“Do me a favor,” Laurie said. “Ask him to call CNN and get a copy of the video of Carlo Franconi’s assassination. I’d like to have it as soon as possible.”

“Will do,” Janice said cheerfully.

Laurie and Lou continued on their way.

“Hey, slow down, you two,” Jack said. He had to run a couple of steps to catch up to them.

“We’ve got work to do,” Laurie said without breaking stride.

“I’ve never seen you so eager to do an autopsy,” Jack said. He and Lou flanked her as she hurried to the autopsy room. “What’s the attraction?”

“A lot of things,” Laurie said. She reached the elevator and pressed the button.

“Give me an example,” Jack said. “I don’t mean to rain on your parade, but this is a politically sensitive case. No matter what you do or say, you’ll be irritating someone. I think Calvin was right. This one ought to be done by the chief.”

“You’re entitled to your opinion,” Laurie said. She hit the button again. The back elevator was inordinately slow. “But I feel differently. With the work I’ve been doing on the forensics of gunshot wounds, I’m fascinated to have a case where there is a video of the event to corroborate my reconstruction of what happened. I was planning on writing a paper on gunshot wounds, and this could be the crowning case.”

“Oh, dear,” Jack moaned, raising his eyes heavenward. “And her motivations were so noble.” Then looking back at Laurie he said: “I think you should reconsider! My intuition tells me you’re only going to get yourself into a bureaucratic headache. And there’s still time to avoid it. All you have to do is turn around and go back and tell Calvin you’ve changed your mind. I’m warning you, you’re taking a risk.”

Laurie laughed. “You are the last person to advise me about risk.” She reached out and touched Jack on the end of his nose with her index finger. “Everyone who knows you, me included, pleaded with you not to get that new bike. You’re risking your life, not a headache.”

The elevator arrived, and Laurie and Lou boarded. Jack hesitated but then squeezed through the doors just before they closed.

“You are not going to talk me out of this,” Laurie said. “So save your breath.”

“Okay,” Jack said, raising his hands in mock surrender. “I promise: no more advice. Now, I’m just interested in watching this story unfold. It’s a paper day for me today, so if you don’t mind, I’ll watch.”

“You can do more than that if you want,” Laurie said. “You can help.”

“I’m sensitive about horning in on Lou.” His double entendre was intended.

Lou laughed, Laurie blushed, but the comment went unacknowledged.

“You implied there were other reasons for your interest in this case,” Jack said. “If you don’t mind my asking, what are they?”

Laurie cast a quick glance at Lou that Jack saw but couldn’t interpret.

“Hmmm,” Jack said. “I’m getting the feeling there’s something going on here that isn’t any of my business.”