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"Come in and have some coffee, Matt," Soames T. Browne ordered. "I want a word with you."
"I can't stay long, Mr. Browne."
"It won't take long," Browne said.
Matt turned the ignition off and got out of the car. There was a breakfast room in the house, on the ground floor of one of the turrets, with French windows opening onto the formal garden behind the house. Soames Browne led Matt to it, and then through it to the kitchen, where Mrs. Soames T. Browne, in a flowing negligee, was perched on a stool under a rack of pots and pans with a china mug in her hand.
"Good morning," Matt said.
She looked over him to Amanda.
"We were worried about you, honey," she said.
"I was with Matt," Amanda said.
"That's what we thought; that's why she was worried," Daffy said.
"We should have called. I'm sorry," Matt said.
"We were just going to do something about breakfast," Mrs. Browne said. "Have you eaten?"
"We just had breakfast, thank you," Amanda said.
"I didn't know Matt could cook," Daffy said sweetly.
"Coffee, then?" Mrs. Browne asked.
"Please," Amanda said.
"Do you know how Penny is, Matt?" Soames T. Browne asked.
"As of midnight she was reported to be 'critical but stable,'" Matt said.
"How do you know that?"
"My boss told us," Matt said.
"That was seven hours ago," Soames T. Browne said.
"Would you like me to call and see if there's been any change?"
"Could you?"
"I can try," Matt said. He looked up the number of Hahneman Hospital in the telephone book and then called.
"I'm sorry, sir, we're not permitted to give out that information at this time."
"This is Officer Payne, of the police."
"One moment, please, sir."
The next voice, very deep, precise, that came on-line surprised Matt: "Detective Washington."
"This is Matt Payne, Mr. Washington."
"What can I do for you, Matt?"
"I'm trying to find out how Penelope Detweiler is. They put me through to you."
