindness.”
    â€œAin’t that the truth. Now all we have to do is find homes for them.”
    â€œWhat happened to the two people they arrested?”
    â€œWell, I heard the woman is in the psych ward at Upstate—she totally bugged out. And the kid is downtown at the Public Safety Building.” A dog started baying in the background. “Gotta go,” the tech said. “If you hear of anyone who wants a dog, send him our way.”
    â€œYeah, rescuing is the easy part.”
    â€œYou can say that again.”
    I clicked off and called Manuel.
    â€œListen,” I said to him. “You think Bethany would want one of the mutts that I rescued from the backyard?”
    â€œShe really wants one of Lily’s puppies, but I have a couple of friends who’ve been talking about getting a dog.”
    â€œCall them up. I’ll drive them over to the shelter if necessary.”
    â€œNo need. They’ve got their own cars.”
    â€œCould you make a sign and put it in the store