“Come on in!” Calvin said when he saw Laurie at his door. “Whatever is on your mind, make it fast. I’m due down at City Hall.” Calvin was an enormous African-American who could have played in the NFL had he not been quite so interested in studying medicine when he graduated from college. With his ability to intimidate combined with a stormy temperament and streak of perfectionism, he was a very effective administrator. Despite the OCME being a city agency, things got done and got done efficiently under Calvin Washington, M.D.

“Sorry to bother you so early in the day,” Laurie began, “but I’m afraid Jack and I have a kind of emergency.”

“Uh-oh,” Calvin intoned, as he gathered the material he needed to take to the mayor’s office. “Why do I get the feeling I might have to do without my two most productive pathologists. Okay, give me the short version of the problem!”

Laurie cleared her throat. “Do you remember that young girl, Jennifer Hernandez, whom I invited here fourteen years ago?”

“How can I forget. I was totally against it, and somehow I let you talk me into it. Then it turned out to be one of the best things this office has ever done. Has it been fourteen years? Good lord!”

“It has been that long. In fact, Jennifer is graduating this coming spring from UCLA Medical School.”

“That’s terrific. I loved that kid.”

“She sends her regards.”

“Likewise,” Calvin said. “Laurie, you have to pick up the pace. I’ve got to be out that door five minutes ago.”

Laurie told the story of Maria Hernandez’s death and Jennifer’s difficulty trying to deal with the body. She also told Calvin how Maria had been like a mother, not only to Jennifer but to herself as well from infancy to early teens, and concluded by saying that she and Jack wanted to go to India and needed a week to do so.

“My condolences,” Calvin said. “I certainly can understand your wish to show your respects, but I’m not sure I understand why Jack has to go. To lose both of you at the same time puts us under a degree of strain unless we have significant warning.”

“The reason Jack has to go is actually unrelated to the Hernandez death,” Laurie explained. “Jack and I have been undergoing infertility treatment for about eight months. Currently, I’m in a cycle where I have been injecting myself with high levels of hormones, and within days I’ll be giving myself the follicle-releasing shot. At that point—”

“Okay, okay!” Calvin exclaimed, stopping Laurie in midsentence. “I get it. Fine! You guys take your week. We’ll manage.” Calvin picked up his briefcase.

“Thank you, Dr. Washington,” Laurie said. She felt a shiver of excitement. The trip was really going to happen. She followed the deputy chief out of his office.