woman if her son had a liver transplant. It will be interesting to hear
what she has to say.’
Bart wrote Jack’s requests down. ‘What else?’ Bart asked.
‘I think that’s it for now,’ Jack said. ‘Janice told me Franconi’s
doctor’s name is Daniel Levitz. Is that anyone you have come in contact
with?’
‘If it’s the Levitz on Fifth, then I’ve come in contact with him.’
‘What was your take?’ Jack asked.
‘High-profile practice with wealthy clientele. He’s a good internist as
far as I could tell. The curious thing is that he takes care of a lot of
the crime families, so it’s not surprising he was taking care of Carlo
Franconi.’
‘Different families?’ Jack questioned. ‘Even families in competition
with each other?’
‘Strange, isn’t it?’ Bart said. ‘It must be one big headache for the
poor receptionist who does the scheduling. Can you imagine having two
rival crime figures with their bodyguards in the waiting room at the
same time?’
‘Life’s stranger than fiction,’ Jack said.
‘Do you want me to go to Dr. Levitz and get what I can on Franconi?’
Bart asked.
‘I think I’ll do that myself,’ Jack said. ‘I have a sneaking suspicion
that when talking with Franconi’s doctor what’s unsaid is going to be
more important than what is said. You concentrate on finding out where
Franconi got his transplant. I think that’s going to be the key piece of
information in this case. Who knows, it might just explain everything.’
‘There you are!’ a robust voice boomed. Both Jack and Bart looked up to
see the doorway literally filled with the imposing figure of Dr. Calvin
Washington, the deputy chief.
‘I’ve been looking all over for you, Stapleton,’ Calvin growled. ‘Come
on! The chief wants to see you.’
Jack gave Bart a wink before getting to his feet. ‘Probably just another
of the many awards he’s given me.’
‘I wouldn’t be so glib if I were you,’ Calvin snapped, as he made room
for Jack to pass. ‘Once again, you got the old man all riled up.’
Jack followed Calvin to the administration area. Just before going into
the front office, Jack caught a glimpse of the waiting room. There were
more than the usual number of journalists.
‘Something going on?’ Jack asked.
‘As if I have to tell you,’ Calvin grunted.
Jack didn’t understand, but he didn’t have a chance to ask more. Calvin
was already asking Mrs. Sanford, Bingham’s secretary, if they could go
into the chiefs office.
As it turned out, the timing wasn’t good, and Jack was relegated to
sitting on the bench that faced Mrs. Sanford’s desk. Obviously, she was
as upset as her boss and treated Jack to several disapproving looks.
Jack felt like a naughty schoolboy waiting to see the principal. Calvin
used the time by disappearing into his own office to make a few phone
calls.
Having a reasonable idea of what the chief was upset about, Jack tried
to come up with an explanation. Unfortunately, none came to mind. After
all, he could have waited to get Franconi’s X rays until Bingham’s
arrival that morning.
‘You can go in now,’ Mrs. Sanford said, without looking up from her
typing. She’d noticed the light on her extension phone had gone out,
meaning the chief was off the phone.
Jack entered the chiefs office with a sense of déja vu. A year ago,
during a series of infectious disease cases, Jack had managed to drive
the chief to distraction, and there had been several such
confrontations.
‘Get in here and sit down,’ Bingham said roughly.
Jack took the seat in front of the man’s desk. Bingham had aged in the
last few years. He looked considerably older than sixty-three. He glared
at Jack through his wire-rimmed glasses. Despite his jowls and sagging
flesh, Jack saw that his eyes were as intense and intelligent as ever.
‘I was just beginning to think you were really fitting in around here,
and now this,’ Bingham said.
Jack didn’t respond. He felt it best not to say anything until he was
asked a question.
‘Can I at least ask why?’ Bingham said obligingly in his deep, husky
voice.
Jack shrugged. ‘Curiosity,’ Jack said. ‘I was excited and I couldn’t