Milo’s approach to Lara Rieffen was subtle, faking good cheer as she exited her county car in the crypt lot. She went along with the chitchat, synched with his loose, slow gait, but I was reading her eyes, bet she had a different rhythm in mind.

Milo probably figured it out, but he kept up the performance as the three of us entered the northern half of the coroner’s complex. Where the wet-work gets done.

Once inside, he used the barest touch of thumb on arm to direct Rieffen toward the empty room Dave McClellan had provided. The trajectory took her toward her cubicle, no reason for her to resist or suspect but her mouth tightened and she pushed ahead of Milo. He caught up and when they reached the open door, took hold of her elbow and stopped the parade.

“I could use a few minutes of your time, Lara.”

Stiff smile. “For what, Lieutenant?”

“Go over the Borodi scene a bit. I need to nail down a few details before I finish my report.”

“You’ve closed the case?”

“I wish, just the opposite. It’s actually looking real bad for a close, but I’ve got a new assignment from the brass, need to move on.”

Blue eyes blinked. “Oh. That must be frustrating.”

“Part of the job. So just a few secs, okay?” Propelling her inside before she could answer.

Two chairs facing one, a table to the side where Milo’s jacket was bunched up. Kathy Vanderveldt aka Lara Rieffen sat where she was supposed to.

No one-way for observation, no space or practical way to work Gayle Lindstrom in and Milo had informed the S.A.

Appetizer goes down smooth, you can share the entrée, Gayle.

I sat down next to Milo. Lara Rieffen watched me. More concerned with my presence than Milo’s.

He said, “Doc’s along for the ride.” Snapping his attaché case open, he spent some time behind the lid, fumbling, like an inept magician scrounging for a prop.

Lara Rieffen wanted to look bored, but her body wouldn’t go along. She tried to will herself loose, ended up with something contrived and edgy, what a yoga novice might achieve the first few times on the mat.

Milo kept shuffling papers. Rieffen checked her watch. I said, “Busy day?”

“Always. Before I took the job, I had no idea.”

“Where’d you work before here?”

“Labs,” she said. “Nothing forensic, medical settings.”

“Always been into science, huh?”

“Always.”

Milo said, “Sorry, it’s a mess in here, bear with me.” He clicked his tongue. Lara Rieffen started to relax—the real deal. Put at ease by his incompetence.

“Take your time, Lieutenant. I want to be part of the solution, not the problem.”

“Thanks, Lara. I wish everyone felt that way.