Watching Pia’s expression, Chet suddenly was afraid that after hearing the news she might get up and leave. She was clearly disappointed. In his mind, her leaving at that point would be a major tragedy because so far he’d not gotten either cell phone number or an e-mail address from her.

“The guy who did both autopsies is just down the hall,” Chet reminded Pia. “And he’s a friend. So if you have a specific question about what he found, I’m happy to go ask him.”

Pia was disappointed. It had never occurred to her that Rothman’s and Yamamoto’s bodies would have already been sent to funeral homes. She thought briefly about trying to find out the names of the funeral homes, but she didn’t know how she would do that without raising a lot of suspicion. As for talking to the ME down the hall, what would possibly be the point?

Chapter 49.

49.

COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER
NEW YORK CITY
MARCH 25, 2011, 5:25 P.M.

Earlier, while Prek and Genti had sat in the van, Neri Krasnigi, the recruit foisted on them by Buda for God knows what reason, had been continually walking along 168th Street and the small portion of Haven Avenue from the medical school entrance back to the van. He’d been ordered to have his cell phone in the radio mode to act like a walkie-talkie to stay in contact. Neri was dressed in one of the security guard uniforms, which now looked pretty wet from the rain. Prek knew he was taking a chance that Neri might bump into one of the real security guards, but he had been willing to risk it. Prek wanted as much notice as possible when either Pia or George appeared, heading in their direction on their way to the dorm. Nevertheless Neri had been ordered back inside the vehicle.

Prek was as content as he could be given the situation. He was certainly keyed up as he always was before a hit, especially with a couple of Red Bulls under his belt. He had another beside him just in case he needed it. The radio in the van was playing heavy metal with the volume turned low. As he sat and waited, Prek methodically rubbed the scar on his upper lip. It was a habit that he wasn’t even aware of. It was now almost five-thirty.