"Sounds as if it's all coming together. You'll find your captain in no time." Melinda took another sip of her tea, hoping that she sounded encouraging. She wasn't always very good at helping others feel better (which was ironic, given that she'd spent many years as a healer and still played a part in such things.) Others in her position may have offered to contact the one person they both knew would have been able to help. Cordelia didn't need to speak to her ex-husband, but one of his relatives certainly could. Only—Melinda wasn't one to involve herself in the business of others—so she said nothing about it at all.

She returned her empty teacup to the tray and made to stand. "I should be heading out. I've other funding to hunt down myself." Melinda sighed and brushed the wrinkles from the front of her dress. "You'll let me know before you're off?"