Breakwater

“Any luck finding your friend?”

Qui

“I’m sorry, no.”

Alicia had stopped by the Society first, apparently not as agitated as she was by the time she’d arrived at the coffee shop. Thelma thought nothing of telling her that Qui

“Did she go up to my office?” Qui

“She didn’t go any farther than where you’re standing right now. I almost didn’t recognize her. I’ve only met her once. She hasn’t seen your new office, has she?”

“No. We haven’t been that close lately.”

Thelma’s eyebrows arched, but she kept whatever questions she had about the friendship between the two younger women to herself. She leaned forward, glancing toward the stairs. “You have company. He got here about ten minutes ago. He said he’d wait for you. I don’t know how he has time-”

“Who, Thelma?”

She made a face. “Deputy Assistant Attorney General Lattimore.”

“What? You didn’t let him into my office, did you? All I need is for him to catch me cleaning out files on buffalo bones-he’ll never let me hear the end of it.”

“Relax. He’s in the library.” Thelma lowered her voice. “He’s even better looking in person than he is on television. If I liked lawyers…”

Qui

Resisting the urge to run up the stairs, Qui

She found her former boss in a high-back leather chair in front of the massive stone fireplace in the walnut-paneled library at the top of the stairs. He looked as if he belonged there.

“All you need are a pipe and slippers,” Qui

He didn’t smile as he rose, studying her. He had on an expensive dark gray suit and looked every inch the high-powered Department of Justice official he was, but Qui

He took her hand. “It’s good to see you, Qui

She reminded herself that he didn’t have to be there because of Alicia. It could be anything. She let her hand fall back to her side. “Mr. Lattimore-”

“Gerard. No more formalities.” He glanced around the old library, largely unchanged since the late nineteenth century. “What a great room this is. This whole building is like stepping into a simpler past.”

“I’m not sure it was that simple. We do tend to run into the errant skull around here.”

He laughed stiffly. “Museum-quality animal skulls only, I hope.” He sighed, shaking his head. “Ah, Qui

“Thanks. I’d hate to have spent three years there and not be missed. I can just hear it: ‘Harlowe? Not a minute too soon did she get her arse out of here.’” But when she saw that her stab at humor only elicited a tense smile from him and realized how awkward and phony the banter felt, she gave it up. “What can I do for you?”

His gray eyes settled on her. “Alicia Miller.”

Qui

“I’m worried about her. She spent the weekend at your cottage in Yorkville. She didn’t come in today. She didn’t call in sick. Steve Eisenhardt-you’ve met him, haven’t you? He says he tried to reach her on her cell phone, but she hasn’t answered or returned his calls.” He studied her a moment. “Qui

“I saw Alicia this afternoon. Around one o’clock.”

He motioned for her to sit down, but they both remained standing. “Tell me,” he said, his expression even tighter.

Qui

“Qui

“I didn’t realize how burned out she was until today.”

“What happened?”

In that split second, Qui

“And tell them what? There’s no reason to think Alicia didn’t want to get in that car.”

“She was totally freaked out, Gerard. I don’t know that she was capable of making a good decision.”

“Let’s hope the people who picked her up were friends who understand she’s on the verge of a nervous breakdown and can help her. Do you think she’d been drinking? Was she on drugs?”

“She didn’t seem drunk, no. On drugs-I just don’t see it.”

He sighed. “I’m sorry. I know she’s been preoccupied the past few weeks. She’s taken a few extra days here and there-to stay at your cottage, I presume.”

“I gave her a key after your party at the Yorkville marina last month and told her she could come and go as she pleased. I had no plans to use the cottage until later this month. When she first arrived in Washington, she helped me work on the place. We’re not as close as we once were…” Qui

“I understand. I know it must be hard for you, worrying about her. Alicia can be very distant at times, but she’s smart and capable-she’ll find her way through her problems. I’ll see what I can do on my end.”

“Alicia came to me for help. She never said what it was she wanted. Maybe there was nothing specific, but now…” Qui

“You’re a good friend to Alicia, Qui

“I’ve got time. I’ll drive down to Yorkville and see if she’s at the cottage. I don’t have a phone there-I can’t call and see if she’s there.” She thought a moment, liking this idea. “I can ask the neighbors what they know.”

“Why not call them?”

“I tried earlier. They’re not home. Anyway, I don’t want them to feel obligated to find Alicia. If she’s there and needs help-maybe I can do something. I can take work with me if she turns up fine in the meantime.”

“Let’s hope she does.” Lattimore walked out into the hall, his footsteps silent on the thick Persian ru

“It’s just down the hall-it’s in the Octagon Room.” Qui

“Maybe another time.” He rubbed the back of his neck in a rare display of awkwardness. “If you ever heard anything, knew anything, that would put me in a bad light, you’d tell me, wouldn’t you? Rumors, people’s agendas. Whatever.”

She frowned. “Why? Is there something going on that I should know about? Does it affect Alicia-”

“No, nothing like that. Sometimes the vultures get to me. That’s all.” He gave her a fake smile. “Comes with the territory.”

Qui