The Tomb (Repairman Jack)

asleep in the library. Before long she had her mother up and making breakfast for them.

As soon as they were all seated Vicky had begun a chant: 'We want Moony! We want Moony!' So Jack had dutifully borrowed Gia's lipstick and a felt-tipped pen and drawn a face, Senor Wences-style, on his left hand. The hand then became a very rude, boisterous entity known as Moony. Jack was presently screeching in a falsetto voice as Vicky stuffed Cheerios into Moony's mouth. She was laughing so hard she could barely breathe. Vicky had such a good laugh, an unselfconscious belly laugh from the very heart of her being. Gia loved to hear it and was in turn laughing at Vicky.

When was the last time she and Vicky had laughed at breakfast?

'Okay. That's enough for now,' Jack said at last. 'Moony's got to rest and I've got to eat.' He went to the sink to wash Moony away.

'Isn't Jack funny, mom?' Vicky said, her eyes bright. 'Isn't he the funniest?'

As Gia replied, Jack turned around at the sink and mouthed her words in perfect synchronization: 'He's a riot, Vicky.'

Gia threw her napkin at him. 'Sit down and eat.'

She watched Jack finish off the eggs she’d fried for him. There was happiness at this table, even after Vicky's nightmare and Nellie's disappearance—Vicky hadn't been told yet. Gia had a warm, contented feeling inside. Last night had been so good. She didn't understand what had come over her, but was glad she’d given in to it. She didn't know what it meant...maybe a new beginning...maybe nothing. If only she could go on feeling this way. If only...

'Jack,' she said slowly, not knowing how she was going to phrase this, 'have you ever thought of switching jobs?'

'All the time. And I will—or at least get out of this one.'

A small spark of hope ignited in her. 'When?'

'Don't know,' he said with a shrug. 'I know I can't do it forever, but...' He shrugged again, obviously uncomfortable with the subject.

'But what?'

'It's what I do. I know it’s a cliche, but I don't know how to say it any better than that. It's what I do and I do it pretty well. So I want to keep on doing it.'

'You like it.'

'Yeah,' he said, concentrating on the last of his eggs. 'I like it.'

The growing spark winked out as the old resentment returned with an icy blast. For want of something to do with her hands, Gia got up and began clearing the table. Why bother? she thought. The man's a hopeless case.

And so, breakfast ended on a tense note.

Afterward, Jack caught her alone in the hallway.

'I think you ought to get out of here and back to your own place.'

Gia would have liked nothing better. 'I can't. What about Nellie? I don't want her to come back to an empty house.'

'Eunice will be here.'

'I don't know that and neither do you. With Nellie and Grace gone, she's officially unemployed. She may not want to stay here alone, and I can't say I'd blame her.'

Jack scratched his head. 'I guess you're right. But I don't like the idea of you and Vicks here alone, either.'

'We can take care of ourselves,' she said, refusing to acknowledge his concern. 'You do your part and we'll do ours.”

Jack's mouth tightened. 'Fine. Just fine. What was last night, then? Just a roll in the hay?'

'Maybe. It could have meant something, but I guess nothing's changed, not you, not me. You're the same Jack I left, and I still can't accept what you do. And you are what you do.'

He walked out.

Why do I keep doing this? she thought. She shook her head as she remembered Jack’s words. Maybe it’s what I do.

The house suddenly seemed enormous and ominous. She hoped Eunice would show up soon.

2

A day in the life of Kusum Bahkti...

Jack had buried the hurt of his most recent parting with Gia and attacked the task of learning all he could about how Kusum spent his days. It had come down to a choice between tailing Kusum or Kolabati, but Kolabati was just a visitor from Washington, so Kusum won.

Jack’s first stop after leaving Sutton Square had been his apartment where he’d called Kusum's number. Kolabati had answered and they'd had a brief conversation during which he learned that Kusum could probably be found either at the consulate or the UN. Jack had also managed to wrangle the apartment address out of her. He might need that later. He called the Indian Consulate and learned that Mr. Bahkti was expected to be at the UN all day.

And so he stood in line in the General Assembly Building of the United Nations and waited for the tour to start. The morning sun stung the sunburned nose and forearms he’d acquired yesterday on the tennis courts in Jersey. He knew nothing about the UN. Most people he knew in Manhattan had never been here unless it was to show a visiting friend or relative.