“Maybe?” Marlene questioned, with a smile. “What is it exactly you want to talk to the medical examiner about?”

Pia hesitated.

“Actually, I’d like to discuss a specific case. Two cases, to be more precise.”

“Are they relatives of yours?”

“No.”

“Perhaps it’s best if you talk to the department of public relations if it’s information about a specific case you want, seeing as you’re not a relative.”

Pia saw she was losing ground. The last thing she wanted was to be shunted off to the public relations department, where she surely wouldn’t get access to Rothman’s corpse. Fearing she might be turned away, Pia studied the receptionist’s face, trying to think of an approach. Marlene seemed to be a congenial person and for a brief moment Pia toyed with the idea of telling at least a partial truth. Quickly she decided against it. Any way she explained the reason she was there that approached the truth would sound too bizarre.

“Actually, I also want to talk about the teaching opportunities here. The two cases I mentioned are teaching cases that I’ve heard about. I’ve come all the way down from Columbia.” Pia smiled to try to cover up any potential inconsistencies. “I’ve become interested in forensics. Very interested.”

Marlene was confused—what did this girl really want? She was also impressed that she had come all the way from Columbia Medical Center way up in Washington Heights. That took some effort, especially late on a Friday afternoon. Marlene didn’t have the heart to send her away without talking to someone. Besides, she was a pretty thing, and Marlene knew exactly who would be more than happy to speak with her.

“Okay then. I’ll call Dr. McGovern.”

“Is he a medical examiner?”

“He’s a medical examiner and he also happens to be the coordinator for teaching at OCME.”

“Thank you.” Pia was delighted.

Marlene put in a call to Chet McGovern and motioned for Pia to take a seat. Pia stepped away from the receptionist’s desk. She didn’t sit down as there were no chairs available. It was close to five o’clock, so she had to make a quick impression on this McGovern guy. A moment later the glass doors opened and a heavyset woman in a lab coat appeared, holding a clipboard. She introduced herself to the grieving family as Rebecca Marshall, an ID coordinator, and asked them to follow her. Dutifully the entire clan disappeared through a door marked ID ROOM.