“That’s all I need,” I said, sighing.
“Coming down like a bitch, Doc. was driving by and saw your ride in the lot. Figured you’d been in this cave since the crack of dawn and had no idea.”
It occurred to me as I tore off a long strip of tape and sealed the box. “1 thought you weren’t on evening shift this weekend.”
“Yeah, and I thought you was having me in for dinner.”
Pausing, I stared curiously at him. Then I remembered. “Oh, no,” I muttered, glancing up at the clock. It was past eight P.M. “Marino, I’m so sorry.”
“Don’t matter. Had a couple of things to follow up on, anyway.”
I always knew when Marino was lying. He wouldn’t look me in the eye and his face got red. It wasn’t coincidence that he had seen my car in the lot. He had been looking for me, and not simply because he wanted dinner. Something was on his mind.
Leaning against the table, I gave him my full attention.
“Thought you might want to know that Pat Harvey was in Washington over the weekend, went to see the Director,” he said.
“Did Benton inform you of this?”
“Yo. He also said he’d been trying to get hold of you but you ain’t returning his calls. The Drug Czar’s complaining that you ain’t returning her calls either.”
“I’m not returning anybody’s calls,” I replied wearily. “I’ve been rather preoccupied, to say the least, and I don’t have anything to release at this point.”
Looking at the box on the table, he said, “You know Deborah was shot, a homicide. What are you waiting for?”
“I don’t know what killed Fred Cheney or if there’s any possibility drugs might have been involved. I’m waiting for tox reports, and I don’t intend to release a thing until those are in and I’ve had a chance to talk to Vessey.”
“The guy at the Smithsonian?”
“I’m seeing him in the morning.”
“Hope you got four-wheel drive.”
“You haven’t explained the purpose of Pat Harvey’s going to see the Director.”
“She’s accusing your office of stonewalling, says the FBI is stonewalling her, too. She’s pissed. Wants her daughter’s autopsy report, police reports, the whole nine yards, and is threatening to get a court order and raise hell if her demands aren’t met right away.”
“That’s crazy.”
“Bingo. But if you don’t mind a little advice, Doc, I think you might consider calling Benton before the night’s out.”
“I don’t want you getting burned, that’s why.”
“What are you talking about, Marino?”
I untied my surgical gown.
“The more you avoid everybody right now, the more you’re adding fuel to the fire. According to Benton, Mrs. Harvey’s convinced there’s some sort of cover-up and all of us are involved.”
When I did not reply he said, “Are you listening?”
“Yes. I’ve listened to every word you said.”
He picked up the box.
“Incredible to think there’s two people inside this thing,” he marveled.
It was incredible. The box wasn’t much bigger than a microwave oven and weighed ten or twelve pounds. As he placed it in the trunk of my state car, I said under my breath, “Thank you for everything.”
“Huh?”
I knew he’d heard me, but he wanted me to say it again.
“I appreciate your concern, Marino. I really do. And I’m so sorry about dinner. Sometimes I really screw up.”
The snow was falling fast, and as usual, he wasn’t wearing a hat. Cranking the engine and turning on the heat full blast, 1 looked up at him and thought how odd it was that I should find him such a comfort. Marino got on my nerves more than anyone I knew, and yet I could not imagine him not being around.
Locking my door, he said, “Yeah, well you owe me.”
“Semifreddo di cioccotato.”
“I love it when you talk dirty.”
“A dessert. My specialty, you big jerk. Chocolate mousse with ladyfingers.”
“Ladyfingers!”
He stared pointedly in the direction of the morgue, feigning horror.
It seemed to take forever to get home. I crept along snowcovered roads, concentrating so fiercely my head was splitting by the time I was in my kitchen pouring myself a drink. Sitting at the table, I lit a cigarette and gave Benton Wesley a call.