Thursday, after work, Claudette and Martier decided to do some last-minute shopping before the trip. After so many months of working together, Martier no longer considered Claudette as a casual friend. She had begun to think of the older woman as a type of mentor. Still, she was reluctant to discuss much of her personal affairs with Claudette, saving such talks for Dhakiya.

As Claudette slipped deodorant into her basket, she turned to Martier with a slight frown. "Now why in ...