Cody's expression flickered—recognition, then the quick calculation of someone deciding how much loyalty he owed to which Washington.
"Ms. Brooks," he said carefully. "Ruth. She comes on Tuesdays and Thursdays, mostly. Brings cookies sometimes. The good kind, from that bakery on State Street. Mr. Washington said she was family."
Family. The word sat in Aaliyah's mouth like a coin she did not know whether to swallow or spit.
"Is she here now?"
"Not today. Tuesday." Cody glanced at the calendar on his screen. "She usually gets here around three and leaves by five. Mr. Washington clears his schedule. They sit in the small conference room, or sometimes they take Elias to the park if it's a pickup day." He stopped, hearing himself. "I'm sorry. I thought you knew."
"I do now," Aaliyah said, and smiled in a way that cost her, and walked back to the elevator before Cody could offer her water or pity or any other soft thing she could not currently afford.
In the parking garage she sat in her car with the engine off and called Marcus.