“Nice to meet you,” the secretary said, extending her hand. “I’m Melanie Stack.” She was young and friendly, especially compared to those ancient secretaries in Bingham’s office. Instead of being confrontational, she was open and eager to help. She was dressed in an attractive, youthful style, with her radiant long hair pulled back from her healthy, smiling face with a barrette.

To Jack, Melanie was a typical representative of the OCME DNA building. Most of the people working there were young and energetic, and seemed to be generally happy and appreciative of their jobs. DNA was a new science with immense potential, and it was appropriate that it was centered in a bright, brand-new building. In many ways, Jack regretted that he didn’t work there, too.

“Let me check with Dr. Grossman,” Melanie said, pushing back from her desk.

As Melanie disappeared for a moment, Jack made eye contact with the other secretaries. Each one returned his smile with one of her own. For Jack the office was a breath of fresh air and optimism despite the rain pattering against the glass.

“Dr. Grossman can see you,” Melanie said, reappearing in the blink of an eye.

Jack stepped into the inner corner office with a stunning view over the East River. Naomi was seated behind a large mahogany desk with an in basket that reminded Jack of his own. Like most everyone else in the building, Naomi was relatively young, perhaps mid-thirties. She had an oval face framed by a nimbus of remarkably curly hair. Her dark eyes were bright, and her expression was cheerful but questioning, as if her obviously sharp mind was always a bit dubious about what she was hearing.

“What a nice surprise!” Naomi said as Jack approached her desk. “To what do we owe this honor?”

“ ‘Honor’?” Jack questioned with a chuckle. “I wish I had your facility to make people feel good.”

“But it is an honor. We’re here to help you medical examiners. We’re just an adjunct to the process.”

Jack chuckled anew. “Let’s not carry it too far. With the rapid advances in DNA science, I think we’ll soon be working for you. This time, though, I’m here to ask you a favor.”

“Ask away.”

Jack quickly went through the same spiel he’d given Bingham, mentioning the archbishop, the ossuary, and its expected contents but nothing about the Virgin Mary.

“That’s utterly fascinating,” Naomi said when Jack finished. “Tell me the wife’s name?”

“Sana Daughtry.”