questions as Detective Santos had on the ride to the hospital and back.
In fact, once she got the picture sketched out as they knew it, Margo McGregor had plenty of theories of her own. These she shared eagerly with Auntie Lil, who was highly impressed. Here was a woman capable of leaps of imagination, seasoned with suspicion and cunning unmatched by anyone but Auntie Lil herself. Soon, a bargain was struck: in exchange for an article on Emily's lack of identity. Auntie Lil would give the columnist exclusive rights to all the background information they had gathered and fill her in on what the police determined that night.
Not wasting any time, Auntie Lil launched into a highly fictionalized account of her adventures. Just as she was detailing some of the more heroic details of her mighty struggle against knife-wielding captors, a loud and exaggerated cough interrupted them. Detective Santos stood in the doorway. His gaze was a steady and unfriendly beacon directed at Margo McGregor. "You are?" he asked abruptly.
She introduced herself. He was not impressed. "Don't mind if I get to be the one to interview my own witnesses first, do you?" he demanded bluntly.
Margo McGregor was not a fool. She shut her notebook abruptly and rose. "Not at all. You must be Detective Santos."
The detective was unmoved. "Miss McGregor." He pointed toward the reception area and she took the hint. Mumbling something about interviewing some of the officers who'd been on the pier, she quickly left the room.
"It would be nice, Miss Hubbert, if you talked to the police before the press," Santos told her in a voice that hovered between sarcasm and graciousness. "Now, can I trust you to sit here and use a little discretion? I just came down to check on you. I'm not through with this Rodney guy and it's going to be a while now that the Lieutenant is involved. Are you sure you wouldn't rather I call you in the morning?"
"We're not leaving until we find out who's behind this," Auntie Lil declared.
"Suit yourself. But, please…" His voice dipped and he stared steadily at her.
"All right," she agreed readily, afraid they'd end up on the sidewalk if she didn't.
Less than half an hour later Herbert Wong appeared, bearing a bouquet of flowers along with several cups of cappuccino and profuse apologies.
"Forgive me, Lillian," he begged with a humble bow. "It is inexcusable. I was to have protected you."
T.S. thought Herbert was laying it on a little thick, but Auntie Lil lapped it up like a thirsty dog. So fervent was Herbert's regret, that she had no choice but to be gracious.
"Nonsense, Herbert, how could you have known my life would be placed in such dire jeopardy?" She sniffed at the flowers and brightened at the smell of cappuccino.
Herbert Wong was one smart man, T.S. thought with admiration. Within minutes, he had Auntie Lil relaxed in her seat and the flowers in an empty jar filled with water. He was soon gently patting her hand and asking for details in a quiet and earnest voice. His presence alone served to calm her and T.S. was grateful for his help.
He was also, he admitted reluctantly, jealous. How wonderful to have someone like that who was so unafraid to show their affection for you. For the first time in his life, T.S. wondered what Auntie Lil was like when she was alone with her admirers like Herbert. Surely, she was not brash and demanding. Perhaps, all of her exuberant energy became focused solely on her companion. If so, it would be quite an experience and would easily explain the utter devotion of her many friends.
Shortly after Herbert's arrival, an erratic parade of witnesses began to pass by the small doorway on their way to give their statements to waiting detectives. The first to be called was Little Pete, who was marched past firmly and held in tow by a determined-looking Nellie. A uniformed patrolman brought up the rear, but his presence was entirely superfluous.
"And to think Little Pete feared the police," T.S. remarked.
"Indeed," Herbert agreed. "It seems that Miss Nellie is the force to be feared."
"I wonder how much she knows about this whole thing?" Auntie Lil wondered out loud.
"I say nothing," T.S. said. "She just comes from another culture. Minding her own business is practically a religion. She just didn't want to get involved."
Auntie Lil remained unconvinced. Her attention, however, was diverted by the arrival of Billy and Annie O'Day, accompanied by a pair