Something's up." You, my friend, have a vivid imagination," I said calmly."Right, I'm the one with the — "Betty Lou's mouth snapped shut and her eye... widened as a soft hand descended on my shoulder. "John," Liv said softly. "I need to talk to you."Betty Lou and Bobby started to get up."No," Liv said. "You both can stay. You might as well hear it from me." She sat down beside me and took a deep breath. "John, as much as I have enjoyed these last four weeks, I, oh, damn, I really hoped this was. If you're quite done, may I turn around?" I don't know. Maybe a cavity search. Or maybe, maybe we can go back to the privacy and cool of my car, and you can explain your side of the story." He reached out and ran one finger down her cheek. Under the right circumstances, I can be very forgiving." That did it," Elsbeth said. She spun around, taking Kowalczak by surprise. Before he could do anything, she made a strange gesture with her hands at the cop. His eyes glazed over and he. "Carla! Are you okay? Did I say something wrong?"Sniffling, she creaked, "No. Not a thing." Then what?" I urged.She turned and looked deep within my eyes. "Don't you know Lee Anne?Are you that blind? Is it the remnant of maleness remaining withinyou?"I was baffled. "Tell me Carla. What? Talk to me. I want to know whatis bothering you. Please?"Carla continued peering into my eyes. Without speaking, she held myface softly in her hands and pulled my mouth to hers. She softlykissed my lips. I. I’m informed that she may be another two hours in surgery.”“She’ll live?”“She’ll definitely live but there is a lot of damage that will take time to repair and heal.”“And Lexi?”“Uh ... Lexi?”“Our other daughter. Alexandra Cortales.” The counselor looked at her clipboard and flipped through several pages.“I’m sorry. There have been so many. Here. Oh, dear.” She stopped to look at us and tears filled her eyes. “We don’t have positive identity but one of the other victims identified a victim as.