For a change, the book group members met for Sunday lunch. MH offered her sparse flat as the venue, even though she could not attend herself. JS’s sister took MH’s place, holding her head in her hands whenever death was mentioned.

At the time MH was being held hostage in a nearby hospital, possibly by NY. We had one clue to her whereabouts: a slip of paper that mentioned a plastic chair, and envelope and a dark long-haired wig. What did this mean, and which one of us was brave enough to attempt a rescue?