Part 5 (1/2)
”I didn't know he was here at all.”
Kronski said, ”Huh?”
Pell said, ”Maybe we better back up and start all over again.”
”Wilc.o.x, the Resident Surgeon Doc Wilc.o.x,” said Kronski, not too patiently. ”He was in my room a little while ago. Said he'd drop by on his way out and see if you were in.”
Pell glanced at Ciel. She was busy lighting a cigarette at the other end of the room. Or pretending to be busy. Pell said, ”I just got here. Just this minute. I didn't see any Wilc.o.x. What'd he want?”
”I don't know exactly. He was kind of vague about it. Wanted to know if he could answer any more questions for us, or anything like that.”
”Sounds screwy.”
”Yeah. It sure does, now that I think it over.”
”Let me call you back,” said Pell and hung up. He turned to Ciel. ”Was Doc Wilc.o.x here?”
”Why, yes. He stopped in.” Nothing but blank innocence on her face.
”Why didn't you tell me?”
”Hm?” She raised her eyebrows. ”He just stopped in to see if you were here, that was all. I told him you weren't and he went out again.”
”But you didn't mention it.”
”Well, why should I?”
”I don't know. I'd think you'd say something about it.”
”Now, listen, d.i.c.k--I'm not some suspect you're grilling. What's the matter with you, anyway?”
”It just strikes me as funny that Wilc.o.x should drop in here and you shouldn't say one word about it, that's all.”
”Well, I like that.” She folded her arms. ”You're getting to be so much of a cop you're starting to be suspicious of your own wife.”
”Now, you know it's not that at all.”
”What else is it? d.i.c.k, I'm sick of it. I'm sick of this whole stupid business you're in. The first time we get a few minutes alone together you start giving me the third degree. I won't stand for it, that's all!”
”Now, baby,” he said and took a step toward her.
The deeper tone of the viewer sounded.
”Agh, for Pete's sake,” he said disgustedly and answered the call. The image of Chief Larkin's boyishly handsome face came into focus on the screen. Pell lifted a surprised eyebrow and said, ”Oh, h.e.l.lo, Chief.”
Larkin's eye was cold. Especially cold in the setting of that boyish face. ”What in h.e.l.l,” he asked, ”are you and Kronski doing on the moon?”