Krish cupped his cooling chai to try to absorb some of its heat. So his brother was guilty of a lot of stuff. That didn’t mean thereweren’t more guilty people. He’d operate in the gray and drag Avi back into the light. “His partner and supervisor worked for Rushali. There’s no way she didn’t keep a paper trail. She must have had insurance on everyone at the Bureau who worked for Cobra. If Avi comes back home, with a good attorney, he could—”
“Cut a deal,” Isha finished. She looked up at the ceiling. “Is this what having a sibling is? Having to rescue them?”
Sejal grimaced. “In my experience, occasionally.”
“Consider it an apology for strangling me, Isha.”
“Okay, okay.” Isha pulled a phone out of her pocket. “I’ll get someone on locating your brother, and I’ll pull together some intel for you. Names, dates, account numbers.”
“Thank you.”
“I would say it’s no problem, but since I’m losing informants, it is.”
Sejal gave an impatient noise. “We both know you’re not going to throw anyone under the bus who’s loyal to you. I’m betting anyone you give up is a holdover from when our mom was in charge.”
Isha flashed her teeth. “You are smart, Sejal Didi.”
“Mira is not going to believe this.”
“Tell her I truly love Ananya, and no one will ever harm a hair on her head.” Her face softened. “I’m actually sad I won’t see her and our niece anymore. It was only a few months, but I found I grew attached, though I was playacting.”
Sejal took a drink of her chai. “Who says you can’t see them?”
Isha scoffed. “Mira won’t want to see me. Not once you tell her who I am.”
“I thought that, too. But... Mira might surprise you. I think I would like to see you again.”
Krish knew Sejal didn’t like being vulnerable. This was quite the stretch for her. He tensed, ready to intervene if it looked like Isha might slap her down.
“Really?”
“Really.”
“Our mother would hate that.”
Sejal raised her glass in a toast. “All the more reason to keep in touch, then.”
“Okay.” Isha’s smile was slow, but broad. She tapped her glass against Sejal’s and drained the chai. “I’ll be in touch, Krish.”
“You don’t have my number.”
“I have everyone’s number.” Isha stood and peered at them. “A librarian and a magician. Weird, but cute.”
“I’m not a magician.”
“You sure? Because our parents are gone, friend. We can be whatever we want to be.”
Sejal opened her mouth after Isha left, but Krish put his finger over his lips. Not yet. They could speak freely in a moment. He raised his voice slightly. “Mother. Would you like to join us?”
Sejal’s mouth formed the wordWhat?
A deep sigh came from the booth next to them. Then the woman sitting there stood and came to sit with them, in Isha’s spot.
His mother removed her floppy hat, taking off her long black wig with it. Her prosthetic nose and chin were next to go. Krish dipped a napkin in his water and handed it to her so she could wipe off the lighter-colored makeup she’d applied.
“I think I might be fucking in love with your mother,” Sejal muttered.
His mom didn’t smile, but she did shoot Sejal a quick glance. “How did you know I was here, Krish?”
