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“Hell no”

“Okay, then”

I got my jacket and headed out

CHAPTER 13

DR CLAIRE WASHBURN is the city’s chief medical examiner and my closest friend I needed to see her, too

The most direct path from Homicide to the ME’s office is out the lobby’s rear entrance and a hundred yards down the breezeway toward Harriet Street I was on total autopilot until I opened the double doors to the ME’s office

I didn’t recognize the guy behind the reception desk This wasn’t so unusual On account of overexposure to death and no opportunity for advancement, Claire’s receptionists tended to turn over every couple of months of their own accord

The new receptionist wasa jacket and tie He had folded a sheet of paper into a nameplate and written GREGORY MARK PETERS

I badged Gregory, introduced myself, and said, “Dr Washburn asked to see me”

There were about eight cops and asto see Claire

Gregory said, “She’s awfully busy right now, Sergeant Why don’t you take a seat”

I gave hih stone

“Hit the buzzer,” I said

He did it I strong-arlass door, marched past Claire’s office, and went directly into the autopsy suite

I found Claire gloved up, gowned,over a body on the autopsy table She dropped her scalpel into a bowl, stripped off her gloves, and said to her assistant, “Bunny, I’ a five-minute break”