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said. “I wouldn’t bother you otherwise.”
    She glared at him then scrutinized the three of us for a few moments, finally stepping aside to let us in.
    “Who are these people?” she asked, gesturing toward Nicole and me.
    “This is Frank Pavlicek and his daughter Nicole. They’re private investigators. Old friends of mine.”
    “Old friends and real private eyes, huh? Perfect.” She rolled her eyes. “You never cease to amaze me, Jake. What, did you folks come to try to Gestapo me out of my new job too?”
    “Not at all,” I said. “Mind if we sit down?”
    “Why not?” She gestured toward a small living room. I took a rocking chair in the corner. Toronto sat on the large overstuffed sofa across from her. She crossed her legs; her toes were painted several different colors. “Forgive me for not offering high tea.”
    “I expect you get enough of that on the job,” Nicole said.
    Andros said nothing.
    “You have a beautiful place here.”
    “I like it,” the woman said.
    “We’d like to ask you a few questions, if that’s okay.” Nicole was using her best sisterly voice. Not a put-on. It was genuine. We’d all agreed ahead of time that she should be the one to take the lead in talking to Andros.
    “Go right ahead,” Andros said. She kept glancing over at Toronto. “I’m listening.”
    “Did you know that Jake keeps falcons?”
    “What? Those birds he hunts with? Sure, I know about them.”
    “Where were you yesterday morning about nine o’clock?”
    “Yesterday? Here, asleep in bed. I worked late the night before.”
    “Were you alone?”
    She peeked at Toronto again, then turned and stared at us, expressionless. “Yes, I was alone.”
    “I lost Jazzy,” Toronto said. “Think someone may have taken him or even shot him.”
    Andros’ eyes grew wide. She glanced out the window for a second.
    “Do you know anything about it?” Nicole asked.
    “Who, me?” The young woman laughed. “You’re kidding, right?”
    “You have to admit you were pretty upset with me last time I saw you,” Toronto said. His monotone reminded me of how he used to question suspects in the Bronx. Had he felt something for this woman? It was impossible to tell.
    She folded her arms. “Not enough to kill your stupid bird.”
    “We didn’t say he was dead, Maria,” Toronto said
    “What?”
    “I just said I thought someone shot Jazzy, but I didn’t say he was dead. Can’t find any trace of him, in fact.”
    “Well, I... Hey listen, I’m not into any of your dumb games.”
    “The Pavliceks and I will be going over that mountain again with a fine toothed comb at first light tomorrow,” Jake said. “Sooner or later, we’ll find Jazzy. Or what’s left of him. We’re not perfect, but we don’t miss much. You’d be amazed what kind of evidence shooters leave behind.”
    Andros crossed her arms. “Go ahead. Knock yourselves out... Doesn’t have anything to do with me.”
    “What about Dr. Clayton?” Nicole asked.
    Her eyes grew a little narrower. “What about him?”
    “Jake was flying Jazzy on his land when it happened. We went by to visit him earlier, which is how we found out where you were.”
    “So.”
    “Have you talked to the doctor lately?”
    “No.”
    “Really?” Toronto, said. “You sure you and he aren’t dancing a tango again?”
    Andros spat out a grunt. “You’ve got some brass, Jake. After what you did . . .” She paused. She seemed about to cry and turned her head away for a moment to compose herself. “Why should I tell you anything about my life?”
    Toronto looked embarrassed. When she turned back to us, her eyes brimmed with tears. They were beautiful eyes. There was no getting around that.
    “You wouldn’t object to being fingerprinted though, would you, if the sheriff up in Leonardston asked?” Nicole said.
    “Why should I? Look, Jake, I didn’t do anything to your friggin’ bird, okay?”
    Toronto rubbed his hands together. “Okay.”
    Andros stood,