No problem. In his office?
Im sorry, Ms. Manfreda, could you repeat what you just said?
Where does he want me to meet him? At his office?
In the morgue. He says hes found something relevant to the bones. I have no idea what he meant, but he said youd understand.
I sure do.
The morgue. How exciting.
* * *
Dora and Joseph Winnick lived in a small but neatly kept and freshly painted two-story house on a modest farm in Hillsdale, New York, not forty miles from Albany. Jake had no trouble finding it, having been given precise driving instructions. He had called, told them his name, and was greeted with the honor accorded to the Queen of England. Wallys boss? They had heard so much about him; Wally had never been so happy or so fulfilled. Dr. Rosen was welcome. On such short notice, would it be acceptable if they served a simple salad for lunch?
It was more than acceptable, he had assured them, and arrived to find a platter of chicken, meats, and cheeses along with greens, radishes, mushrooms, cucumbers, spectacular bread, and a homemade apple pie, still warm from the oven.
Wonderful people, Jake thought, touched by their generosity and warmth. No wonder Wallys so kind, so giving. He spent much of the meal answering questions about himself; only when he had forced down a second portion of pie was he able to ask about Wally.
Josephs brother William deceased now, alas worked as a groundskeeper at Turner Hospital, Dora said. She was a birdlike creature in her late seventies with a face, skin, and stance as testaments to a life lived mainly outdoors. Joseph and I couldnt have children of our own. One day a Dr. Ewing called the dearest man and asked if we were interested in adopting a newborn baby.
Joseph, tall, lean, and equally weathered, took his wifes hand. Seems William had mentioned our plight to Dr. Ewing. Warned us that the child had a physical defect, a clubfoot, but was sound of mind and heart. Would we like to visit the hospital and see him?
Doras eyes sparkled at the memory. He had the sweetest face! Couldnt have been a month old, but he waved his little hands at us, as though to say hello, and I picked him up, and well, he just seemed to
fit.
We didnt care about the clubfoot, and even if we did, we didnt have the money to fix it, Joseph said, continuing the narrative seamlessly, as though the two had rehearsed it. We knew the boyd have some problems, but is there a human being in the world who doesnt?
Dora looked at Jake, almost daring him to disagree. It made us cherish him all the more. He got teased at school something awful made him a loner, I think leastways he didnt have many friends when he was little and no girlfriends in high school, but he was always so good-natured, so uncomplaining, that we didnt really worry about him.
It was Josephs turn. It was his brains saved him. Wally could read by the time he was five, and I dont think hes stopped reading since. But he was at loose ends when he finished Columbia Medical School. I think he wanted to get even farther away from people, so he went out to Santa Fe and worked there with kids less fortunate than he.
With children more handicapped than he was.
Then he got enough gumption to come back to New York City, Dora said. Think how brave that was. Not only to come back but to practice medicine in a city environment, surrounded by other health-care professionals.
Brave indeed.
Did you ever locate his birth parents?
My goodness, yes! Dora exclaimed, as though the question surprised her. His birth father, that is. The mother died in childbirth.
Jake held his breath. What was his name?
Why, Peter Harrigan. Didnt Dr. Harrigan tell you Wally was adopted?
He did, only he didnt tell me he was the father.
Strange, Joseph said. Pete was right fond of the boy. Maybe he was afraid youd tell Wally.
Pete?
Then you knew Dr. Harrigan personally?
Of course! He was Wallys teacher when Wally came to New York. He contacted us then but made us promise not to tell Wally who he was until he had passed his class. Pete had married and had a daughter. He didnt want his new family to know about his past life, or Wally to know he was his fathers pupil. Hes the one who told us about Wallys birth mother. He loved her, he said, and, as I say, she died in childbirth before they could be married. He and Wally got along real well. They didnt see each other all that often, but when Pete came, he and Wallyd have these long talks about medicine and about life. And of course he got him the job with you. Said you were his best friend.
I was. We had those same talks. Pete must have found the Winnicks the same way I did. And his lie was a gentle one.
Jake felt a catch in his throat. The emotion he had held in abeyance since his arrival threatened to overflow, and he asked his hosts to direct him to the bathroom, where he washed his face and stood with his hands on the sink until he had mastered his feelings.
Ewing kept his promise; theres humanity even in monsters. And Pete Pete was a good man. At least he tried to make up for his sins in the only way he could through Wally. Hes served his penance. I can love him again, even if I cant forgive him for the experiments at Turner.
He returned to the dining area. Dora had cleared the dishes; Joseph had stepped outside for a cigarette but reentered when he saw Jake.
Im afraid Ive terrible news, he told them gently. Petes dead.
No! Dora covered her mouth with her apron. When? And why didnt Wally tell us?
Two weeks ago. Pete had cancer, and maybe Wally didnt want to upset you.
Did Dr. Harrigan suffer? Joseph asked.
Only at the end. I saw him just before he died. We talked about Wally.
God rest his soul, Dora whispered. Thank you for telling us.
Jake shook Josephs hand and kissed Dora. And thank
you,
he said as he left, for being such good parents.
* * *
It was after two. Jake called Manny. Kenneth picked up and told him the Martin hearing was lasting longer than expected and he wasnt sure what time shed get back. But shes definitely coming in. You wouldnt
believe
the pileup of papers.
As a matter of fact, I would, Jake said, thinking with horror about his own desk and what awaited him when Pederson gave him clearance to return.
Should I tell Elizabeth about the child? Pete never told her. Why should I play messenger?
He sat in his car without starting the motor.
Because she could be hurt by this professionally, if its revealed publically and shes in the dark. Pete would have wanted me to take care of her. Shes Wallys half sister, but shes Petes daughter, first.
He called her office. She hadnt come in today, a woman with the voice of a drill sergeant told him. In fact, she hadnt been in all week. Ever since her husband had been hurt in an automobile accident.
Good. Itll be easier to talk to her at home.
The Markis house, fronted by a circular driveway cut through immaculate grass, looked as much like feudal England as twenty-first-century New Jersey. Jake had never been here before; Elizabeth had been living far more modestly when he dated her. Now he registered only that it seemed far too grand to be inhabited by anyone he knew except the mayor, an impression verified by a marble foyer, circular stairs leading to the heavens, and a butler in uniform who asked him if he was expected.
No, said Jake, who had purposely not heralded his arrival, fearing she would not let him come, but this is an emergency. Im Jacob Rosen, a friend of her late fathers and medical examiner for New York City.
This last seemed to work, for the butler gave a little bow and went upstairs. Soon Elizabeth appeared, dressed in a simple black sheath.
Manny would know the designer.
Jake, she said, her tone frosty. This is a surprise.
Im sorry to intrude. Truly. But Ive found out things about your father you ought to know.
About his death? I told you Im not
About his life. His early life.
She sighed. I cant spare much time. Daniel is hurt, you know.
Your office told me. An automobile accident?
Yes. A truck exploded on the Jersey Turnpike. He got caught in the blast. A broken rib, cuts and bruises he can hardly walk and the noise temporarily deafened him. He still cant hear.
Im so sorry. Do you want me to take a look at him?
She glanced at him scornfully. We have our own doctor. Why dont we go into the library? Its comfortable there.
He followed her through heavy oak doors into a room that seemed to Jake larger than the reading rooms of most New York branch libraries, where they sat facing each other in two identical wing chairs.
Did your father say anything to you when you visited him before he died? Jake asked. Anything he hadnt told you before?
She hesitated. No. Why?
Because when I saw him I thought he wanted to confess to me.
Confess what?
I didnt know. Its what prompted my question to you.
He only told me he was dying of cancer.
Ill bet thats not all.
Her eyes were steely, suspicious. Yes. Mom told us. Her name was Isabella. She was a nurse at a hospital where he worked in upstate New York.
Turner.
Thats right. Died of pneumonia, Dad said.
Did you know Pete and Isabella had a child?
Her head snapped back. A child?
Yes, a boy. Congratulations. You have a brother a halfbrother.
Her expression grew fearful.
I wonder why.
The boys alive?
The
mans
alive, very much so.
Youre sure?
Positive. He works for me. Would you like to meet him?
He he
works
for you?
Yes. Hes a doctor. His names Dr. Walter Winnick Winnicks the name of his adoptive parents. Pete recommended him to me, and I took him on. Hes loyal and hard-working. Invaluable.
She bit her lip so hard it turned white, but she met his eyes. Id love to meet him. Maybe after the Monmouth case is closed, and after the elections.
That would be fine. You intend to run for governor?
I dont know. The feelers are out. Its a question of fundraising.
Good luck, Elizabeth. I mean that sincerely.
Thanks. Is that all you have to tell me?
For the moment. Whatever else can wait.
She stood. Then
The door behind them opened. Elizabeth wheeled, her face red with fury. Not now! she shouted.
Too late.
Jake had turned also. Daniel Markis was at the door, and Jake got a good look at him. His face was unblemished, his stance upright. He was dressed in slacks and a sports shirt.
Can hardly walk? Ive never seen a man beat it so fast in all my life. Markis isnt bedridden, but he may be deaf; Elizabeth had to shout.
He faced her. She cowered.
All right. Gloves off.
He grabbed her arm.
Let go! she screamed. What are you doing?
Making you listen. When you see your half brother, Elizabeth, dont be too upset. He has a clubfoot, you see. When you give a pregnant woman mescaline, deformities to the fetus are inevitable. Pete didnt tell you the whole truth. She wasnt a nurse, she was a patient. And she didnt die of pneumonia. She died of mescaline poisoning. And your father was involved with the program that administered it.
She screamed again, the sound reverberating through the room. He heard a car door open and close, the sound of tires on gravel.
If you set off a claymore mine from behind, the unidirectional balls dont hit you but the blastll damage the auditory nerve. Thats what happened to Markis!
He raced past Elizabeth, pushed aside the butler who appeared in the doorway, and dashed to his car.
Markis was that woman. Elizabeth must have known. My God.
He called Mannys office from the car.
Ms. Manfredas office.
Shit. Kenneth.
Wheres Manny?
She came back from court early and left half an hour ago. Went to do some shopping she says her clothes are
rags
and then she was going to meet you, as requested, at the morgue. Another romantic rendezvous among the corpses, I gathered. She was so excited about her afternoon she could make the trunk shows at Bergdorfs she left her cell phone on her desk.
Me? What are you talking about?
She said someone from your office called and told her to meet you at Bellevue, in the morgue, later this afternoon. Said youd found something and wanted to show it to her there.
Jake felt cold fear settle in the pit of his stomach.
