They went to the hospital cafeteria. It was busy, even at off-hours like this, as illness and its treatment didn’t operate on a convenient nine-to-five schedule. Staff, patients, and visitors alike had to grab something to eat when they could. Pia got something substantial while George grabbed a coffee and a cookie.

“So,” George said, “what about revisiting the idea of going to the police and telling them about the clicks we got with the Geiger counter? I just can’t believe it’s a large conspiracy. Even if it was murder with polonium, I’m sure the explanation is going to be something much more banal. Something we haven’t thought of. I don’t know, perhaps he had gambling debts?”

“I couldn’t disagree more. If it was polonium, it would have to be a high-level operation of some kind. Polonium is impossible to get. It would mean there would have to have been intense planning for weeks—months, even. There has to be powerful people involved, there has to be. I essentially lived inside a conspiracy for years. I told you, George, if you saw what I’ve seen, you’d know people are capable of anything.”

George was aware that a couple of other diners, people he didn’t recognize, were looking over at them from other tables. Pia’s makeup couldn’t conceal all her bruises, especially in the harsh fluorescent light of the cafeteria. George leaned in toward her and lowered his voice.

“So what do you intend to do exactly before you give up on this thing?”

“There’s only one more place to check for significant radiation—the bodies at the OCME. If there is none or I can’t get in to check, then I’ll give up my investigation. Is that good enough?”

“How are you going to get in the door at the ME office?” George asked, remembering their conversation the previous evening with the pathology resident.

“I don’t know that yet,” she said, with a touch of irritation. “If I just tell them what I believe, they’ll think I’m crazy. ‘Remember those research guys from Columbia that were brought in here? Well, I think someone put polonium in their coffee....’ I may go with the alpha particle emitter idea I mentioned. I don’t know. I’ll see how the land lies. I’m just going to have to wing it.”

“Maybe you should just go and hang out in your room. Hold off on going to the medical examiner’s for today. You’ve been running around like crazy and you got beat up last night, for Christ’s sake. I can’t go with you this afternoon, but perhaps we can go together in the morning?”