KATHY REICHS - 206 BONES

“The old el tracks run along Lake Street on the north, Wabash Avenue on the east, Van Buren Street on the south, and Wells Street on the west. Inside that loop is the city’s original central business district. But I think the nickname might predate the el. I think it actually came from a streetcar loop that existed in the late 1880s.”

“You’re making this stuff up.”

“You want a professional, take a Gray Line.”

“Do you know where you’re going?”

“Yes.”

To our left, a Blue Line el clicked along ground-level tracks in the center of the Eisenhower Expressway. Around it, lanes of cars lurched and braked in truculent rivers attempting to flow east and west.

“That place looks a bit past its shelf life.” Ryan indicated a Beaux Arts structure stretching for two blocks to our right.

“Cook County Hospital. I think it’s now called Stroger. And I think there’s a plan to tear it down. A lot of folks are opposed.”

“Doesn’t look that old on ER ,” Ryan said.

“Really. Too much TV.”

“I turn it on for Charlie.”

“Our cockatiel likes dramas?”

“Actually, he prefers sitcoms. Digs the laugh tracks.”

Charlie was a Christmas surprise from Ryan. Part of the gift was that he kept the bird while I was away from Montreal. At first, I was skeptical. But the arrangement works and, despite his bawdy beak, the little avian has grown on me.

Ironic. Ryan dumped me, but my feathered pal stayed true.

“That part looks pretty good.”

I glanced to my right. “We’re beyond County now. That’s Rush Presbyterian.”

We were passing beneath a pedestrian bridge connecting the el to the Rush medical complex when el turisto struck again.

“Does that building get bigger from bottom to top?”

Without looking, I knew what Ryan was eyeing. “That’s UIC. University of Illinois-Chicago. Used to be called Circle Campus.”

“So what’s the funky building?”

“University Hall. Houses faculty and administrative offices. Tapers out twice, so the top is some twenty feet wider than the bottom.”

Ryan was craning forward to peer up through a wiper-cleared fan on the windshield.

“Brutalism,” I said. “Ditto for the campus.”

“That’s harsh.”

“The term was coined by an architect calling himself Le Corbusier-I forget his real name. Comes from the French béton brut , or ‘raw concrete.’ You should have picked up on that.”

Ryan’s face swiveled toward me. “What the hell kind of name is Brutalism? Why not call it Appallingism? Or Atrociousism? Or-”

“Complain to Le Corbusier.”

“Obviously the guy was not into marketing.”

“His invention, his choice.”

“Describe the style.”

I couldn’t tell if Ryan was genuinely interested, just bored, or testing me. Whatever. I pulled from an article I’d read about a zillion years earlier.

“Brutalism involves the use of repetitive angular geometries and gobs of unadorned poured concrete. It was big from the fifties into the seventies, then lost favor.”

“Gee. Why would that be?”

Ryan relaxed into his seat back. “Not bad, Brennan.”

“How do you know I didn’t make all that up?”

“Where are we going?”

“Greektown.”

“Why?”

“Lamb and valet parking.”

“Unbeatable combo.”

I made a left onto Halsted, crossed over the highway, and, minutes later, pulled to the curb at Adams. When I got out of the car, wind whipped my scarf and drove sleet into my face. The ice felt like match heads burning my cheeks.

Accepting a valet ticket from a man in a parka and orange Bears hat pulled low to his brows, I slip-skidded to the restaurant. Ryan followed.

The Santorini’s interior was exactly as promised by its name. Wooden tables with lattice-back chairs and crisp linen cloths, whitewashed walls, stone fireplace, copious fisherman paraphernalia.

Ryan and I hung our coats on a rack. Then a waiter with a Sonny Bono mustache and blue plaid shirt led us to an upper-terrace table. Only a few of the lunch crowd lingered, most wearing suits and retsina glows.

A second waiter brought menus. Same mustache, different shirt. I ordered a Diet Coke. Ryan asked for a Sam Adams.

“People rave about the seafood, but I like the lamb.” Ignoring the menu, I brushed moisture from my hair.

“Not even a glance?”

“I know what I want.”

Ryan studied the selections. “The Lamb youvetsi?”

I shook my head.

“Kampana?”

“Nope.”

“You’re being childish.”

“Lamb artichokes.”

“Not today, cupcake.”

I checked. Damn. Ryan was right. Lamb artichokes were offered only on Tuesdays and Sundays.

“No problem.” I leaned back, arms crossed on my chest. “Buttercup.”

First the weather. I hate cold. Wet cold? Don’t ask. Then meeting Schechter and learning of an anonymous enemy. Now no lamb artichokes. Or maybe it was proximity to Ryan. Or his use of the old endearment. My mood was heading into free fall.

Beside us, two men argued the pros and cons of hockey players whose names meant nothing to me. Outside, a siren grew loud, dimmed, faded. Glassware clanked somewhere off to my left.

When the waiter returned I ordered the exohiko lamb. Ryan requested the seafood combo and a second Sam Adams.

A very long time passed without conversation.

Ryan’s mug was half empty when he finally said, “What are you thinking?”

“Don’t men hate being asked that question?”

“Not me.” Ryan beamed a little-boy smile.

I couldn’t help but grin back. We’d been a team for so long, Ryan detecting, me working the vics. Though the breakup was difficult, I wanted this to continue. We’d been strictly colleagues once, could be again.

“I’m thinking we should eat and get you to the airport. With this weather, the trip to O’Hare could be a bitch.”

“Very practical.” Ryan nodded solemnly.

Minutes ticked by. Beside us, the men disagreed on the abilities of the Blackhawks’ coach.

Our food arrived. Mine turned out to be chunks of lamb and cheese baked inside phyllo.

As I ate, unbidden memories elbowed for attention.

The beginning. My arrival at the Montreal lab, armed with a rule against office romance. Ryan’s disregard for that rule. My eventual surrender.

The middle. Candlelight dinners in Vieux-Montréal. Walks on the mountain. Sofa suppers watching classic films on TV. Trips to the Laurentians. The Carolinas. Israel. Guatemala.

The end. Ryan’s revelation of a newly discovered offspring, angry, addicted to heroin. Daddy’s plan to reconnect with Mommy in an effort to save Daughter.

Our last meal, Ryan’s words ripping a hole in my heart. I was out. Lily and Lutetia were in. Adieu . Sorry. Have a good life.

Then, months later, an admission of error, an apology, an invitation to reunite. Lily was in rehab, and he and Lutetia were living apart. Ryan wanted me. Wanted us.

Whoa, big fella! Do-overs ain’t so simple.

Two months had passed since that conversation. I’d neither vetoed nor embraced détente with Ryan. Once burned, twice shy.

Trite, yes. But there’s a reason some phrases grow into clichés.

“-ovabitch. They’ve shut down O’Hare.” The words intruded on my reverie.

I glanced toward the next table. One of the sports critics was reading his BlackBerry.

“Did you just say the airport is closed?” I asked.

“Can you believe it?”

“Why?”

“A bomb threat, or a security breach, or some freakin’ thing.”

Ryan’s mobile made an odd croaking noise.

“Text message. My flight’s been canceled.” He was already punching keys.