page80 (1/2)

I sood”

I looked around at the other patients in Dr Hoover’s ward and saw people with obvious challenges and others who looked as normal as anyone in any crowd So “The Star-Spangled Banner” while lying in the intersection of two corridors Another group watched Dr Phil on TV

There was noise all around, but my internal alarms were quiet What I no about Saint Vartan’s and this psych center led me to conclude that we had both too many suspects and none whatsoever

Conklin and I made our way out of the labyrinthine Hyde Street Psychiatric Center Out on the street I said to my partner, “I hate square one”

“Let’s grab lunch,” Conklin said “I think better when I’”

“Copy that”

CHAPTER 79

NEDDIE WATCHED THE two cops talking to Doreen Collins and heard her crying, “I’ for insulin”

Neddie was paralyzed by panic Cops were here Right here

He didn’t get it at all

What had brought the Doreen?

The vial of sux he’d stupidly dropped That was coded They’d traced it to the hospital And the rest of it ca flash

He’d been seen, either when he stuck the woman outside the Admiral Dewey—or otten careless Someone had seen him and described him to the cops

This was bad

He’d known Doreen casually for four years, but now he saw that they reseeneral way Both of them were short and blondish