“Thank you for your vote of confidence,” Dr. Cooper said. “But I’m sure even you will have an easier time coming to terms with your loss when the cause for this tragedy is proved beyond the shadow of doubt. You understand what I’m saying, don’t you?”
“Certainly,” Yuri managed to reply as the anxieties he’d felt earlier came back like an avalanche.
Chapter 9
Tuesday, October 19
6:43 a.m.
Laurie surprised herself by waking up before her alarm. She couldn’t remember having done that for years. It was especially surprising considering her expected jet lag from having flown in from Paris the morning before. But then with a simple calculation she realized that at that moment it was already after noon in the French capital, and even though she’d only been in France for a couple of days, she must have made some adaption to the local time.
At Laurie’s first stirring, her eight-month-old cat, Tom-2, stood up, stretched, and came up to the head of the bed for his customary dose of petting. Laurie was happy to comply. In contrast to the mongrel Tom, Laurie’s first cat whom she’d rescued from Animal Control and who’d been brutally killed, Tom-2 was a pedigree Burmese she’d purchased from Fabulous Felines on Second Avenue. Tom’s hair color was not too dissimilar from Laurie’s, but lacked the reddish highlights.
Laurie bounded out of bed with more than the usual enthusiasm. Over the month since she’d met Paul, her spirits had been buoyant. In the kitchen she started her coffee machine, which she’d prepared the night before. Back in her tiny bathroom she climbed into the shower.
Laurie had lived in her small, one-bedroom apartment ever since she’d started working at the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner for the City of New York eight years ago. By now she could afford cushier digs, but she’d grown accustomed to her old fifth-floor flat. Also, being only eleven blocks from the office, she often walked both directions. That was a convenience that few of her colleagues enjoyed.
As Laurie washed her hair, she mulled over the previous evening’s dinner party and couldn’t help suppressing a smile. Initially she’d been disappointed at Jack and Lou’s response to her news, but after she’d thought about their behavior, she changed her mind. Now she thought there was an element of humor in their obvious shock and inability to wish the best for her. And she had to admit to a sense of satisfaction. Neither had been willing to make even the most modest commitment. What had they expected her to do, let life pass her by?
Laurie had long suspected that both men were attracted to her romantically but were afraid to follow up on their feelings. Although she valued their friendship, the situation had been frustrating for Laurie, especially since she’d always known that she’d wanted children. She understood that Jack in particular needed plenty of time to recover from the painful loss of his family. So she’d been patient. But could she really put her future on hold indefinitely? In the years that Laurie had known him, Jack had shown no signs of getting over his grief. To Laurie, his whole life still seemed defined as a reaction to that tragic incident.
With Lou, it was different. His ingrained inferiority complex seemed to be immune to Laurie’s efforts. Laurie had tried to dent his defensive shield with multiple ploys, but with no luck. In fact, the harder she had tried, the more defensive he’d become, to the point of argument. Ultimately, she’d given up and was content with his enduring friendship.
Laurie vigorously toweled her hair, then combed it out before using the electric hair drier. As far as she was concerned, it was far better to concentrate on the positive, and that meant thinking about Paul Sutherland. Such thoughts brought an even bigger smile to her face.
Over the last few years Laurie had developed progressively greater insights into her personality. She realized that she’d made careful, rational decisions all her life, a trait that had obviously stood her in good stead career-wise but that at times might have been limiting. She’d taken few chances except for a minor teenage rebellion or two. Now with Paul there was an opportunity. It was like being offered the brass ring on the whirling carousel of life. All she had to do was reach out and seize it.
With her hair done to her satisfaction, Laurie turned to her makeup routine. She didn’t wear a lot of makeup, so it didn’t take long. While she was applying it, she mused about her whirlwind romance with Paul. Thanks to his generosity and spontaneity, they’d not only been to Paris, they’d spent weekends in Los Angeles and Caracas as well. In New York they’d eaten out almost every night at some of the best restaurants in the city. They’d been to the theater, dance recitals, and the symphony.
After dressing, Laurie went back into her kitchen for her breakfast of cereal, fruit, yogurt, and coffee. While she ate, she admitted to herself that she was a bit overwhelmed by the speed of the courtship. She was still somewhat stunned by Paul’s proposal. He’d taken her totally by surprise. She was also immensely pleased and flattered to be with a man who seemed to appreciate her and was desperate not to let her get away.
The main reason she’d not officially accepted was her desire to have a last word with Jack and with Lou, but particularly with Jack. She knew they’d squirm, but they deserved to. And she felt she owed it to them and to herself to present her situation openly and honestly. They could act if they so chose, or forever hold their peace. And if they decided to hold their peace, Laurie intended to grab the brass ring and make her future with Paul, even if she and Paul didn’t share that immediate animal attraction she’d had so abundantly with Jack.
Laurie’s door buzzer pulled her from her thoughts. She glanced at the clock. She couldn’t imagine who could be there at seven-thirty in the morning. Laurie moved over to the ancient intercom device and put the earphone to her ear. She pushed the speak button and said hello. Despite the static she recognized the voice that came back. It was Paul.
Laurie buzzed him in. Then she raced around the apartment snatching panties off the arm of the couch, a bra from a side table, and stockings from the floor. When she’d arrived home the night before, she’d been exhausted and had undressed en route to her bed, dropping clothing in her wake.
When there was a knock on her door, Laurie checked through the peephole by reflex. She found herself looking directly into one of Paul’s dark eyes. He’d put his face up to the tiny lens.
Laurie undid the extensive array of locks a former tenant had installed on her front door and pulled it open. “You clown,” she commented teasingly at Paul’s antics. He had a playful side that was unpredictable but which could embarrass her in public, like when he surprisingly joined her in the Lilliputian commode on the Concorde. Laurie had been mortified when she’d emerged, but later she’d laughed at herself and the stodgy businessmen who pretended not to have noticed.
“Surprise,” Paul said as he pulled a bouquet of fall flowers from behind his back.
“What’s the occasion?” Laurie asked.
“No occasion,” Paul said. “I just thought they looked attractive at one of those all-night Korean convenience stores.”
“Well, thank you,” Laurie said. She gave him a light kiss and took the flowers. While she went for a vase, Paul took off his coat. He was dressed for business in a suit similar to the one he had on the previous evening.
“Come on in here if you want any coffee,” Laurie called from the kitchen. Paul appeared a moment later. He was carrying Tom-2, who was purring loudly. “What’ll it be?” Laurie asked. “I’m having filtered coffee, but I could make you an espresso.” She finished with the flowers and put the vase on the table.