Elle gasped. “What? When? What are you talking about?”

  Chris closed his eyes. He’d honestly thought she would know. Wrong approach. Hit the reset button. “Obviously, I have inadvertently divulged some very personal and confidential information. I should never have assumed you knew about it, but you and Camille are such old and very close friends, I just thought . . .”

  Elle was dumbfounded. “I don’t know anything about any abduction.” She looked for a tissue. “When did this happen?” Tears began to flow down her face.

  “He’s okay now,” Chris reassured her. “It happened twenty years ago.”

  Luna was chomping at the bit. “I knew it. I knew it.”

  Elle dabbed her eyes as she moved toward the side bar. “Shall I make it three?” She held up a decanter.

  “Yes, please,” Luna answered.

  “Yes. Thanks.” Chris thought he could probably drink the whole bottle at this point.

  Elle’s hands were shaking, so Luna got up to help her. She took the bottle and poured each of them a drink. When they had settled back into their seats, Chris continued.

  “It was my first year at John Jay. We were studying case files of kidnappings. Some had good resolutions, some horrific and some had none whatsoever. In J.R.’s case, there wasn’t much in the file except a notation that the family paid a one-million-dollar ransom and J.R. was found walking on the side of a road in Colts Neck, New Jersey.”

  Elle was still in shock. “You say this happened twenty years ago?”

  “Yes.”

  Elle thought back to when J.R. had spent time in Europe. “Was it here in the States?”

  Luna couldn’t hold back any longer. “Yes. In Briarcliff.” Chris was almost glaring at her. She shrank down and looked up. “Sorry.”

  He brushed it off. “Yes, it was Briarcliff.”

  “And the armoire,” Luna added.

  “We don’t know that for sure, Luna. Please do not add information that has not been corroborated.”

  “Then corroborate it, Marshal.” Luna was impatient at this point.

  “And how do you suggest I do that?” Chris asked.

  Luna quickly pulled the business card out of her purse. “Dust it for prints. Then you can dust the armoire for prints.”

  Chris had to admit she had a good idea. “But what is that going to prove?”

  “Well, for one thing, it will prove the armoire was involved in a crime. You are a law enforcement officer.”

  “Listen. According to the official report, J.R. had little information to offer. Two men in ski masks came into his room. The next thing he remembered was waking up in a van with something covering his head. They kept him in a bathroom at a motel for three days. Chad got the money and dropped it in a shed in Colts Neck. He was instructed to wait one hour and then go to the intersection of Newman Springs Road and Route 34. The perpetrators let J.R. out on the side of the road about a half mile west, and he walked to the gas station, where Chad picked him up.”

  Luna squinted. “And that’s it?”

  “That’s it,” Chris said.

  “I don’t think so,” Luna disputed, while Elle sat in horror.

  “I wonder why Camille never told me,” Elle said sadly. “Why wouldn’t she?”

  “According to the file, they did not contact the authorities until after J.R. was released. The kidnappers were clear about that, but they usually are. No police. Therefore, no publicity. Perhaps the family felt it was something they should keep to themselves. That kind of trauma is very personal, and it stays with you forever. Even though things turned out all right for J.R., the pain stays deep within the cells of your body.”

  Luna smiled. He really understood the mind-body connection. Even though he might not readily admit it.

  Elle winced. “What about Harrison? Was he involved?”

  “I have no idea. The file didn’t go into detail about any other family members involved, only that Chad withdrew the money and dropped it off.”

  “What should I do?” Elle asked.

  “Nothing,” Chris replied. “If Camille wanted you to know, she would have told you.”

  “But now I do know, and I don’t know what to do with this information.” She was tearing up again.

  Luna put her arm around Elle. “Don’t fret about it now. Everyone is safe. And it’s probably a part of their history they’d prefer to forget.”

  Elle sighed. “I don’t know what I am going to say to her tomorrow.”

  “Talk about anything else,” Chris pleaded. “Please.”

  “Right.” Elle sighed again. “I am certain we will have plenty to talk about tomorrow. Besides, I wouldn’t want to rain on Camille’s parade, and all her wonderful hospitality.”

  Chris walked over and put his arm around her, and it turned into a group hug. “That’s our Elle.”

  They sat in silence for a while. Elle finally spoke. “Isn’t life full of surprises?”

  Luna looked at Chris. “Isn’t it?”

  “I think I’m going to turn in,” Chris said. He was exhausted. Physically, mentally and probably spiritually, but he wasn’t about to admit it. “Brunch tomorrow?” He looked at Luna.

  It had momentarily skipped her mind. “Oh! Yes! Where are we going?”

  “It’s a surprise.” Chris raised his eyebrows, kissed her on the forehead and said good night.

  Luna decided to stay with Elle a little longer. She knew Elle still had to digest this very shocking information. Luna, in contrast, was not the least bit surprised by the revelation.

  The two chatted about the gala and what fascinating works the women had on display. Luna was drawn to several pieces of modern sculpture with fluid lines. One piece in particular fascinated her. It was three feet high and looked like a large teardrop. The bottom half was a shade of teal that swirled upward into the white area on the top half. Luna sensed the transition the artist had made from being blue to coming into the light. She’d giggled when she read the artist’s statement describing the exact sensation Luna had felt when she was near the sculpture. Empathy. “You know, Elle, I really like that sculptor, Marina Delgado. I think she might fit in well at Stillwell. What do you think?” she suggested.

  “There were a couple I would consider, but that’s a very involved conversation I would have to have with Camille.”

  “Well, maybe that’s one way you can distract yourself from this horror story tomorrow,” Luna urged. She could feel how upset Elle was, both with the news and the idea her friend hadn’t trusted her with the information. She knew Camille had her reasons, but feelings were feelings, and Elle was feeling a bit sad in the moment.

  Luna gave her another hug. “It’s late, and I need to get my beauty sleep for my big date tomorrow.” She pursed her lips. “I wish I knew where we were going so I could figure out what to wear.”

  “Oh, love, you will look lovely no matter what you wear.”

  “Sunday brunch in New York. Do I try to look boho or chic?” Luna asked. Boho was her normal attire.

  “I think you always manage to pull off both at once, my dear.” Elle smiled for the first time in the past hour.

  “I’ll wear the black-and-white-polka-dot maxidress with a wide matching headband, black espadrilles and my black woven shoulder bag.”

  “See? Sounds lovely, chic and ooh-la-la.” Elle walked Luna to the door. “Sweet dreams, my dear.”

  “You too, Elle. Thanks for being such a good friend and always sharing with us.” With that, Luna gave Elle a bear hug.

  Chapter Nine

  Alone At Last

  Sunday

  Chris told Luna to be ready by ten thirty. Naturally, she could hardly wait and was ready by nine. “I think I’ll give Alex a call and talk to Wylie,” she said.

  If it were anyone else, Chi-Chi would have thought this woman was out of her mind. Instead, she said, “I think that is a very good idea. You need a distraction.” Chi-Chi reached over to the nightstand between their beds and tossed Luna’s phone in her direction. “Say hello to the boys for me.”

  “How can you be so calm?” Luna knew Chi-Chi was in the same state of mind. Excited. Anxious.

  “I am not calm. You only think I am calm.” Chi-Chi gave Luna a big smile. “I think it is because I am taller and my head is held higher.”

  Luna furrowed her brow. “Interesting explanation.” She turned around. “Do you have time to braid my hair?”

  “Of course.” Chi-Chi whipped Luna’s hair into shape within three minutes. Luna looked absolutely charming and ready for Sunday brunch in New York.

  Chi-Chi picked out a yellow kaftan, woven sandals and a straw bag. She, too, wore a large headband, with her braids wrapped through it. “Your brother did not tell me where we were going either.”

  “Must be a conspiracy.” Luna checked her face in the mirror and applied a neutral shade of lipstick.

  “He did tell me that we were not going to the same place as you.”

  “Yep. Conspiracy.”

  “Well, I think it is very sweet. Both men are trying to please us,” Chi-Chi said.

  Luna looked at Chi-Chi’s reflection in the mirror. “We are lucky. We have two really decent guys.”

  “I agree.” Chi-Chi nodded. “I think it is also because we refuse to settle.” Chi-Chi took a seat. “Think about it. We are in our thirties. We are not married. But we could be. And we are not because we did not marry someone for the sake of being married.”

  “I used to think it was me. Something I was doing wrong,” Luna said and then, in a whiny tone, “Why doesn’t he like me? What’s wrong with me?” She slipped the lipstick into her purse. “Then I realized I am me. I am loving. I am smart. I am kind. Loyal. Generous. And responsible. So if that’s not enough, it’s not my problem.” She tossed her head from side to side.

  “You and I are very different in many ways, yet at our core we are very much the same.” Chi-Chi smiled.

  “When I was in my twenties, I would fall in love in seconds. I thought that was what I was supposed to do. Then it was one failed relationship after another. I really should say one situation after another. Relationships are complicated. They require commitment. I think that’s where the rubber met the road. When I wanted a commitment, they were not interested. Therefore no relationship.” She squinted at Chi-Chi. “Know what I mean?”

  “Maybe not exactly, but I think I know what you are trying to say.”

  “I must admit, I am so happy none of them worked out. I cannot imagine being with Lew now.” She hooted. “They say things work out for the best, but I think things just work out and we move on. And moving on is the best thing we can do.”

  “You are very philosophical today, my friend,” Chi-Chi noted.

  “There’s been a lot of sensory stimuli these past couple of days.” She laughed. Not to mention the bombshell from Chris last night, about which she was sworn to secrecy. Luna jumped at the knock on the door and then took three long, deep breaths, centering herself. She calmly walked to the door.

  “Good morning, Marshal Gaines. You look quite dapper today.” He was wearing chino slacks, a white collared shirt and a navy cotton blazer with dark burgundy loafers.

  “And you look fetching.” He peered inside the room. “As do you, Chi-Chi.”

  “I don’t suppose you are going to tell me where Cullen will be taking me today?” Chi-Chi asked.

  “You suppose correctly.” Chris winked. He turned to Luna and asked, “Shall we?”

  “We shall.” They strode arm in arm down the hallway toward the elevator. “This feels like a real date.” She gave him a little nudge.

  “It is a real date.” He nudged her back.

  When they got into the cab, he handed the driver a piece of paper with the address. The driver nodded in the rearview mirror. “Right, sir!” He drove east and got on the FDR Drive, heading uptown. A few miles later, he exited on East 61st, made the turn onto Grand Army Plaza and stopped in front of The Plaza Hotel.

  “Oh my goodness,” Luna said in a hushed voice. “Are we really going for tea at The Palm Court?”

  Chris tapped her on the nose and chuckled. “I can’t put anything past you, can I?”

  “This is the pinnacle of refinement.” Luna spoke with reverence. Not that the super-rich should be held in reverence, but the building itself had been a witness to so much history and culture. The Plaza Hotel was a story unto itself. The Palm Court had hosted more dignitaries, celebrities, socialites and criminals than all of its rivals over the hundred-plus years since it opened. It was the epitome of opulence. Every part of the space was a work of art, from the stained-glass ceiling light to the petits fours. “Let’s not forget Eloise either.” Luna was referring to the children’s book about a young girl who lived at The Plaza. “Did you know the book was not initially intended for children? It was for pretentious grown-ups.” Luna laughed. “At least that’s according to the illustrator. I think that note may also be somewhere in the book.”

  “Luna, you never cease to amaze me.”

  “Nor you me.” Luna’s eyes lit up. She knew she had fallen for this guy. Big-time. He held out his hand to assist her in exiting the taxi. Chivalrous too.

  They climbed the steps to the double-gilded doors that two uniformed men opened with a flourish. “Welcome to The Plaza Hotel,” one of them said as a salutation.

  “Thank you. Lovely to be here.” Luna had been to many fancy hotels before, but this one was special. It, too, had its own fragrance, a blend of bergamot, grapefruit, leather and amber. It exuded an ambience of grace and style. She took in a long, smooth inhale of the sumptuous atmosphere. It was a symphony for the senses. Chris made a crook in his elbow, pulled Luna’s arm through and guided her to the famous restaurant.

  Luna relaxed into the comfortable chair, her gaze floating across the room. She could sense many faces, many stories. It struck her that it was important to get out of your routine and have a change of scenery. It was easy to lose your perspective on the rest of the world if you weren’t exposed to something more than your own little bubble. Two glasses of champagne were brought to the table. “Oh, lovely!” Luna cooed. She also felt some kind of vibe going on. Now that her earlier feeling had been resolved, she had to unravel this one. Or maybe just let it go. She almost started laughing, thinking about when she had burst into song in front of Chi-Chi. She held back a giggle.

  Chris looked at her. “What?”

  “Oh, nothing. Really.”

  “It had to be something. Spill it, Luna Bodman.” Chris used his stern, marshal voice.

  “Just how I can be at times.”

  “Such as?” He leaned in.

  “Like a dog with a sock in his mouth.” She slowly twirled her glass. “I get hold of something and I can’t let it go.” She laughed again. “Chi-Chi and I were talking about that very thing, and I started to sing.” She lowered her voice and croaked out the first two lines of the song.

  Chris’s eyes darted left and right, and he decided the only thing to do to shut her up was to kiss her. So he did. Lightly. On the lips, but not enough to draw attention to them.

  Luna did a double blink. “Was that a compliment to my vocal forte?”

  Chris wasn’t sure how to answer that question without insulting her. “I am invoking my Fifth Amendment rights.”

  “Oh, you!” She gave him a playful slap on the arm.

  He moved in closer. “I know there is no way on earth you can keep your nose out of this, Ms. Dog with Sock. Or should I say, set the sock free?”

  “Ha. Ha.”

  “Tomorrow, I am going to Colts Neck. I want to check out the drop point of the kidnapping.”

  Luna almost sprang out of her chair. “Really?” Her eyes were bugging out. “Can I come? Please? Pretty please?”

  “Listen. I have a plan. I am going to meet up with one of the deputy commissioners who oversees land development and has site plans. He is going to meet me, and we are going to the location. I am sure it’s not at all the same as it was then, but I want to get an idea of proximity.”

  “Well, I’ll be darned.” She rested her elbow on the table, and then her chin on her hand. “You are really taking me seriously this time, eh? I am flattered.”

  “Oh, come on, Luna. I’ve taken you seriously many times. I just don’t say it enough. But blame it on my gender. We’re dumbasses, for the most part.”

  Luna began to giggle. “You won’t get an argument out of me.”

  “From what Ross told me, it was an old farm that lay fallow for about thirty years. I don’t know if any of the buildings are still there, but it’s worth the drive. I have a feeling about this, too.”

  Luna looked at him thoughtfully. “You know how I often say the universe puts us in situations that we would not normally have considered or thought of?”

  “As in a coincidence?” He had a twinkle in his eye.

  “That could be the very definition, but we just don’t know. And it’s nice to still be able to speculate. Wonder. Let our imagination run free. Aside from the natural wonders of the earth, everything has been born from someone’s imagination.” She swayed a little in her seat. “Well, I think you were ‘sent’ here to solve that case. You studied it your first year in college?” She tilted her head. “What are the odds?”

  “Ah, the famous Lunatic query.” He took her hand. “Now, this is what I need you and Cullen to do.”

  Luna leaned in closer and used her Natasha voice. “Zo, vot ve do with moose and squirrel?”

  “Geez!” Chris burst out laughing, turning a few heads. He nodded at the gawkers and mouthed sorry before continuing. “Tomorrow, you and Cullen take Amtrak to Westwood, Route 128. It’s over three hours there and back, but I really need you to do this. If you jump on the eight a.m. train, you’ll be there around nine thirty. Spend two hours, tops, at the school. What I need is for Cullen to authenticate the piece of furniture. Not that I’m saying it will matter one way or another, but the more information we can gather, the closer we could be to solving this case.”

  Luna could do nothing but bat her eyes at him. “We’re really doing this together.”