Chapter 22

“So now that we are all friends...., said Fatimah. After we had eaten,” how’d the two of you meet up anyway? Last I heard, you were going out to Napa to check on some missing newlyweds.”

Elijah and Dorothy Noah, who a moment ago seemed so far away, came hitting back with a crash.

I had so much to tell her, but the day had changed so subtly from what I had planned. I almost felt deceitful, withholding, filling her in on what had taken place in Napa yet leaving out the important development that was going on inside of me.

Fatimah took it in, digesting it all with that sharp mind of hers. She had consulted on several serial-homicide cases, both as lead examiner and expert witness.

An idea was rolling through my head. In my weakened condition, I didn’t relish the responsibility of running a media-intensive investigation into multiple homicide alone. What I came back with surprised even me.

“How’d you like to lend me some help?”

“Help?” Fatimah blinked with surprise. “ how?