"A guinea gangster," Matt said.
"A what?"
"An Italian-American with alleged ties to organized crime," Matt said dryly.
"Why are you asking me about him?"
"Well, he was up there too," Matt said. "On the roof of the garage. Somebody blew the top of his head off with a shotgun."
"My God!"
"No great loss to society," Matt said. "He wasn't even a good gangster. Just a cheap thug with ambition. A small-time drug dealer, from what I hear."
"I think that's about enough of a visit, Matt," Dr. Dotson said. " Penny needs rest. And her parents are on their way."
Matt touched her arm.
"I'll bring you a piece of the wedding cake," he said. "Try to behave yourself."
"I don't have any choice, do I?" she said.
In the corridor outside, Dr. Dotson laid a hand on Matt's arm.
"I can't imagine why you told her about that gangster," he said.
"I thought she'd be interested," Matt said.
"Thank you very much, Dr. Dotson," Jason Washington said. "I very much appreciate your cooperation."
****
"She's lying," Matt said when Washington got in the passenger seat beside him.
"She is? About what?"
"About knowing DeZego."
"Really? What makes you think so?"
"Jesus, didn't you see her eyes when I called him a 'guinea gangster'?"
"You're a regular little Sherlock Holmes, aren't you?" Washington asked.
Matt looked at him, the hurt showing in his eyes.
"If I did that wrong in there, I'm sorry," he said. "If you didn't think I could handle it, you should have told me what to ask and how to ask it. I did the best I could."
"As a matter of fact, hotshot," Washington said, "I couldn't have done it any better myself. I would have phrased the questions a little differently, probably, because I don't know the lady as well as you do, but that wasn't at all bad. One of the most difficult calls to make in an interview like that, with a subject like that, is when to let them know you know they're lying. That wasn't the time."
"I didn't think so, either," Matt said, and then smiled, almost shyly, at Washington.
"Let's go to the parking garage," Washington said.
****
As they drove around City Hall, Matt said, "I'd like to know for sure if she's taking dope. Do you suppose they took blood when she got to the hospital? That could be tested?"
"I'm sure they did," Washington said. "But as a matter of law, not to mention ethics, the hospital could not make the results of that test known to the police. It would be considered, in essence, an illegal search or seizure, as well as a violation of the patient's privacy. Her rights against compulsory incrimination would also be involved."