“You know all about my handguns. I. have a Ruger and a Smith and Wesson. And if you pass that along to Major Cunningham, I’m sure I’ll hear about it on the radio within the hour.”

“Doc, he wants them submitted to the firearms lab.”

For an instant, I thought Marino was joking..

“He thinks you should be willing to submit them for examination,” he added. “He thinks it’s a good idea to show right away that the bullets recovered from Susan, the Heath kid, and Donahue couldn’t have been fired from your guns.”

“Did you tell the major that the revolvers I have are thirty-eights?” I asked, incensed.

“Yes.”

“And he knows that twenty-two slugs were recovered from the bodies?”

“Yeah. I went round and round with him about it.

“Well, ask him for me if he knows of an adapter that would make it possible to use twenty-two rim fire cartridges in a thirty-eight revolver. If he does, tell him he ought to present a paper on it at the next American Academy of Forensic Sciences meeting.”

“I really don’t think you want me to tell him that.”

‘This is nothing but politics, publicity ploys. It’s not even rational.”

Marino did not comment.

“Look,” I said evenly, “I have broken no laws. I am not submitting my financial records, firearms, or anything else to anyone until I have been appropriately advised. I understand that you must do your job, and I want you to do your job. What I want is to be left alone so I can do mine. I have three cases downstairs and Fielding’s off to court.”

But I was not to be left alone, and this was made clear when Marino and I concluded our conversation and Rose appeared in my office. Her face was pale, her eyes frightened.

“The governor wants to see you,” she said.

“When?” I asked as my heart slapped.

“At nine.’

It was already eight-forty.

“Rose, what does he want?”

“The person who called didn’t say.”

Fetching my coat and umbrella, I walked out into a winter rain that was just beginning to freeze. As I hurried along 14th Street, I tried to recall the last tine I had spoken to Governor Joe Norring and decided it was almost a year ago at a blacktie reception at the Virginia Museum. He was Republican, Episcopalian; and held a law degree from UVA. I was Italian, Catholic, born in: Miami, and schooled in the North. In my heart I was a Democrat.