CHAPTER FIVE

When Mr. Kohler returned from the kitchen, he was carrying three glasses of hot tea and a small container of sugar cubes. The three sat down around a coffee table. Fin began the questioning.

"Mr. Kohler, I have to be honest with you, I'm a little confused about your activities last night," he said.

"I don't see why," said Mr. Kohler.

"Well, I don't know how many people can sleep soundly for fourteen hours with a seven-year-old in the next room and a fourteen-year-old out on her own."

"I told you, my medicine makes me very sleepy."

"You never once got up to use the bathroom or get a glass of water or check on Zipporah?" asked Munch.

"No."

"Well, that doesn't sound very responsible," said Fin.

"You have to understand. Things have been very hard since my wife died. I've been very depressed, working longer, I'm always tired…the girls understand."

"I don't."

Munch's cell phone rang. He excused himself to answer it while Mr. Kohler and Fin drank their tea in silence. Munch returned to the lack of conversation.

"Fin, we've got to go. Mr. Kohler, if you can think of anyone who'd want to cause trouble for Rivky, please be sure to let us know, all right?" he said, giving him a card.

"Of course."

Back at the precinct, Olivia was handing a cup of coffee to a young woman who had her back turned to the men.

"There you are!" she said, exasperated. "I thought you'd forgotten how to get here."

"You want us to get here faster? Use your telepathy. Otherwise, trust traffic," retorted Fin.

"Telepathy is reading minds. Teleportation is what you're looking for," said Munch.

"Yeah, well, we all know what you're looking for," said Fin.

"Okay, children, enough. This is Rivky's older sister, Devorah. She called as soon as she heard what happened," said Olivia, gesturing to the woman, who stood up and turned to face the detectives.

Both men had to take a moment to regain their focus. She was one of those women who possessed a quiet, subtle beauty that far outranked any scantily clad celebrity. Her long-sleeved, long-skirted dress and headscarf made her look elegant and sweet. She wore no makeup, but definitely didn't need it.

"My name is Devorah Levinson," she said. "I have some information that I think will help you."