“Maybe not entirely,” Morelli said, close enough for me to feel his breath on the back of my neck. “I thought you might want a medical update on Maxine Nowicki's mother.”
I put the subs on plates and divided up the tub of coleslaw. “Is it going to ruin my appetite?”
Morelli moved off to the fridge in search of beer. “She was scalped. Like in the old cowboy and Indian movies. Only in this case, not enough was removed to kill her.”
“That's sick! Who would do such a thing?”
“Good question. Nowicki isn't saying.”
I took the plates to the table. “What about prints on the knife?”
“None.”
“Not even Mrs. Nowicki's?”
“Correct. Not even Mrs. Nowicki's.”
I ate my sub and thought about this latest turn of events. Scalped. Yuk.
“You're looking for her daughter,” Morelli said. Statement, not question.
“Yep.”
“Think there could be a tie-?in?”
“Two days ago I interviewed one of Maxine's friends from the diner. She had a big bandage on her hand. Said she'd whacked her finger off in a kitchen accident.”
“What's this friend's name?”
“Margie something. Lives on Barnet. Works the dinner shift at the Silver Dollar.”
“Any other mutilations I should know about?”
I tried some of the coleslaw. “Nope. That's it. It's been a slow week.”
Morelli watched me. “You're holding something back.”
“What makes you say that?”
“I can tell.”
“You can tell nothing.”
“You're still mad at me for not calling.”
“I am not mad!” I slammed my fist down on the table, making my beer bottle jump in place.
“I meant to call,” Morelli said.
I stood and gathered the empty plates and the silverware. CRASH, clang, clang! “You are a dysfunctional human being.”
“Oh yeah? Well, you're fucking frightening.”
“Are you saying you're afraid of me?”
“Any man in his right mind would be afraid of you. You know that scarlet letter thing? You should have a tattoo on your forehead that says 'Dangerous Woman. Stand Back!' ”
I stormed into the kitchen and slapped the dishes onto the countertop. “I happen to be a very nice person.” I turned on him and narrowed my eyes. “What's so dangerous about me?”