particularly about the two bodies they’d brought in.
Jeff and Pete exchanged a look, then Pete responded.
‘Mine was a mess,’ Pete said.
‘I don’t mean the bodies themselves,’ Laurie said. ‘I’m wondering if
there was anything unusual about the process. Did you see anyone in the
morgue you didn’t recognize? Did anything out of the ordinary happen?’
Pete glanced again at Jeff then shook his head. ‘Nope. It was just like
usual.’
‘Do you remember what compartment you put your body into?’ Laurie asked.
Pete scratched the top of his head. ‘Not really,’ he said.
‘Was it near to one eleven?’ Laurie asked.
Pete shook his head. ‘No, it was around the other side. Something like
fifty-five. I don’t remember exactly. But it’s written downstairs.’
Laurie turned to Jeff.
‘My body went into twenty-eight,’ Jeff said. ‘I remembered because
that’s how old I am.’
‘Did either of you see Franconi’s body?’ Laurie asked.
The two drivers again exchanged glances. Jeff spoke: ‘Yeah, we did.’
‘What time?’
‘Around now,’ Jeff said.
‘What was the circumstance?’ Laurie said. ‘You guys don’t normally see
bodies that you don’t transport.’
‘After Mike told us about it, we wanted to look because of all the
excitement. But we didn’t touch anything.’
‘It was only for a second,’ Pete added. ‘We just opened the door and
looked in.’
‘Were you with Mike?’ Laurie asked.
‘No,’ Pete said. ‘He just told us which compartment.’
‘Has Dr. Washington talked to you about last night?’ Laurie asked.
‘Yeah, and Mr. Harper, too,’ Jeff said.
‘Did you tell Dr. Washington about looking at the body?’ Laurie asked.
‘No,’ Jeff said.
‘Why not?’ Laurie asked.
‘He didn’t ask,’ Jeff said. ‘I guess we know we’re really not supposed
to do it. I mean we don’t usually. But, as I said, with all the
commotion, we were curious.’
‘Maybe you should tell Dr. Washington,’ Laurie suggested. ‘Just so he
has all the facts.’
Laurie turned around and headed back to the elevator. Jack dutifully
followed.
‘What do you think?’ Laurie asked.
‘It’s getting harder and harder for me to think the closer it gets to
midnight,’ Jack said. ‘But I wouldn’t make anything of those two peeking
at the body.’
‘But Mike didn’t mention it,’ Laurie said.
‘True,’ Jack said. ‘But they all know they were bending the rules. It’s
human nature in such a situation not to be completely forthcoming.’
‘Maybe so,’ Laurie said with a sigh.
‘Where to now?’ Jack asked as they boarded the elevator.
‘I’m running out of ideas,’ Laurie said.
‘Thank God,’ Jack said.
‘Don’t you think I should ask Mike why he didn’t tell us about the van
drivers looking at Franconi?’ Laurie asked.
‘You could, but I think you’re just spinning your wheels,’ Jack said.
‘Truly, I can’t imagine it was anything but harmless curiosity.’
‘Then let’s call it a night,’ Laurie said. ‘Bed is sounding good to me,
too.’