I knew what that meant. Loose lips would send the guy back to traffic or stick him behind a desk in the uniform room.
“The only reason we’re apprising you of this unfortunate situation” – Amburgey carefully chose his words – “is because you need the background in order to understand the steps we feel compelled to take.”
I sat tensely, looking hard at him. The point of all this was about to be made.
“I had a conversation with Dr. Spiro Fortosis last night, the forensic psychiatrist who has been good enough to share his insights with us. I’ve discussed the cases with the FBI. It’s the opinion of the people who are experts in profiling this type of killer that publicity exacerbates the problem. This type of killer gets off on it. He gets excited, hyper, when he reads about what he’s done. It pushes him into overdrive.”
“We can’t curtail the freedom of the press,” I bluntly reminded him. “We have no control over what reporters print.”
“We do.” Amburgey was gazing out the window. “They can’t print much if we don’t give them much. Unfortunately, we’ve given them a lot.” A pause. “Or at least someone has.”
I wasn’t sure where Amburgey was going but the road signs definitely pointed in my direction.
He continued, “The sensational details – the leaks – we’ve already discussed have resulted in graphic, grisly stories, banner headlines. It’s the expert opinion of Dr. Fortosis this may be what prompted the killer to strike again so soon. The publicity excites him, puts him under incredible stress. The urge peaks again and he has to find release in selecting another victim. As you know, there was only a week between the slayings of Cecile Tyler and Lori Petersen-”
“Have you talked to Benton Wesley about this?” I interrupted.
“Didn’t have to. Talked to Susling, one of his colleagues at the Behavioral Science Unit in Quantico. He’s well known in the field, has published quite a lot on the subject.”
Thank God. I couldn’t endure knowing Wesley had just been sitting in my conference room several hours before and had made no mention of what I was now being told. He would be just as incensed as I was, I thought. The commissioner was wedging his foot in the investigation. He was going around me, around Wesley, around Marino, and taking matters into his own hands.
“The probability that sensational publicity, which has been ignited by loose talk, by leaks,” Amburgey went on, “the fact the city may be liable because of the 911 mishap, means we have to take serious measures, Dr. Scarpetta. All information dispensed to the public, from this point forward, will be channeled through Norm or Bill, as far as the police end of it goes. And nothing will be coming from your office unless it is released by me. Are we clear?”
There had never been a problem with my office before, and he knew it. We had never solicited publicity, and I’d always been circumspect when releasing information to the press.
What would the reporters – what would anybody – think when they were told they were being referred to the commissioner for information that historically had come from my agency? In the forty-two-year history of the Virginia medical examiner system, this had never happened. By gagging me it would appear I’d been relieved of my authority because I couldn’t be trusted.
I looked around. No one would meet my eyes. Boltz’s jaw was firmly set as he absently studied his coffee cup. He refused to grant me so much as a reassuring smile.
Amburgey began perusing his notes again. “The worst offender is Abby Turnbull, which isn’t anything new. She doesn’t win prizes for being passive.”
This to me: “Are you two acquainted?”
“She rarely gets past my secretary.”
“I see.”
He casually flipped another page.
“She’s dangerous,” Tanner volunteered. “The Times is part of one of the biggest chains in the country. They have their own wire service.”
“Well, there’s no question that Miss Turnbull is the one doing the damage. All the other reporters are simply reprinting her scoops and kicking the stuff around on the air,” Boltz slowly commented. “What we’ve got to find out is where the hell she’s getting the goods.”