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hand.
    “So, what happens next?” Emme tried not to appear less than self-confident.
    “You'll hear from me once a decision has been made.”
    “I see.” Emme leaned down to pick up her bag, which she'd dropped on the floor when she first took her seat. “Let me give you the number at the hotel and our room number.”
    “Don't you have a cell phone?” Mallory asked.
    “I did. I lost it somewhere between Indiana and Pennsylvania.” On purpose, because cell phones can be traced. She'd pick up another throwaway as soon as possible. She'd used most of her prepaid minutes talking to Steffie and the rest of them when she called Mallory. “You don't realize how much you depend on those things until you don't have one. I'll be getting a replacement.”
    “Well, if we bring you on, we'll give you one. Of course, you might want to have your own before then.”
    “Yes. Well, then. I suppose we're finished. Thank you so much for seeing me on short notice. I hope it wasn't an imposition, Ms. Russo.”
    “Not at all. I'm glad you came in.” Mallory walked to the door and stood there like a sentinel.
    “How would I find Trula?” Emme asked.
    “You've already met Trula?”
    “She met us at the door when I arrived, and took Chloe—my daughter—to the kitchen.” Emme felt a bit of color tinge her cheeks. “I'm sorry, I didn't have anyone to watch her and I couldn't leave her alone in the hotel. I thought I'd leave her in the hall with some of her things to amuse her.” Emme held up the bag. “Crayons, coloring book. But Trula met us at the door and sort of swooped up Chloe …”
    “No need to apologize,” Mallory told her. “Trula's swooped up all of us at one time or another. I'm sure she was delighted to have Chloe's company.”
    “Ahhh, then we have you to thank for what I'm sure must be a wonderful afternoon snack.” Susanna grinned. “Well, come along with me, Ms. Caldwell, and we'll track down that child of yours and see just what she and Trula managed to cook up in the time you've been here.”
    Susanna ushered Emme into the hall, then looked over her shoulder. “Coming, Mallory?”
    “I'll be down in a while. Save me some of whatever it is.”
    “No promises,” Susanna called back over her shoulder. To Emme, she said, “I suppose you think we're all very loose around here.”
    Before Emme could reply, Susanna went on. “Well, I guess we are, in a way. I think that's what happens when your offices are in someone's home.”
    “Is Trula the cook?”
    “The cook, the housekeeper, and all around slave driver. Trula was a very dear friend of Robert's grandmother. She's sort of a family legacy. She'd lived with old Mrs. Magellan, and came to live with Robert whenhis gran died.” Susanna lowered her voice conspiratorially. “She runs the house, watches over Robert and Kevin like a hawk. Kevin is Father Burch, Robert's cousin. Trula loves them both as she'd love her own, if she had her own. Which she doesn't. Actually, she doesn't have any family at all, except for the two of them.”
    “It's nice of Mr. Magellan to let her stay here,” Emme said.
    “Ha!” Susanna snorted. “As if he had a choice. He went to close up his grandmother's house after she died and came back with Trula.”
    “Still, it's nice of him.”
    “I'm kidding. Of course it's nice of him, but he adores her. They squabble and pick at each other, but they love each other fiercely.” Susanna held up a hand to push open the kitchen door. “All of which is probably too much information for someone who has just had her first interview.
    “So let's see what we've got going on in the kitchen.” Susanna gave the door a shove and called, “Trula, what deliciousness are you cooking up in here?”

FOUR
    S o Mal, what did you think?” Susanna squeezed in next to Mallory on the banquette in the blue and yellow kitchen.
    The Magellan home may have been a mansion, but where Trula ruled, warmth was in abundance. She'd had the large,