Exclusive

“Ordinarily, yes. But in this instance, the attending doctor determined that it wasn’t necessary. He ordered that the procedure be waived, and it was.”

Dr. George Allan, the President’s personal physician, had ordered the coroner not to perform an autopsy. Barrie bore down so hard on her pencil that the lead broke. “Are you certain?”

“I’ve got to go.”

“Just a few more questions?”

“I’m sorry.”

Anna Chen hung up. Barrie stuffed her notes into her satchel, grabbed her raincoat and umbrella, and rushed from the newsroom.

* * *

She hadn’t actually expected Anna Chen to be waiting for her in her office at the hospital. Nevertheless, she was disappointed to find the office locked and dark. Back in her car, she used her cellular phone.

“Do you have a telephone directory?” she asked Daily the moment he answered.

“Good evening to you, too.”

“No time for civilities.”

Responding to her urgency, he asked, “Metro D.C.?”

“Start there. Look up a residence listing for Anna Chen. C-h-e-n.”

“Who’s she?”

“I can’t say.”

“Oh. A source. What’s up?”

“Too long to tell over the phone.”

“Saw you on the news tonight,” he said. Barrie heard pages flipping in the background.

“How’d I look?”

“I’ve seen worse.”

“That bad?… How’re you coming on the Chens?”

“No Anna, but there’s an A. Chen.”

“Give me that one. Phone number and address, please.”

* * *

The hospital clerk lived in a recently remodeled building in Adams Morgan, a funky, ethnically rich neighborhood. The building’s restoration hadn’t included an elevator, so Barrie was short of breath by the time she reached the third-floor apartment. Not wanting to give Anna Chen an opportunity to avoid her, she hadn’t called ahead. She was relieved to hear a TV through the door.

She rang the bell. The TV was muted immediately. She sensed that she was being viewed through the peephole in the door. “Please, Anna, I must speak with you.”

After what seemed a long time, bolts were unlatched, then a chain lock allowed the door to be opened a few inches. Through the crack, Barrie saw only half of Anna Chen’s pretty face.

“What are you doing here? You shouldn’t have come.”

“As long as I did, may I come in?”

“What do you want?”