“What you need is more bed rest. That bullet rang your bell pretty good. You look like shit.”

“Quit mincing words.”

“Okay, you look like hammered shit on a cold lawn.”

“Let’s get serious,” Nathan said.

“I am serious.”

Nathan shook his head. “Three words. Nichole Dalton’s daughters.”

Harv’s grin vanished. “Right. I’ll call the ME.”

“Just like that? And he’ll see us?”

A trace of a smile returned. “As I recall, we installed a heavily discounted security system in his house last year. I think he’ll take my call.”

***

Dr. David Phelps didn’t like opening his facility after hours, but softened when Harv explained the situation was “life-and-death urgent.” Harv suggested one of Phelps’s other technicians could meet them, but Phelps thought that would be bad form and said he would handle it personally. They agreed to meet at the front entrance of the new facility. Harv told Phelps they’d be in a blue Mercedes sedan.

“I feel bad about dragging Phelps down here at this hour,” Nathan said.

Harv turned left on Overland Avenue from Clairemont Mesa Boulevard  “No, you don’t.”

“You’re right, I don’t. I feel silly wearing this ball cap. It makes me feel like a redneck.”

Harv said nothing.

“Very funny.”

“I didn’t say anything.”

“Let’s get this over with. You know how much I love meeting new people.”

“Relax, just be yourself.”

“That’s what scares me.”

They parked and saw Phelps standing near the entrance.

Harv took the lead. “Hi, Doctor, this is Nathan McBride, my business partner.”

“Mr. McBride.”

“Pleasure,” he said, pumping hands. At least the man didn’t stare at his face. “Please call me Nathan. Sorry to drag you down here in the middle of the night.”

“It’s okay, I know how these things go.”

Harvey asked, “How’s the new security system working out for you?”

“Great. It’s super easy to use. I really like the cell phone link. I can scroll through all the cameras right on my BlackBerry. It’s amazing.”

“Glad to hear it.”

“We promise to make this brief,” Harv said.

“May I ask why you’re viewing the bodies?”

“I was hoping you wouldn’t.”

“I see.”

From Phelps’s tone, Nathan knew he didn’t like being in the dark. “We don’t like being secretive. Sorry.”

“You guys don’t owe me an apology or an explanation. I agreed to this with no strings attached. As far as I’m concerned, your business is your business.”

“Thank you, Doctor. We appreciate it.”

“No problem.”

The main autopsy room looked and smelled similar to Salt Lake City’s, only bigger and more modern. Stainless-steel tables. Sinks. Glass cabinets. Rolling workstations  Desks with computers, and cool air. Nathan again wondered how they did it—worked with dead bodies for a living.