LITMIR.BIZ

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And with the recent proliferation of lawsuits …”

      “I realize that, Doctor, but we’re talking about a homicide investigation.”

      “If I knew for certain that the victim found was indeed Miss Walkins and the X rays would serve as absolute proof of identification, I’d feel much better about sending them to you.”

      If we knew that, we wouldn’t need X rays, schmuck!

      “Dr. Payne, I could get a subpoena and then we wouldn’t have to bother with this polite conversation. Now, I’m asking you to send the X rays on your terms. If you keep giving me a hard time, I’m going to take them on my terms. The choice is yours.”

      There was a long pause full of heavy breathing.

      “I could round up some duplicates,” Payne said, “but I guarantee you the clarity of the radiographs will leave much to be desired.”

      “I’m sure they’ll be fine, Doctor. Thank you.”

      Decker gave him Hennon’s address, thanked him again, gave the phone the finger, and pressed Rina’s line.

      “What’s up?” he asked.

      “Nothing really. Just called to say hi.”

      He smiled. “I’m glad you did.”

      “I … I guess you’re busy, huh?”

      “Not too busy for you.”

      “That’s nice of you to say.”

      There was a long awkward pause. This is leading somewhere, he thought.

      “What’s on your mind, Rina?”

      “Why do you think something’s on my mind?”

      “I’m just asking.”

      She coughed over the phone, then cleared her throat. “I bought a gun, Peter.”

      Shit!

      “You what?” he said softly.

      “I bought a gun. A .38 caliber Colt six-shot Detective Special. Same one you use off duty. It’s being registered now. Can you get me a conceal permit?”

      “No. And you shouldn’t be fooling around with a gun unless you know how to use one.”

      “I agree. That’s why I’ve signed up for private lessons. At Berry’s Guns and Ammo. The teacher’s name is Tom Railsback. He said he knows you.”

      “I know Tom,” said Decker quietly. “He’s a good guy. Rina, why the hell are you doing this?”

      “Because I’m a nervous wreck. Because I constantly hear noises at night. Because I haven’t had a good night’s sleep in the six months since the violence here, and I don’t want to be addicted to Valium.”

      “Honey, these things take time to get over. He can’t hurt you now. He’s locked up.”

      “Intellectually, I know you’re right. But I can’t help myself. I need something more. I need to know I can take care of myself.”

      “And you think a gun will take care of you?”

      “Are you being sarcastic?” she asked innocently.

      Decker paused, then said, “Sort of.”

      “Please don’t be. I’m not careless, Peter. I’m not impulsive. I’ve thought about it a long time. I really think it’s what I need.”

      “Then why didn’t you talk to me about it?”

      “Peter, I broached the subject with you a dozen times and you kept putting me off.”

      Decker pulled out a cigarette, lit it, and inhaled deeply. He had put her off. He was worried about her keeping firearms with small children around the house. He was worried it would misfire and she’d get hurt. Or maybe it was just a macho thing, feeling she should have trusted him to take care of her. Jan had never wanted a gun: she’d hated guns. But Jan had grown up in the sixties; Rina was from a different generation. Peace, love, and Woodstock had been replaced by terrorism and Rambo.

      “If you’re serious and you learn how to shoot properly, I’ll see what I can do about getting you a permit.”

      “Thanks.”

      “But that’s going to take months, Rina.”

      “That’s okay.”

      “That means you can’t hide the gun in your purse in the meantime.”

      “I won’t.”

      “Or under a car seat—”

      “The gun will be kept at home. Relax, sweetie. You sound wired.”

      He was wired.

      “The other line is ringing,” he said. “Hold on a moment.”

      He punched down the flashing white phone light.

      “Decker,” he yelled.

      “Take it easy, Pete. It’s only eleven o’clock in the morning.”

      Decker recognized the voice.

      “H’lo, Annie.”

      “We got lucky, Sergeant. Can you make it down here by noon?”

      “I’ll be there. I’ll even bring my own lunch.”

      “What a guy!” She hung up.

      He connected back to Rina’s line.

      “Look, I’ve got to head on out to Beverly Hills. I’ll drop by tonight. We can discuss this further then.”

      “I should be done with the mikvah around ten.”

      “Ten it is.”

      “What’s in Beverly Hills, Peter?”

      “A dentist who may have identified the bones we found.”

      “What’s his name? I can use a good dentist. My old one retired and I don’t like the guy who took over his practice.”

      “He’s a she. Her name is Annie.”

      “Does Annie have a last name?”

      Decker smiled.

      “Hennon,” he said.

      “Does Annie also have a red afro and a dog named Sandy?”

      “Not quite. She’s actually pretty. Not in your category, Rina, but her face wouldn’t cause your mouth to pucker. She has nice eyes.”

      “Really now.”

      “Yes. They’re green.”

      “Noticed the color, did you?”

      “I’m a cop, Rina. I pride myself on a keen eye for detail.”

      “That’s just fine so long as you keep your keen eye above Annie’s neck.”

      Decker arrived a few minutes early and was escorted into Hennon’s office by the office girl, dressed in a white uniform that barely covered her ass. Chewing on bubble gum, she cracked it in her mouth, then offered Decker a stick, which he politely refused. A second later he heard Hennon yell for the girl’s assistance.

      The girl rolled her eyes backward. “That woman is a terror,” she said. Her lower lip was in a sultry pout. “Dr. MacGrady is so much nicer.”

      I’ll bet he is, thought Decker.

      “You’d better go see what she wants,” he said.

      She left him alone with his baloney sandwich, carrot sticks, potato chips, and chocolate cupcake. He’d been over at Rina’s house last night while she was making lunches for the boys and she’d offered to pack him something. He had agreed under the condition

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