“It’s so nice to be appreciated,” Jack said. “Yes, I’m in the Garden State, smelling the roses.”
“Don’t tell me you went out and visited that Dover hospital you mentioned last night.”
“I did indeed,” Jack confessed. “But you’d be proud of me. I don’t think I’ve made any enemies. In fact, I’ve managed to be so charming I’ve gotten multiple employment offers, so you better be nice to me.”
“Are you joking?”
“I’m not,” Jack said. “I’ve been treated like a hero. And strangely enough, during a rather formal luncheon that I was invited to, I was the one who got really bummed out and not my lunch companion. And even stranger still, I kept myself reasonably under control.”
“Will wonders never cease,” Laurie remarked. “I hope you haven’t been using your medical examiner badge while in another state.”
“Just a little,” Jack admitted. “But I’ve flashed it so quickly there wasn’t any chance of the people noticing it was for New York, not New Jersey.”
“God help us!” Laurie said. “You realize, I hope, that you are taking a big risk. I wouldn’t be at all surprised if showing your badge in another state is breaking the law. Think about it! It means you’re posing as an official authority when you are clearly not. I don’t know how to be more clear about this: Don’t use it!”
“I’ll keep that in mind,” Jack said.
“And I must tell you that your field work isn’t as benign as you seem to feel. I already heard from the mayor, who heard from Charles Kelley, the CEO of Manhattan General Hospital, that you were over there yesterday ruffling feathers.”
“Guilty as charged,” Jack said. “But it was only Kelley’s feathers. And that is understandable. It’s not possible to talk with that man without ruffling his feathers. But everyone else thought I was peaches and cream.”
“All right, all right!” Laurie said, clearly losing patience. “This is my second call, wondering where the hell you are. The reason is that I have gotten two calls from the police commissioner, asking about the status of the police custody case. They want answers. Where are you on that case?”
“I need to get the toxicology report,” Jack said.
“Well, get back here and do that!” Laurie snapped.
“Yes, dear,” Jack said. He disconnected and turned the ringer off on his phone. It irked him to be clearly bossed around, even if it was her job to do so. The trouble was, he knew she was right. With the subway death case holding him in its thrall, he was letting everything else slide.
23
WEDNESDAY, 1:40 P.M.
The Bannon homestead gave a totally different impression than the Stewarts’. Whereas the Stewart house was on the shabby side and in need of paint and attention to its gutters and downspouts, the Bannon dwelling appeared as if it had just undergone a major renovation, including a new roof. As Jack parked directly in front and looked at it, he wondered if the Bannons had recently won the lottery. There was even a new red Ford F-150 in the driveway, which made him optimistic that someone would be home.
Climbing out of the Escalade, Jack started for the house. Its architectural style was also different. It had an attractive gambrel roof with dormers. The Stewarts’ had been the more typical and unimaginative ranch style. After just talking with Laurie and being reminded that using his ME badge in New Jersey was probably illegal, Jack reluctantly decided not to use it. Actually, he didn’t really care. It just meant a bit more talking.
He pressed the doorbell and could hear it ring within. As he waited, he glanced around at the neighborhood. The Bannons’ house was clearly the most well tended. On the house directly across the street, several of the shutters were hanging off precariously.
“Hi! Can I help you?”
Jack found himself facing a full-figured woman in yoga pants and a tank top. Her hair was piled on top of her head. In the background Jack could hear music that reminded him of the distant disco era. A bit of perspiration dotted her forehead. She appeared genuinely friendly, in contrast to the Stewarts.
“Hello,” Jack said. “My name is Dr. Jack Stapleton. I’m a medical examiner from New York.” He then pulled out his badge and held it up so the woman could plainly see it. At the last second, he’d changed his mind about using it, with the idea that by adding the New York part he was avoiding any illegality. He thought he needed the aura of authority, coming out of the blue and bringing up the sensitive issue of the lost son.
“I’m sorry to bother you, but I was hoping to talk with you and your husband for a brief moment about your late son, James.”
“James?” she questioned. Her face clouded over. “Just a moment. Let me turn down the music.”
A moment later the music stopped, and then the lady of the house reappeared. Also, in contrast to the Stewarts, she opened the screen door and motioned for Jack to come inside. With the Stewarts, Jack had been forced to have the entire conversation through the screen door.
“My husband, Clarence, is not here,” she said. “He’s at work at the Dover Valley Hospital. I’m Gertrude Bannon. Can I get you anything to drink? Water or a soda?”
“No, thank you,” Jack said. Again, he was surprised. Somewhat similar to what had happened at the Dover Valley Hospital, he had not expected to be so well received. He’d even thought there was a chance the Bannons would refuse to talk with him at all.
“Would you like to sit?” Gertrude asked. She gestured to the living room.
“I’m not going to be here that long,” Jack said, “but if you would be more comfortable, I don’t mind.”
