Lester sat down, a little more rumpled now from the hug, and looked at her almost quizzically. Sisse was able to access her emotions right away, but he hadn't cried yet. "Tea is — tea's good," he managed, because Sisse looked like she needed Lester to agree to tea. They could fall back on the formalities. But Lester was convinced they shouldn't have to.

"They haven't found a body," he pointed out, sounding desperate even to his own ears.

---