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have some legitimate connection to this girl but we should still call the police. They'll want to talk to anyone who knew her. Have you discussed this with Gilles?”
    “No,” Peg moaned. “I didn't get around to reading the paper until this afternoon. The Dean flew out to Texas for a fundraising event today.”
    “When is he coming back?”
    “Later tomorrow. Do you think it can wait?”
    “No,” Iris said. “The poor girl is gone and the first days are crucial. You should call that number now.”
    As Peg punched the phone buttons, Iris slipped out of the room, completely forgetting to ask for Jasna's home address.

CHAPTER THIRTEEN
    S itting at Ellie's kitchen island, Iris raised her voice to be heard over the crackling of browning onions. “Have you read about the missing St. Peter's girl?”
    “What?” Ellie turned off the burner and came over to look at the front page of the Globe that Iris had found sitting on the top of a pile in Ellie's blue recycling bin.
    “Oh, yeah...that poor girl. Have the police learned anything yet?”
    “No, but here's the weird thing,” Iris said. “A week ago this same girl came by Peg's office when I was there and asked for directions to Xander's office.”
    Ellie wiped her hands on her apron. “Why would a kid be looking for Xander? He doesn't have any children.”
    “I have no idea. But he might have some information about her that could help the police with their search.”
    “He couldn't have had anything to do with taking her, could he?”
    “No, of course not! Besides, she disappeared on Wednesday night and I happened to see Xander that night.”
    “You mean you went out with him again? And you didn't tell me?” Ellie scrunched up her face in a mock glare.
    “I didn't go out with him. I was just out walking Sheba and... I saw him.”
    “What do you mean you were 'just out walking Sheba'? You never walk her at night. And Xander lives on Howland Street. That's not even in our neighborhood.”
    Iris looked intently at the butcher block counter. “I wanted to stretch my legs and check out the construction on the new Bioscience building. Then I happened to pass his house on our way back and...”
    “You peeked in his windows?” Ellie narrowed her eyes. “I can't believe you stalked him without inviting me along.”
    “I was NOT stalking him! You had said that thing about betting he didn't really write poetry at night but watched TV instead, so I was curious.”
    “Curious. And what did you see when you SPIED on him?”
    “I was NOT spying. I was... I don't know what I was doing, but I did happen to see him that night, so I know he wasn't off abducting that girl. He was sitting in his living room in his pajamas, listening to music through headphones. Looking innocent. Not watching TV and eating potato chips, by the way.”
    “And what time was this?”
    “Around nine.”
    “What time did the girl go missing?”
    “The paper doesn't say.”
    “Hmm.”
    “Peg called the police hotline a little while ago to tell them about the girl's visit to GSD last week. She didn't want to get Xander into any trouble, but I told her she should call them.”
    “Of course, she should've called them. Xander might be able to help them find the girl. And since you saw him sitting at home that night, he shouldn't get in any trouble.”
    “Except that for me to be Xander's alibi, I'd have to tell the world that I'd been peeking in his window.”
    Ellie gave her a stern look. “Then let's hope he has an innocent explanation for her visit and doesn't need you to cover for him.”
    *                         *                        *
    Back at home, Iris clicked on the Six O'Clock News to see if the missing girl story was getting much play. She and Sheba leaned forward on the sofa as the familiar school photograph of Lara appeared while a distracting newsreel banner about a new financial scandal scrolled across the bottom of the