“Thanks. Put him on, please.”
“Dr. Delaware?”
“Hi, Chip, what’s up?”
“Nothing — nothing medical, that is, thank God. I hope I’m not calling too late?”
“Not at all.”
“Cindy just phoned me to say you’re coming by, tomorrow afternoon. I’m checking to see if you need me to be there.”
“Your input’s always welcome, Chip.”
“Hmm.”
“Is there a problem?”
“I’m afraid there is. I’ve got an afternoon class at one-thirty, then a meeting with some of my students right afterward. Nothing earth-shattering — just routine office hours — but with finals approaching, the undergraduate panic level’s been rising at a precipitous rate.”
“No problem,” I said, “I’ll catch you the next time.”
“Great — and if something comes up that you want to ask me about, just call. I gave you my number here, didn’t I?”
“Yes, you did.”
“Great. Then it’s all set.”
I hung up, bothered by his call but not sure why. Robin called from the bathroom and I went in. The light was dim and she was up to her neck in suds, head tilted back against the rim of the tub. A few clusters of bubbles dotted her pinned-up hair, shiny as gems. Her eyes were closed and she kept them that way as I got in.
Covering her breasts, she said, “Shudder, shudder — hope that’s not Norman Bates.”
“Norman preferred showers.”
“Oh. Right. Norman’s meditative brother, then.”
“Norman’s wet brother — Merman.”
She laughed. I stretched out, closed my eyes too. She put her legs atop mine. I sank, feeling myself warm, massaging her toes, trying to loosen up. But I kept thinking of the conversation I’d just had with Chip and remained tight.
Cindy just phoned me to say you’re coming by, tomorrow afternoon.
Meaning he hadn’t been home when I’d called.
Hadn’t been the man I’d heard Cindy speaking to.
The edginess...
Robin said, “What’s the matter? Your shoulders are all bunched.”
I told her.
“Maybe you’re reading too much into it, Alex. It could have been a relative visiting — her father or her brother.”
“She doesn’t have either.”
“So it was a cousin or an uncle. Or a service call — the plumber, the electrician, whatever.”
“Try getting one of those guys on a Sunday evening,” I said.
“They’re rich. The rich get what they want when they want it.”
“Yeah, maybe that’s all it was... Still, I thought she sounded nervous. As if I’d caught her off guard.”
“Okay, let’s say she’s having a fling. You already suspect her of poisoning her kid. Adultery’s a misdemeanor in comparison.”
“Having a fling the first day back from the hospital?”
“Hubby didn’t see anything wrong with flying off to his office the first day, did he? If that’s his usual pattern, she’s probably a lonely lady, Alex. He isn’t giving her what she needs, so she’s getting it elsewhere. Anyway, does adultery relate to this Munchausen business?”
“Anything that makes someone with those tendencies feel helpless could have an effect. But it’s more than that, Robin. If Cindy’s having an affair, that could provide a motive. Ditch hubby and kids, get free to be with her lover.”
“There are easier ways to get free of your family.”
“We’re talking about someone sick.”
“Really sick.”
“I don’t get paid to deal with healthy heads.”
She leaned forward and touched my face. “This is really getting to you.”
“Sure is. Cassie’s so damned dependent and everyone’s failing her.”
“You’re doing everything you can.”
“I suppose.”
We stayed in the water. I worked at relaxing again, settled finally for loose muscles and a tight mind. Soap-sud clouds gathered around Robin’s shoulders like an ermine stole. She looked beautiful and I told her so.
She said, “What a flatterer, Mer.” But her grin was deep and heartfelt. At least I’d made someone feel good.
We got back into bed and tackled the Sunday paper. I read carefully this time, searching for anything on Western Peds or Laurence Ashmore but finding nothing. The phone rang at ten forty-five. Robin answered. “Hi, Milo.”
He said something that made her laugh. She said, “Absolutely,” handed me the receiver, and returned to her crossword puzzle.
“Nice to hear her voice again,” he said. “Finally, you show some good judgment.” The connection was clear, but it sounded distant.
“Where are you?”
“Alley behind a leather-goods store, little pilfering surveillance, nothing so far. Am I interrupting something?”
“Domestic bliss,” I said, stroking Robin’s arm. She was concentrating hard on the puzzle, pencil in mouth, but her hand rose to meet mine and we laced fingers.
“Let’s hear it for any kind of bliss,” said Milo. “Got a couple of things for you. First, your Mr. Huenengarth has an interesting pattern. Valid driver’s license and social security number, but the address on the license traces to a mail drop in Tarzana, and he’s got no phone number, credit history, or IRS file. No county records either. No record of him in the military or on the voter roster. Similar pattern to a long-term con just out of the joint — someone who hasn’t voted or paid taxes. Though he doesn’t show up on NCIC or the parole rolls either, so maybe it’s a computer glitch or I screwed up technically. I’ll have Charlie try tomorrow.”
“Phantom of the hospital,” I said. “I feel so much better knowing he’s head of Security.”
Robin looked up briefly, then down again.
“Yeah,” said Milo. “You’d be surprised how many strange types get into security — nutcases who try out for police departments, don’t pass the psych evaluation. Meantime, keep your distance from him until I can find out more. Second thing is, I’ve been nosing around the Herbert file and plan to do a little late-night downtown prowl — talk to that bartender witness.”
“Does he have something new to offer?”
“No, but Gomez and his partner didn’t follow through enough for my taste. The guy has a serious dope record and they figured him for an unreliable witness. So they let him off easy, not enough questions. I got hold of his number, spoke to his girlfriend, and found out he got a job at another club nearby, over in Newton Division. Thought I’d go over and talk to him. Thought you might be interested in a tag-along. But you’ve obviously got better things to do.”
Robin looked up. I realized my fingers had tightened around hers and eased my grip.
“When are you going?” I said.
“Hour or so. Figured I’d make it over there after midnight, when the scene just starts. I want to catch him in his element, but before it gets too intense. Anyway, enjoy your bliss.”
“Wait. I’ve got a few things for you. Got time?”
“Sure. Nothing here in this alley but us cats. What’s up?”
“I got buttonholed by Grandpa Chuck today, just as I left the hospital. He gave me a one-big-happy-family speech — defending the clan’s honor, just like we discussed. Topped it off by offering me a job. The implication I got was I should behave myself, not dig too deeply.”
“Not very subtle.”
“Actually, he managed to do it quite subtly. Even if it had been taped, he could never have been pinned down. Not that the offer was worth much, because a job at Western Peds isn’t likely to have much security.”
I recounted Plumb’s newspaper interview, and the financial-scheme hypotheses that had led me to look further into Laurence Ashmore’s research. By the time I got to the Ferris Dixon Institute, Robin had put her puzzle down and was listening intently.