complimentary lookup criterion question

[Fairlight]

I need to look up a record from within input processing by two criterion:

1) The absolute value of a field matching (key field lookup)
2) I need the most recently modified record which matches criterion #1, as
well as has a particular value in a secondary field.

I have date and time fields, and there's even an index built across both,
in descending order for both.  Unfortunately, I don't think that does me a
lick of good, since a key field lookup will be using the index for that
field, not the date/time index.

I thought about the possibility of a four-field index across all four
fields, but in thinking about it, I have come to the conclusion that
there's no way it's remotely useful, as I won't have a specific date to
use for the second 2/4 of the key field, and I don't think the joint index
works that way.

Is there an efficient way to handle this situation?  If so, what is it?

I'm envisioning lots of getnexts and tracking the last @rn that had the
highest value, then when the lookup has exhausted all records which match
the two specific values, flip back to the record at the most appropriate
@rn value.  Is that the only real way to skin this cat?

mark->
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