Page 59 of Mission: Possible

"What is wrong with the men in my family? Lily said Jord ate half the cake she baked."

"What happened to the other half? Is she bringing it?"

I gaped at Solomon. "They've finally assimilated you!"

Solomon leaned in and brushed his lips against mine. "And whose fault is that?" he asked.

"How alone are we?" I whispered back, wrapping my arms around his neck.

"Just us and that entire office block without any blinds across the street," he whispered in return.

I let him go and slumped in my chair. "Never mind."

"Let's go. The team can call me if there are any new developments, and, being realistic, this whole evening might turn into a brainstorming session amongst the key law enforcement personnel assigned to the case."

That sounded positive. "Great!" I beamed. "Give me a moment to run that marriage records check..." I trailed off, already stabbing the keyboard. A few minutes later, I had the result. Sophie Gallo was never previously married, although her brother was, to another Sophie. I wondered where his wife was now until Solomon reminded me of the time. I made a note in the file, locked my laptop and grabbed my purse. "I'll drive. We just need to make one stop on the way."

~

"I can't believe you're going to pass that off as your own," said Solomon as we walked into my parents’ house and our ears were assaulted with familiar noise.

"What? Can't hear you," I said, aiming for the kitchen with my dish of fresh pasta. I ducked my head into the living room first and waved hello. A Disney film was playing quietly on the television but the kids were crowded around a board game on the floor, laughing as they took turns rolling the dice. My sisters-in-law, Alice and Traci, sat on the sofa talking, and my dad was in the armchair, encouraging the kids loudly, with the newspaper folded across his lap. "Is Mom cooking already?" I asked.

"She's practicing reiki," said Dad, looking up at me. "I think she forgot about cooking. Have you seen this stuff about pensions? The mismanagement of all those funds by the bank is unbelievable!" He waved the newspaper at me.

"No. What's reiki?"

"Something to do with heads. I forget. She might want to practice on you too."

"Okay," I said cautiously. "I'll pop in and say hi."

"Good luck," said Dad. "Solomon? Cards tonight?"

I missed his answer when the kids shrieked loudly as I took the pasta dish into the kitchen, almost dropping it on my foot when I saw Mom standing behind Special Agent Sadiq Farid with her hands over his head.

"Hi, Lexi!" said Farid brightly. The top button of his shirt was undone, his tie was loosened, and his suit jacket hung over the back of the chair. He looked relaxed and comfortable and his black hair was slightly tousled. The whole scene was perplexing.

"What's happening?" I asked.

"Your mom is practicing reiki on me. Isn't it cool?"

"I have no idea."

"I'm taking my test next week to become a qualified reiki practitioner," said Mom. "Isn't that right, Mariam?"

"It's such wonderful news! We're looking forward to celebrating with you!" replied a disembodied female voice.

"Where is that voice coming from? Who's Mariam?" I asked, frowning.

Mom nodded with her chin towards the kitchen counter where she had a tablet propped up. On screen, a woman who looked to be around my mom's age, with big brown eyes and scarlet lipstick, waved to me.

"That's my mom," said Farid. "She loves Italian cooking."

"We're not Italian!"

"Newsflash! Neither are we," snorted Farid.

"Mariam recommended the reiki class to me," said Mom. "She said it transformed her."