Cemetery Dance p-9 Page 4

  "You must learn to put your spare time to good use, Vincent," murmured Pendergast.

  "Yeah? It seems to me that you've been cooling your heels, too."

  "On the contrary. Over the last nine minutes, I've reflected — with great pleasure — on Milton's invocation in the third book ofParadise Lost; I've reviewed the second — declension Latin nouns — certain Latin declensions can be an almost full — time occupation — and I've mentally composed a choice letter I plan to deliver to the engineers who designed this elevator."

  A creaking rumble announced the elevator's arrival. The doors groaned open and the packed interior disgorged its contents of doctors, nurses, and — finally — a corpse on a gurney. They got in and D'Agosta punched the button marked B2.

  A long wait and the doors rumbled closed. The elevator began to descend so slowly that there was no perception of movement. After another interminable wait, the doors creaked open to reveal a tiled basement corridor, bathed in greenish fluorescent lighting, the air redolent of formaldehyde and death. A gatekeeper behind a sliding glass partition guarded a pair of locked steel doors.

  D'Agosta approached, slipping out his shield. "Lieutenant D'Agosta, NYPD Homicide, Special Agent Pendergast, FBI. We're here to see Dr. Wayne Heffler."

  "Documents in the tray," came the laconic voice.

  They put their shields in a sliding tray. A moment later, they came back with two passes. The steel doors sprang ajar with a metallic snap. "Down the hall, second corridor, left at the T. Check in with the secretary."

  The secretary was busy, and it took another twenty minutes to see the doctor. By the time the door finally opened and they were ushered into the elegant office, D'Agosta was spoiling for a fight. And as soon as he saw the arrogant, annoyed face of the assistant medical examiner, he knew he was going to get his wish.

  The M.E. rose from his desk and pointedly did not offer them seats. He was a handsome older man, lean and spare, dressed in a cardigan with a bow tie and starched white shirt. A tweed jacket hung on the back of his chair. His thinning silver hair was combed back from a high forehead. The Mr. Rogers look stopped at the eyes, which were as blue and cold as ice behind horn — rimmed spectacles. There were hunting prints on the wood — paneled walls, along with a collection of yacht racing pennants in a large glass case.A frigging country gentleman, D'Agosta thought sourly.

  "What can I do for you?" the M.E. asked, unsmiling, hands on the desk.

  D'Agosta pointedly took a chair, moving it this way and that before sitting down, taking his time about it. Pendergast slipped smoothly into a seat nearby. D'Agosta peeled a document out of his briefcase and slid it over the half — an — acre of desk.

  The man didn't even look at it. "Lieutenant — ah, D'Agosta — fill me in on the details. I don't have time to read reports right now."

  "It's about the autopsy of Colin Fearing. You were in charge. Remember?"

  "Of course. The body found in the Harlem River. Suicide."

  "Yeah," said D'Agosta. "Well, I got five good witnesses swearing he was the killer on that West End Avenue murder last night."

  "That's quite impossible."

  "Who identified the body?"

  "The sister." Heffler shuffled impatiently through a file open on his desk. "Carmela Fearing."

  "No other family?"

  More impatient shuffling. "Just a mother. Non compos mentis, in a nursing home upstate."

  D'Agosta shot a glance toward Pendergast, but the special agent was studying the sporting prints with evident distaste, seemingly oblivious to the line of questioning.

  "Identifying marks?" he continued.

  "Fearing had a very unusual tattoo of a hobbit on his left deltoid, and a birthmark on his right ankle. We verified the former with the tattoo parlor — it was very recent. The latter was verified by his birth certificate."

  "Dental records?"

  "We couldn't locate dental records."

  "Why not?"

  "Colin Fearing grew up in England. Then, before moving to New York City, he lived in San Antonio, Texas. His sister stated he had all his dental work done in Mexico."

  "So you didn't call the clinics in Mexico or London? How long does it take to scan and e — mail a set of X — rays?"

  The M.E. expelled a long, irritated sigh. "Birthmark, tattoo, sworn and notarized eyewitness identification from reliable next — of — kin — we've more than satisfied the law, Lieutenant. I'd never get my work done if we went after international dental records every time a foreigner killed himself in New York City." "Did you keep any samples of Fearing's tissue or blood?"

  "We only take X — rays and keep tissue and blood if there's a question surrounding the death. This was a open — and — shut case of suicide."

  "How do you know?"

  "Fearing jumped off the rotating bridge opposite Spuyten Duyvel into the Harlem River. His body was found in the Spuyten Duyvel by a police boat. The jump ruptured his lungs and fractured his skull. And there was a suicide note left on the tracks. But you know all this, Lieutenant."

  "I read it in the file. Not the same as knowing it."

  The doctor had remained standing, and now he pointedly closed the file on his desk. "Thank you, gentlemen, will that be all?" He looked at his watch.

  At this, Pendergast at last roused himself. "To whom did you release the body?" His voice was slow, almost sleepy.

  "The sister, of course."

  "What kind of ID did you check on the sister? A passport?"

  "I seem to recall it was a New York State driver's license."

  "Did you keep a copy of it?"

  "No."

  A small sigh rose from Pendergast. "Any witnesses to this suicide?"

  "Not that I'm aware of."

  "Was a forensic examination done to the note, to ascertain it was indeed in Colin Fearing's handwriting?"

  A hesitation. The file opened again. The M.E. scanned it. "It seems not."

  D'Agosta picked up the line of questioning. "Who found the note?"

  "The police who recovered the body."

  "And the sister — did you interview her?"

  "No." Heffler turned away from D'Agosta, no doubt in hopes of shutting him up. "Mr. Pendergast, may I ask what the FBI's interest is in the case?"

  "You may not, Dr. Heffler."

  D'Agosta continued. "Look, Doctor. We've got Bill Smithback's body in your morgue, and if we're to continue our investigation we need it autopsied, fast. We also need DNA tests on the blood and hair samples, equally fast. And a test of Fearing's mother's DNA for comparison, since youneglected to keep any samples from the autopsy."

  "How fast would that be?"

  "Four days, tops."

  A small smile of contemptuous triumph twitched across the doctor's lips. "So sorry, Lieutenant, that is impossible. We're quite backed up here, and even if we weren't, four days is out of the question. It'll be at least ten days, perhaps even three weeks, for the autopsy. As for DNA results, that's not even my jurisdiction. You'll have to get a court order to take blood from the mother, which could take months. And with the backups at the DNA lab, you'll be lucky to get final results in less than half a year."

  Pendergast spoke again. "How very inconvenient." He turned to D'Agosta. "I suppose we'll just have to wait. Unless Dr. Heffler can manage — how do you term it? — a rush job on that autopsy."

  "If I did a rush job for every FBI agent or homicide detective who asked for it — and they all do — I'd never get anything else done." He slid the document back across the desk. "I'm sorry, gentlemen. Now if you'll excuse me?"

  "Of course," said Pendergast. "So sorry to have taken up your valuable time."

  D'Agosta looked over with incredulity as the agent rose to leave. They were just going to accept this bullshit brush — off and walk out?

  Pendergast turned and strode to the door, then hesitated. "Odd that you managed to work so efficiently with Fearing's corpse. How many days did that take?"

  "Four. But t
hat was a straightforward suicide. We have a storage problem here."

  "Well, then! Given your storage problem, we would like the autopsy on Smithback completed in four days."

  A short laugh. "Mr. Pendergast, you haven't been listening. I'll let you know when we can schedule it. Now if you don't mind—"

  "Make it three days, then, Dr. Heffler."

  The doctor stared at him. "Excuse me?"

  Pendergast turned to face him. "I said, three days."

  Heffler narrowed his eyes. "You are insolent, sir."

  "And you suffer from an egregious lack of ethics."

  "What the devil are you talking about?"

  "It would be a shame if it became widely known that your office has been selling the brains of the indigent dead."

  There was a long silence. When the M.E. spoke again, his voice was as cold as ice. "Mr. Pendergast, are you threatening me?"

  Pendergast smiled. "How clever of you, Doctor."

  "What I presume you're referring to is a fully sanctioned and legitimate practice. It is for a worthy cause — medical research. We harvest the unclaimed cadavers for all their organs, not just the brain. Their bodies save lives and are crucial for medical research."

  "The operative word here is selling. Ten thousand dollars for a brain — isn't that the going price? Who would have thought a brain could be so valuable?"

  "For heaven's sake, we don't sell them, Mr. Pendergast. We ask for a reimbursement of our expenses. It costs us money to remove and handle organs."

  "A distinction that the readers of the New York Post might not appreciate."

  The man's face whitened. "The Post? They aren't writing something?"

  "Not yet. But can't you just see the headline?"

  The doctor's face darkened, and his bow tie quivered with rage. "You know perfectly well this activity does no harm to anyone. The money is strictly accounted for and supports our work here. My predecessor did the same, as did the M.E. before him. The only reason we keep it quiet is because people would be uncomfortable. Really, Mr. Pendergast, this threat is beyond the pale.Beyond the pale. "

  "Indeed. Three days, then?"

  The M.E. stared at him with hard, glittering eyes. A curt nod. "Two days."

  "Thank you, Dr. Heffler. I'm most obliged." And Pendergast turned to D'Agosta. "And now, we really mustn't take up any more of Dr. Heffler's busy, busy day."

  * * *

  As they exited the building onto First Avenue and walked toward the idling Rolls, D'Agosta couldn't help but chuckle. "How did you pull that rabbit out of your hat?"

  "I do not know why it is, Vincent, but there are certain people in positions of power who take pleasure in obstructing others. I'm afraid I take an equally base pleasure in disobliging them. A bad habit, I know, but it isso hard at my age to rid oneself of the minor vices."

  "He was pretty frigging 'disobliged.' "

  "I fear, however, that Dr. Heffler was right about the DNA results. It's beyond his power, or mine for that matter, to hasten that process, especially given the court order required. An alternative approach is thus necessary. And so this afternoon we'll be paying a visit to Willoughby Manor, in Kerhonkson, to offer our condolences to one Gladys Fearing."

  "What for? She's non compos mentis."

  "And yet, my dear Vincent, I have a feeling Mrs. Fearing might prove surprisingly eloquent."

  Chapter 9

  Nora Kelly softly closed the door to her basement anthropology lab and leaned against it, closing her eyes. Her head throbbed steadily, and her throat was rough and dry.

  It had been far worse than she imagined, running the gauntlet of her colleagues with their well — meaning condolences, their tragic looks, their offers of help, their suggestions she take a few days off. A few days off? And do what: go back to the apartment where her husband was murdered and sit around with only her thoughts for company? The fact was, she'd come straight to the museum from the hospital. Despite what she'd told D'Agosta, she just couldn't face going back to the apartment — at least, not right away.

  She opened her eyes. The lab was as she had left it, two days ago. And yet it looked so different. Everything since the murder seemed different. It was as if the whole world had changed — utterly.

  Angrily, she tried to force away the sterile train of thought. She glanced at her watch: two o'clock. The only thing that would save her now was immersion in her work. Complete, total immersion.

  She locked the door to the lab, then turned on her Mac. Once it had booted up, she opened the database of her potsherds. Unlocking a drawer of trays, she pulled one open, exposing dozens of plastic bags full of numbered potsherds. She opened the first bag, arranged the potsherds on the felt of the tabletop, and began classifying them by type, date, and location. It was tedious, mindless work — but that's what she needed right now. Mindless work.

  After half an hour, she paused. It was as silent as a tomb in the basement lab, with the faint hissing of the forced — air system like a steady whisper in the darkness. The nightmare at the hospital had spooked her — the dream had been so real. Most dreams faded with time, but this one, if anything, seemed to grow in clarity.

  She shook her head, annoyed at her mind's tendency to keep circling the same horrifying things. Rapping the computer keys harder than necessary, she finished entering the current batch of data, saved the file, then began packing away the sherds, clearing the table for the next bagful.

  A soft knock came at the door.

  Not another condolence visit. Nora glanced over at the little glass window set into the door, but the hallway beyond was so dim she could see nothing. After a moment, she stood up, walked to the door, placed her hand on the knob. Then she paused.

  "Who is it?"

  "Primus Hornby."

  With a feeling of dismay, Nora unlocked the door to find the small, tub — like anthropology curator standing before her, morning paper folded under one fat little arm, a plump hand nervously rubbing his bald pate. "I'm glad I found you in. May I?"

  Reluctantly, Nora stepped aside to let the curator pass. The disheveled little man swept in and turned. "Nora, I'm sodreadfully sorry." His hand continued to nervously rub his bald spot. She didn't respond — couldn't respond. She didn't know what to say or how to say it.

  "I'm glad you've come back to work. I find work is the universal healer."

  "Thank you for your concern." Perhaps he would leave now. But he had the look of a man with something on his mind.

  "I lost my wife some years ago, when I was doing fieldwork in Haiti. She was killed in a car crash in California while I was away. I know what you must be feeling."

  "Thank you, Primus."

  He moved deeper into the lab. "Potsherds, I see. How beautiful they are. An example of the human urge to make beautiful even the most mundane of objects."

  "Yes, it is." When will he leave? Nora suddenly felt guilty for the reaction. In his own way, he was trying to be kind. But this just wasn't the way she grieved, all this talk and commiseration and condolence offering.

  "Forgive me, Nora…" He hesitated. "But I must ask. Do you plan on burying your husband or having him cremated?"

  The question was so bizarre that for a moment Nora was taken aback. The question was one she had been deliberately avoiding, and she knew she had to face it soon.

  "I don't know," she said, rather more curtly than she intended.

  "I see." Hornby looked unaccountably dismayed. Nora wondered what was coming next. "As I said, I did my fieldwork in Haiti."

  "Yes."

  Hornby seemed to be growing more agitated. "In Dessalines, where I lived, they sometimes use Formalazen as an embalming fluid instead of the usual compound of formalin, ethanol, and methanol."

  The conversation seemed to be taking on an unreal cast. "Formalazen," Nora repeated.

  "Yes. It's far more poisonous and difficult to handle, but they prefer it for… well, for certain reasons. Sometimes they make it even more toxic by dissolving rat poison i
n it. In certain unusual cases — certain types of death — they also ask the mortician to suture the mouth shut." He hesitated again. "And in such cases they bury their dead facedown, mouth to the earth, with a long knife in one hand. Sometimes they fire a bullet or drive a piece of iron into the corpse's heart to… well, tokill it again. "

  Nora stared at the odd little curator. She had always known he was eccentric, that he'd been touched a little too deeply by the strange nature of his studies, but this was something so monstrously out of place she could hardly believe it. "How interesting," she managed to say.

  "They can be very careful about how they bury their dead in Dessalines. They follow strict rules at great financial expense. A proper burial can cost two or three years' annual salary."

  "I see."

  "Once again, I'm so dreadfully sorry." And with that, the curator unfolded the newspaper he'd been carrying under his arm and laid it on the table. It was a copy of that morning's West Sider.

  Nora stared at the headline:

  TIMES REPORTER KILLED BY ZOMBIE?

  Hornby tapped the headline with a stubby finger. "My work was in this very area. Voodoo. Obeah. Zombiis — spelled correctly with twoi's, of course, not like how they spelled it here. Of course, the West Sider gets everything wrong." He sniffed.

  "What — " Nora found herself speechless, staring at the headline.

  "So if you do decide to bury your husband, I hope you'll keep what I've said in mind. If you have any questions, Nora, I am always here."

  And with a final, sad smile, the little curator was gone, leaving the newspaper on the table.

  Chapter 10

  The Rolls — Royce purred through the shabby town of Kerhonkson, glided over a cracked asphalt road past a shuttered Borscht Belt hotel, and then wound its way down into a gloomy river valley closed in by damp trees. One last steep bend and a weather — beaten Victorian house came into view, adjoining a low — lying complex of brick buildings surrounded by a chain — link fence. A sign bathed in late — afternoon shadow announced they were entering the Willoughby Manor Extended Care Facility.