Marker (26 page)

Laurie rolled her eyes. "I'll say you're getting a bit far afield. But it's okay. What about these frogs?"

"Well, they contain a toxin that's one of the most toxic substances known to man. If I remember correctly, it's capable of causing cardiac arrest."

"Sounds interesting! Have you tested for it?"

"Not really. I mean, so little of the toxin is needed, like millionths of a gram. I don't know whether it would show up with the sensitivity of our machine. I'll have to find out where to look."

"That's the spirit. I'm sure you are going to find something, especially with these two additional cases."

"I'll go online and see what I can learn."

"I appreciate it," Laurie said. "And keep me posted!" She picked up the DNA samples and started to leave, but then she stopped. "Oh, by the way, there was something slightly different with one of these cases. Let me check which one it was." She opened Sobczyk's folder and checked the accession number against the sample bottles. Finding the correct one, she held it up, then put it directly in front of Peter. "It's this one. This was the only patient out of the six who apparently had some cardiac and respiratory activity when she was found. I don't quite know what to make of that, but I thought you should know. If it were an unstable toxin, maybe it would have the highest concentration of all the cases."

Peter shrugged. "I'll keep it in mind."

Laurie looked out into the lab proper. Seeing that the coast was clear, she waved to Peter and quickly dashed out into the hallway. She used the stairs on her way up to the sixth floor. Halfway up, she stopped. All of a sudden, the right lower quadrant abdominal discomfort she'd had that morning reappeared. Once again, she used her fingers to press over the area. At first, it made the discomfort worse, reaching the threshold of what she would call pain, but then, as quickly as it had appeared, it vanished. Laurie felt her forehead to make sure she didn't have a fever. Convinced she didn't, she shrugged and continued on her way.

The sixth floor housed the DNA laboratory. In contrast to the rest of the building, the DNA lab was state-of-the-art. It was less than a half dozen years old and sparkled with white tiled walls, white cabinetry, white composite flooring, and the newest instrumentation. Its director, Ted Lynch, was a former Ivy League football jock. He wasn't in Calvin's league in terms of size, but not far behind, though he had a personality the opposite of Calvin's. Ted was an even-tempered, friendly individual.

Laurie found him hovering over his beloved sequencer machine.

Laurie gave Ted a bit of background on the case and then asked him if he'd do a rush screen. Along with the samples from under Lewis's nails, she gave him a sample of Lewis's tissue.

"Yeah, yeah, yeah!" Ted voiced with a laugh. "You and Jack are quite a pair. Every time you bring me something, it's got to be stat, like the sky is going to fall if you don't get it. Why can't you two be more like the rest of the lazy gang? Hell, they hope they don't hear from me, because when they do, it creates work for them."

Laurie couldn't help but smile. She and Jack had created a reputation for themselves.

Laurie told Ted just to do the best he could. She then descended a floor and walked quickly down toward her office. She couldn't wait to get to the phone. The person to whom she was most excited about giving the news of the two new members of her series was Roger.

Sitting at her desk, Laurie dialed Roger's extension at the Manhattan General. She drummed her fingers as she waited for the call to go through. Her heart was beating even faster than it had been earlier. She knew Roger would want to know about the two new cases if he didn't already. Unfortunately, when the line was picked up, it was Roger's voicemail. Laurie silently cursed. Of late it seemed that all she ever got was people's voicemail, never a real person.

After listening to Roger's outgoing message, Laurie merely said it was she who was calling and to call her back. She couldn't help but feel a twinge of disappointment at not getting hold of him right away. As she hung up the phone, she left her hand on the receiver as she thought about Roger being the only person who seemed to share her concern about the possibility of a grim reaper stalking the halls of the Manhattan General, which was the derogatory way Sue Passero had referred to her suspicions. Yet with her new self-honesty, she wondered how sincere his support really was. After the marriage revelation, she didn't know how much to trust him. As Laurie thought back over the last five weeks, she had to admit that he'd been almost too solicitous at times.

She hated to be cynical, but that was the consequence of his dishonesty.

Laurie jumped as the phone rang under her hand, and snatched up the receiver in a mini-panic.

"I'm looking for Laurie Montgomery," a pleasant female voice said.

"Speaking," Laurie responded.

"My name is Anne Dickson. I'm a social worker here at the General, and I'd like to make an appointment with you."

"An appointment?" Laurie questioned. "Can you tell me what case this is about?"

"Your case, of course," Anne said, confused.

"My case? I'm not sure I understand."

"I work here in the genetics lab, and I believe you came in a little more than a month ago for a genetic screen. I'm calling to arrange for you to come back in so we can schedule a meeting."

A complex array of thoughts flashed through Laurie's mind. The BRCA1 test was yet another example of her putting unpleasant things out of her mind. She'd completely forgotten about having given the blood. This woman calling her up out of the blue brought back the whole disturbing issue like an avalanche.

"Hello? Are you still there?" Anne questioned.

"I'm still here," Laurie said as she tried to organize her thinking. "I suppose this means the test was positive."

"It means that I'd like to see you in person," Anne said evasively. "It's our normal procedure for all our clients. I'd also like to apologize. Your folder has been on my desk for a week or so, but it mistakenly got put in the wrong basket. It's my fault entirely, so I'd like to see you sooner rather than later."

Laurie felt a wave of impatient irritation. She took a deep breath and reminded herself that the social worker was only trying to do her job. Still, Laurie would have preferred just to be told the results than suffer some drawn-out protocol.

"I've had a cancellation for one o'clock today," Anne continued.

"I was hoping that might work. If it's not convenient, the next opening is a week from today."

Laurie closed her eyes and took another deep breath. She wasn't going to allow herself to be in limbo for a week. Although she expected that the phone call meant the test was positive, she wanted to know for certain. She looked at her watch. It was eleven forty-five. There was no reason she couldn't run over to the General. Maybe she could have lunch with Roger or Sue. "One is fine," she said with resignation.

"Wonderful," Anne said. "My office is in the same suite where you came for the blood to be drawn."

Laurie hung up the phone. With her eyes again closed, she bent over her desk and ran her fingers roughly through her hair, scratching her scalp. All the nasty consequences of the BRCA1 gene flooded into her consciousness, along with a wave of sadness. What particularly bothered her was the acknowledgment of the upcoming need to make what she called "an end decision," a decision that eliminated options, such as having children.

"Knock, knock!" a voice called out.

Laurie glanced up to find herself looking at the smiling face of Detective Lieutenant Lou Soldano. He appeared particularly dapper with a clean, pressed shirt and a new tie.

"Hey, Laur," he said cheerfully. Laur was a nickname that Lou's son, Joey, had given Laurie back when Laurie and Lou had briefly dated. At that time, Joey was five. Now he was seventeen.

Laurie and Lou had not had a falling out but rather a mutual understanding that a romantic relationship wasn't appropriate. Although they continued to have great respect, understanding, and admiration for each other, the passion part didn't work.

Instead of romance, a close friendship developed and blossomed over the years.

"What's the matter?" Lou asked. Laurie had started to talk, but instead of saying anything, her eyes filled up with tears. She'd slapped a hand over her forehead, pressing in on her temples with her thumb and index finger.

Lou closed the door. He pulled Riva's chair over and sat down, then put his hand on Laurie's shoulder.

"Hey, come on! Tell me what's going on here!"

Laurie took her hand away. Her eyes were still brimming, but no tears had spilled out. She puffed up her cheeks then smiled weakly. "Sorry," she managed.

"Sorry? What are you talking about? There's nothing to be sorry for. Come on! Tell me what's cookin'? But wait! I think I know."

"You do?" Laurie questioned. She opened one of her desk drawers and took out a tissue to blot her eyes. Once she had the watery eyes under control, she looked back at Lou. "What makes you think you know what's bothering me?"

"I've gotten to know you over the years: both you and Jack. I also know you and him are on the outs. I mean it's not like it's a secret."

Laurie started to protest, but Lou took his hand off her shoulder and held it up to shush her. "I know it's none of my business, but it is my business, since I'm crazy for both you guys. I know you've been seeing some other doctor, but I think you and Jack should patch things up. You guys were meant for each other."

Laurie had to smile in spite of herself. She gazed at Lou with loving eyes. The man was a dear. Back when she and Jack started to be romantically involved, she'd been concerned that he'd be jealous, since the three had become fast friends. Instead, he'd been generously supportive right from the beginning. Now it was Laurie's turn to put her hand on Lou's shoulder. "I appreciate your thoughts," she said sincerely. If he wanted to think her little bout of emotionalism was due to her relationship with Jack, that was fine with her. The last thing she wanted to do was get into a discussion of the BRCA1 problem with Lou.

"I know for a fact that your seeing this other guy is driving Jack crazy."

"Really," Laurie said. "Well, you know something, Lou: I'm actually surprised about that. I didn't think Jack would care one way or the other."

"How could you think that?" Lou questioned with an expression of total disbelief.

"Did you forget about the way he acted when you almost got engaged to that arms dealer, Sutherland? Jack was a basket case."

"I thought that was because both you guys didn't think Paul was the right man, which he wasn't. I didn't think it was jealousy on Jack's part."

"Mark my words: It was jealousy, loud and clear."

"Well, we'll see what we can do. I would like to talk to Jack if he'll let me."

"Let you?" Lou questioned with equal disbelief. "Hey, I'll box him around the ears if he doesn't."

"I hardly think that would help," Laurie said with another smile. She blew her nose with the tissue she had in her hand. "But be that as it may, to what do I owe this mid-morning visit, especially as decked out as you are? I know you didn't come here solely as Jack's advocate."

"That's for damn sure," Lou said. He straightened up in his seat. "I got a problem, and I need some help."

"I'm all ears."

"The reason I'm spiffed up is because I had to head out to Jersey with Michael O'Rourke, my captain. Unfortunately, his wife's sister was murdered this morning here in the city, and we went out to tell the husband. Needless to say, I'm under a ton of pressure to come up with a suspect. The body's already downstairs in the cooler. What I'm hoping is that either you or Jack could do the case. I need a break, and between the two of you, you always seem to come up with the unexpected."

"Gosh, I'm sorry, Lou. I can't do it now. If it can wait until later this afternoon, I'm sure I can help."

"What time?"

"I don't know for sure. I have an appointment over at the Manhattan General."

"Really," Lou commented with a wry smile. "That's where Michael's sister-in-law got mugged: right in the parking garage."

"That's terrible. Was she on the hospital staff?"

"Yeah, for years. She was a head nurse who worked nights. She got whacked getting into her car on her way home. It's a crying shame. Two young kids, too, ten and eleven."

"Was she robbed or raped or both?"

"Just robbed, or so it seems. Her credit cards were strewn about the car. Her husband guesses she had less than fifty bucks, and for that she loses her life."

"I'm sorry."

"Not as sorry as I'm going to be unless I make some headway. What about Jack? He wasn't in his office when I went by."

"He's down in the pit, or he was when I left about a half hour ago."

Lou stood up and rolled Riva's chair over to her desk.

"Wait, Lou," Laurie said. "As long as you're here, there's something I want to mention to you."

"Oh, yeah? What?"

Laurie briefly told Lou about her series of six cases. She touched on only the highlights, but it was enough for Lou to pull Riva's chair back so he could sit down again.

"So you really think these cases are homicides?" Lou questioned when Laurie fell silent.

Laurie chuckled mostly at herself. "You know, I'm not sure," she admitted.

"But you just said you thought someone was doing this to these patients. That's homicide."

"I know," Laurie said. "The problem is, I don't know how much I believe it myself. Let me explain. Starting this morning, I've been on a self-honesty gig that's making me rethink a lot of things. I've been stressed emotionally over the last month and a half with Jack, with my mother, and other things, and I know I've been looking for a diversion.

This series of mine certainly falls into that category."

Lou nodded in understanding. "So you think you might be making a mountain out of a molehill."

Laurie shrugged.

"Have you run this serial-killer idea by anybody else here at the OCME?"

"Just about everybody who will listen, including Calvin."