13
Jack was having no luck on the phone today. Repeated calls to Jamie's house and office had left him no wiser as to her well-being or whereabouts.
Same with Maria Roselli. After two calls this morning, and two more this afternoon, all unanswered, Jack had decided to visit Beekman Place in person.
He wore a blue sweater this time, but looked pretty much the same as before. One difference was the small shopping bag he carried. Anya's map was folded within. He'd started thinking of it as Anya's "map," preferring that to Anya's "skin."
A woman with a dog had sent him on a mission into the Dormentalist temple, which housed a replica to the skin map from the back of another woman with a dog.
He'd been told that there would be no more coincidences in his life; but even if he hadn't, he'd have known this was no coincidence. Maria Roselli had more on her agenda than finding her son, and now Jack had to know what. He also wanted to know her connection to Anya.
The only one who could fill in those blanks lived in the brick and granite building he was approaching.
He found the uniformed Esteban in the white marble atrium.
'I'm a little concerned about Mrs. Roselli," Jack told him. "I've been calling her all day and she doesn't answer."
Esteban smiled. "The lady, she's fine. She's been in and out—in fact, she's out now—and probably missed your calls."
"No answering machine?"
Esteban smiled. "Mrs. Roselli doesn't like them. She told me if someone wants to talk to her about anything important, they'll call back."
"Would you ask her to call me when she comes in? The name's Jack and she has my number. It's urgent that I get in touch with her."
"Jack." Esteban nodded. "I will tell her."
Back on the sidewalk, Jack decided if he couldn't speak to the mother, he might as well have a chat with the son. Maybe Oroont could fill in a few blanks.
Oroont… sheesh.