‘Then it’s possible some of this cocaethylene’s been destroyed,’ Marino reasoned. ‘Meaning it’s also possible his drug level was really higher than it looks.’

‘It could be.’

‘He has to be getting drugs somewhere.’ Marino stared off.

‘In New York that certainly wouldn’t be hard,’ I said.

‘Hell, it’s not hard anywhere.’ The expression on his face was getting more tense.

‘What are you thinking?’ I asked.

‘I’ll tell you what I’m thinking,’ he started in. ‘This drug connection ain’t working out so hot for Jimmy Davila.’

‘Why? Do we know his toxicology results?’ I asked.

‘They’re negative.’ He paused. ‘Benny’s started singing. He’s saying Davila dealt.’

‘I should think people might consider the source on that one,’ I said. ‘Benny doesn’t exactly strike me as a reliable narrator.’

‘I agree with you,’ Marino said. ‘But some people are trying to paint Davila as a bad cop. There’s a rumor they want to pin Jane’s murder on him.’

‘That’s crazy,’ I said, surprised. That makes absolutely no sense.’

‘You remember the stuff on Jane’s hand that glowed in the Luma-Lite?’

‘Yes.’

‘Cocaine,’ he said.

‘And her toxicology?’

‘Negative. And that’s weird.’ Marino looked frustrated. ‘But the other thing Benny’s saying now is that it was Davila who gave the knapsack to him.’

‘Oh come on,’ I said with irritation.

‘I’m just telling you.’

‘It wasn’t Davila’s hair found in the fountain.’

‘We can’t prove how long that had been there. And we don’t know it’s Gault’s,’ he said.

‘DNA will verify it’s Gault’s,’ I said with conviction. ‘And Davila carried a .380 and a .38. Jane was shot with a Clock.’

‘Look’ - Marino leaned forward, resting his arms on the table - ‘I’m not here to argue with you, Doc. I’m just telling you that things aren’t looking good. New York politicians want this case cleared, and a good way to do that is to pin the crime on a dead man. So what do you do? You turn Davila into a dirtbag and nobody feels sorry for him. Nobody cares.’

‘And what about what happened to Davila?’

‘That dumbshit medical examiner who went to the scene still thinks it’s possible he committed suicide.’

I looked at Marino as if he’d lost his mind. ‘He kicked himself in the head?’ I said. ‘Then shot himself between the eyes?’

‘He was standing up when he shot himself with his own gun, and when he fell he hit concrete or something.’

‘His vital reaction to his injuries shows he received the blow to his head first,’ I said, getting angrier. ‘And please explain how his revolver ended up so neatly on his chest.’

‘It’s not your case, Doc.’ Marino looked me in the eye. ‘That’s the bottom line. You and me are both guests. We got invited.’