I told Bertha what had happened the night before. “That’s about the size of it,” I said. “You’ll need to call an electrician out to fix the lights before Monday morning.”

“That’s no problem. But I do have a question,” Bertha said. “If Mrs. Schmeister-Hausen is missing, why didn’t you call the cops last night? I can’t believe you just went home and did nothing. My God, Blaze, a woman is missing!”

“I was going to call Bill Simmons at the precinct, but then I decided against it. Something told me I was being scammed. I think the whole episode last night was a set up. I believe Mrs. Schmeister-Hausen is at home or in a luxury hotel somewhere congratulating herself on how clever she is.”

Bertha took a deep breath. “You mean she came to the daycare last night and faked her own kidnapping? Why would she do that?”

“I don’t know,” Blaze said. “All I know is I smelled a rat the minute I returned to my office and saw the broken lamp. It was broken on purpose.”

“So you didn’t call the cops,” said Bertha.