Thomas O`Callaghan - Bone Thief

“Over to St. Vincent’s to speak with a Doctor Stephen Astin, Clarissa’s lead physician. Any word from Moira?”

“None yet. Listen, keep me in the loop if anything else looks even remotely related to our bone thief.”

“You got it.”

Margaret parked the Plymouth on West Eleventh Street and sauntered toward the stately hospital’s visitor’s entrance. She flashed her shield at the uniformed security officer, who directed her to a bank of elevators that would carry her to the third floor. Inside the elevator, Margaret checked her watch. She’d be right on time for her meeting with Doctor Astin. At the third floor, the elevator doors opened. Margaret stepped off and headed down the corridor in search of room 335, the doctor’s office. Finding it, she stepped inside. A nattily dressed gentleman who spoke in a soft, effeminate voice was conversing with a strikingly handsome man clad in a dark blue suit that would have rivaled any one of Lieutenant Driscoll’s. Hickey Freeman or Hart Schaffner amp; Marx came to mind. Margaret read the handsome man’s nameplate: COLM F. PIERCE, M.D., CHIEF OF RADIOLOGY. The softspoken gent told Doctor Pierce he would relay his message to Doctor Astin word for word, then turned his attention to Margaret.

“You must be Sergeant Aligante,” he said.

“Yes. I have an appointment with Doctor Astin.”

“I know. I’m Bartholomew Wiggins, Doctor Astin’s assistant. He told me to expect you. And you’re right on time,” he noted, checking his watch. “The good doctor offers his apologies, though. He was called into surgery not ten minutes ago.”

“Oh, I see.”

“You may wait for him here if you’d like, or, if you wish, you can visit Chez Francois. That’s our cafeteria.”

“I could use a bite to eat.”

“It’s well worth the trip,” said Doctor Pierce. “The place is on a par with Four Seasons,” he added, dead-pan. “Their tuna melt has just become the eighth cardinal sin. Would you like company?” he added, mindful of his promise to his badgering parents concerning the police; instead of them being all over him, he’d find a way to be all over them. He’d begin by turning on the charm.

Margaret hesitated, casting a curious stare at Pierce, who returned the stare with a smile.

“Why not?” she said daringly. “Lead the way.”

“I recommend the meat loaf du jour,” the counterman said to Margaret.

“Howard, this lady deserves your tuna melt,” said Pierce. “It’s actually my recipe. I like to give Howard the credit,” he whispered to Margaret as he selected an apple from a display of fresh fruit.

“Let me guess. You moonlight as the hospital’s nutritionist,” said Margaret.

“No. The position was filled. I had to settle for radiology.”

“Maybe you should put your name on the list. You never know when there might be an opening.”

The suggestion brought a smile to Pierce’s lips. But he soon got back to business. “So you’re the police officer making inquiry into the death of the Parsons girl?”

“In fact, I am,” she said, helping herself to a cup of coffee. “How did you know that?”

“Hospitals are like small towns, where news travels at lightning speed. Put it on my account, Howard,” he said, gesturing to the attendant.

“Does the radiology department buy lunch for all the visitors?”

“My horoscope suggested I make a new friend.”

“Let me guess, Sagittarius?” Margaret ventured.

“Perish the thought! I’m the model Aquarian.”

Pierce escorted Margaret to a corner table, where a window overlooked the city’s skyline.

“I’ve never met a radiologist before. Tell me, are you all such food connoisseurs?” asked Margaret.

“No. Just me,” he said.

Margaret bit into her sandwich, amused. It was an generous fusion of tuna, mayonnaise, and Jarlsberg cheese.

“Well?” Pierce asked.

“For a hospital cafeteria, not bad. I’ll give it a six.”

“We haven’t discussed dessert. At La Patisserie. Over on Twenty-third?”

“Tell me, do you hit on all the visitors?”

“Can’t fault a guy for following his horoscope. Libra? Right? Let’s see if the stars will make an exception for you today.” He walked over to a newspaper rack, returned with a New York Post, and turned to the horoscope page. He read aloud, “Throw caution to the wind. You deserve a break. There’s always time to get back to your responsible life. Indulge yourself and enjoy invitations that might arise.”

“Does it really say that?”

“You disbeliever.” He handed her the paper.

There it was, in black and white, but how did he guess my sign? she wondered.

“But I am sympathetic, for as a true Catholic, and I assume you are, what with a saint’s name and all, this must be heresy,” he said.

“I’ll burn in hell for sure, and all my bones will be scattered.”

“Oh, what a loss.”

Godsend may be safe. But, was he? Just how tenacious was this computer-savvy intruder? There was much to do to cover his tracks.

Catherine,

You have located me in the infernal web. Hail to you, the champion! You have ferreted me out of my dingy warren. I am now out in the light. And for you and you alone, will make myself visible. You among mortals will be privy to the face that has done the dastardly deeds. Before the Centurions in Blue handcuff my spirit and parade me in chains along my Via Dolorosa to some downtown precinct and then to some court of law, where I will be crucified for all my victims’ parents to see, I will manifest myself to you, and you alone, my dear one. I will appear at exactly 10:00 A.M. tomorrow at Toys R Us near the Kings Plaza Shopping Mall in Brooklyn. I will be in aisle three, Magicians’ Supplies. I’ll be holding a wand in my hand. I will appear to you, the Victor, only for an instant, but long enough. I trust you are a lady of character, ruled by an exacting code of chivalry. I expect you to be honorable in your dedication and not alert the civil authorities as to our secret rendezvous. If you fulfill this first obligation, in due time I will surrender myself to you, and the city will lionize you for your great deed. You will make history as the insightful beauty who tamed the savage beast.

Godsend

The phone rang on Driscoll’s desk and the Lieutenant picked it up. It was Moira.

“Where on earth have you been? I’ve been scouring the city for you.”

“Been doing my job. You’re gonna love the progress I’ve made on the case. Check your computer, Lieutenant. You’ve got mail.”

Driscoll positioned himself in front of his monitor and hit the e-mail icon. “Catherine’s” latest communication from Godsend filled the screen. A surge of adrenaline flooded through Driscoll’s body as he read the killer’s latest message.

“Where are you?”

“Home. Don’t you wanna hear my plan on how I’m gonna capture the bad guy?”

“Moira, if you think for one minute-”

“What? You think I should just ignore his offer?”

“On the contrary, I think his instructions are to be followed exactly. But it won’t be you following them.”

Driscoll’s voice filled the room. “Listen up, everybody. This may be our one good shot at this guy, and I don’t want any screwups.” He moved toward the easel that had been placed in the middle of the Command Center.

“This is a plan of the Toys R Us parking lot. There are two ways in and out. I want each entrance covered by two cars. I’ll be in the TARU van with Danny O’Brien. Sergeant Aligante, and Detectives Butler and Vittaggio will be inside the store. Danny’s hooked up a pole camera so that he and I can see everyone who goes in or out. I’ll be in radio contact with the three officers inside the store and will give them a heads-up when anybody goes in we think looks good. I borrowed encrypted radios from Technical Services so that if this guy’s got a scanner, he can’t pick us up. We take him outside the store. Is that clear? I want everybody in this room to understand that. The last thing we need is to have some civilian or Toys R Us employee get hurt. Also, I decided against letting the Toys R Us people know what we’re doing. They might inadvertently give it away and spook the guy. We take him as he goes through the exit doors. Coming out. You got that, coming out! Sergeant Aligante, Liz, and Luigi will approach from the rear, and Danny will be up front with me. Cars two and three will pull up in front of the store, and cars four and five will block the exits from the parking lot. Once he’s taken down, I’ll ride back to the house with him along with Sergeant Aligante and Liz. Everybody else will meet back here. OK? Any questions? Good. We’ve all done this a hundred times before. Everybody knows what’s expected of them. Cedric will hold down the office. See Sergeant Aligante for your assignments. Liz, Luigi, over here.”