“Well, I don’t like to speak badly of any doc, and Dr. Prichap may just have been having an off day, but what he did was illogical and didn’t demonstrate the best judgment.”

Stone sighed. “You’re the doctor, but I’m not sure you’re giving me much to go on here. “Meacham could have just snapped after Roberta left the office. Prichap might have felt getting that bullet out was the only chance he had. This doesn’t scream pattern to me.”

“What about Carolyn Meacham?” he asked, trying another tack. “She almost killed us trying to chase down a driver with one busted taillight. She was trying to prevent an accident that would never have happened. Afterwards, she couldn’t figure out why she had done it. Flawed judgment again.”

Stone appeared slightly more interested. “So, what we’ve got here are three seemingly illogical acts, each resulting in undesirable outcomes—a shooting, a medical procedure, and a car accident. Is that about right?”

“That’s right.”

“And what is it you suggest we do from here, Doctor?”

“Let’s keep looking for patterns. Something strange and out of the ordinary.”

“Other than the obvious.”

“Other than the obvious. I think we should interview Carolyn Meacham and the people close to her. Same for Anthar Prichap and the staff who cared for Meacham in the ICU.”

“No way we’re going to allow you to do anything of the sort,” Stone said. “But I will speak to the staties in charge about your theories.”

Lou felt his future with the PWO slipping away. “Chief Stone,” he said. “I’m in some real hot water at the Physician Wellness Office. In fact, I’ve been suspended. The only way I’m going to get my job back is to prove I didn’t totally misjudge John Meacham’s capacity for violent outbursts. And the only way I’m going to do that is to speak with some of the people involved. How about Roberta Jennings? Is there any way I could talk to her—ask her about John’s demeanor right before the shootings?

Stone mulled over the request. “Bobbi’s pretty shook up about things,” he said, “but she did say she’d try to cooperate in any way she could.…” Lou held his breath. Without warning, Stone stood up. “Let me talk with her,” he said. “See what she has to say.”

“Thanks, Chief. I really appreciate that.”

“Well, I appreciate you bringing all of this to my attention.”

Lou sat alone for several long minutes, thinking about Filstrup, Meacham, the PWO, and all the docs his suspension had left adrift. He was thinking about calling to check in with Emily when the policeman returned.

“Well, I got good news, Lou,” he said, slipping on his wool-lined bomber jacket. “It took a little convincing, but Roberta’s agreed to meet with you.”

Lou brightened. “That is great news,” he said. “What did you have to do?”

“Not much,” Stone said, grinning. “I just told her that I’d be right there beside her while you did your questioning. Turns out that was all the convincing she required.”