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.Kay Scarpetta.TLP, which is headquartered in a lesser Hollywood, the one in Florida, recently opened an office in Los Angeles and has expanded its cloak-and dagger activities to protecting stars.Although its clients are top-secret, the Reporter has learned that some of them are the biggest names on the A list and in the music industry and include such mega-luminaries as actor Gloria Rustic and rapper Rat Riddly."My most exciting, daring role yet," Walden said of her newest escapade."Who better to protect stars than someone who once worked in the industry?""Work" may be a bit of an exaggeration, since the blond beauty had a lot of leisure time during her stint as an actress.Not that she needs the money.It is well known that her family has plenty of it.Walden is best known for playing small roles in big-budget films such as Quick Death and Don't Be There.Keep your eye out for Walden.She's the one with a gun.Rudy prints the article and sits in the chair, his fingers lightly resting on the keyboard as he stares at the screen and contemplates whether Lucy knows about the article.How could she not be furious, if she knew, and if she does know, why didn't she fire Henri months ago? Why didn't Lucy tell him? Such a breach of protocol is hard to imagine.It shocks him that Lucy would allow it, assuming she did.He can't think of a single instance when someone who works for TLP gave an interview to the media or even indulged in loose talk unless it was part of a highly planned operation.There is only one way to find out, he thinks, reaching for the phone."Hey," he says when Lucy answers."Where are you?""In St.Augustine.On a fuel stop." Her voice is wary."I already know about the fucking bomb.""Not what I'm calling about.I guess you talked to your aunt.""Marino called.I don't have time to chat about it," she says angrily."Something else going on?""Did you know your friend gave an interview about coming on board with us?""None of this is about her being my friend.""We'll argue about that later," Rudy says, acting far calmer than he feels, and he is seething."Just answer me.Did you know?""I know nothing about an article.What article?"Rudy reads it to her over the phone, and after he's finished, he waits to see how she'll react, and he knows she will react and that makes him feel a little better.All along this hasn't been fair.Now, maybe Lucy will be forced to admit it.When Lucy doesn't respond, Rudy asks, "Are you there?""Yes," she answers him abruptly and testily."I didn't know.""Well, now you do.Now we have another whole solar system to take a look at.Like her rich family and whether there's any connection between it and the so-called Waldens and who the hell knows what else.But bottom line, did the psycho see this article, and if so, why and what the hell is that about? Not to mention, her acting name is this abolitionist's name and she's from Virginia.So are you, sort of.Maybe when you got hooked up with her it wasn't exactly coincidental.""That's ridiculous.Now you're really going off," Lucy says hotly."She was on a list of LAPD cops who worked security.""Oh bullshit," Rudy replies, and his anger is showing too."Fuck the list.You interviewed local police and there she was.You knew damn well how inexperienced she was in private protection, but you hired her anyway.""I don't want to talk about this on a cell phone.Not even on our cell phones.""I don't either.Talk to the shrink." That's his code name for Benton Wesley."Why don't you call him, I'm serious.Maybe he'll have some ideas.Tell him I'm e-mailing the article to him.We've got prints.Same psycho who did your pretty little sketch also left the little gift in your mailbox.""Big surprise.Like I said, who wants two of them? I've talked to the shrink," she then says."He'll be monitoring what I do here.""Good thinking.Oh, I almost forgot.I found a hair sticking to the duct tape.The duct tape on the chemical bomb.""Describe it.""About six inches long, curly, dark.Looks like head hair, obviously.More later, call me from a land line.I got a lot of work to do," he says."Maybe your friend knows something, if you can get her to tell the truth for once.""Don't call her my friend," Lucy says."Let's don't fight about this anymore."39* * *After Kay Scarpetta entered the OCME with Marino slowly following her, doing his best to walk normally, Bruce at the security desk sat up straighter and got a look of dread on his face."Uh, I've been given instructions," Bruce says, refusing to meet her eyes."The chief says no visitors.Maybe he doesn't mean you? Is he expecting you?""He isn't," Scarpetta says with ease.Nothing surprises her at this point."He probably does mean me.""Gee, I sure am sorry." Bruce is acutely embarrassed, his cheeks burning pink."How'ya doing, Pete?"Marino leans against the desk, his feet spread, his pants hanging lower than usual.If he got in a foot pursuit, he might lose his pants."Been better," Marino says."So Chief Little Thinks He's Big Man ain't letting us in.That what you're telling us, Bruce?""That guy," Bruce says, catching himself.Like most people, Bruce would like to keep his job.He wears a nice Prussian blue uniform, carries a gun, and works in a beautiful building.Better to hold on to what he's got, even if he can't stand Dr.Marcus."Huh," Marino says, stepping back from the console."Well, hate to disappoint the Chief Little, but we ain't here to see him, anyway.Got evidence to drop off at the labs, at Trace.But I'm curious, what order did you get, exactly? I'm just curious about the wording.""That guy," Bruce says, and he starts to shake his head but catches himself.He likes his job."It's all right," Scarpetta says."I get the message loud and clear.Thanks for letting me know.Glad someone did.""He should have told you." Bruce stops himself again, looking around."Just so you know, everybody's been mighty happy to see you, Dr.Scarpetta.""Almost everybody." She smiles."It's not a problem.Can you let Mr.Eise know we're here? He is expecting us," she adds, emphasizing the word "is.""Yes, ma'am," Bruce says, cheering up a little.He picks up the phone and dials the extension and passes on the message.For a minute or two, Scarpetta and Marino stand before the elevator, waiting for it.One can push the button all day and it won't do any good unless the person has a magic magnetic swipe card or the elevator is sent by someone who does.The doors open and they step aboard, and Scarpetta presses the button for the third floor, her black crime scene bag slung over her shoulder."I guess the son of a bitch canned you," Marino comments, the elevator car lurching slightly as it begins its short ascent."I guess he did.""So? What are you gonna do about it? You can't just let him get away with this.He begs you to come to Richmond and then treats you like shit.I'd get him fired.""He'll get himself fired one of these days.I have better things to do," she replies as the stainless-steel doors open onto Junius Eise, who is waiting for them in a white corridor."Junius, thank you," Scarpetta says, offering her hand."Nice to see you again.""Oh, I'm happy to do it," he says, slightly flustered.He is a strange man with pale eyes.The middle of his upper lip fades into a fine scar that reaches to his nose, a typical poor mending job that she has seen many times before in people who were born with cleft palates.Appearance aside, he is odd, and Scarpetta thought so years ago when she used to encounter him now and then in the labs.She never talked to him much back then, but occasionally she consulted him on certain cases.When she was chief, she was pleasant and made it a practice to show the respect she honestly felt for all of the lab workers, but she was never overly friendly [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

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