“What did you see him for?”

“An upper respiratory infection,” Dr. Levitz said. “I prescribed some antibiotic. Apparently, it worked.”

“Did you examine him?”

“Of course!” Dr. Levitz said with indignation. “I always examine my patients.”

“Had he had a liver transplant?”

“Well, I didn’t do a complete physical,” Dr. Levitz explained. “I examined him appropriately in reference to his complaint and his symptoms.”

“You didn’t even feel his liver, knowing his history?” Jack asked.

“I didn’t write it down if I did,” Dr. Levitz said.

“Did you do any blood work that would reflect liver function?” Jack asked.

“Only a bilirubin,” Dr. Levitz said.

“Why only a bilirubin?”

“He’d been jaundiced in the past,” Dr. Levitz said. “He looked better, but I wanted to document it.”

“What was the result?” Jack asked.

“It was within normal limits,” Dr. Levitz said.

“So, except for his upper respiratory infection, he was doing quite well,” Jack said.

“Yes, I suppose you could say that,” Dr. Levitz said.

“Almost like a miracle,” Jack said. “Especially as you’ve already mentioned the man was unwilling to curb his alcohol intake.”

“Perhaps he finally had stopped,” Dr. Levitz said. “After all, people can change.”

“Would you mind if I looked at his record?” Jack asked.

“Yes, I would mind,” Dr. Levitz said. “I’ve already stated my ethical position about confidentiality. If you want these records, you will have to subpoena them. I’m sorry. I don’t mean to be obstructive.”

“That’s quite all right,” Jack said agreeably. He stood up. “I’ll let the state’s attorney’s office know how you feel. Meanwhile, thanks for your time, and if you don’t mind, I’ll probably be talking with you in the near future. There’s something very strange about this case, and I intend to get to the bottom of it.”

Jack smiled to himself, as he undid the locks on his bike. It was so obvious that Dr. Levitz knew more than he was willing to say. How much more, Jack didn’t know, but certainly it added to the intrigue. Jack had an intuitive sense that not only was this the most interesting case he’d had so far in his forensics career, it might be the most interesting case he’d ever have.

Returning to the morgue, he stashed his bike in the usual location, went up to his office to drop off his coat, then went directly to the DNA lab. But Ted wasn’t ready for him.

“I need a couple more hours,” Ted said. “And I’ll call you! You don’t have to come up here.”

Disappointed but undeterred, Jack descended a floor to histology and checked on the progress of his permanent microscopic sections on what was now labeled the Franconi case.

“My god!” Maureen complained. “What do you expect, miracles? I’m rushing your slides through ahead of everybody else, but still you’ll be lucky to get them today.”

Still trying to keep his spirits up and his curiosity at bay, Jack rode the elevator down to the second floor and sought out John DeVries in the lab.