"You're a big shot around here. Winston Bartlett's right‑hand flunky. So why don't you authorize me yourself."
"Ally, you know I can't do that."
"Then take me there."
"I don't want to see Kristen anymore," he declared, biting his lip. "She's completely lost . . . everything. I could deal with it until I saw her this morning. It's just too much."
"Has he let her mother see her?"
"Are you kidding? Letting that psycho anywhere near her is the last thing anybody's going to do."
"Then get me in, dammit."
"Ally, forget about it."
"Why?"
He hesitated, as though marshaling his thoughts.