Lines of interlocking chairs had been arranged, cotillion-fashion, around the edges of the room. In the comer, the face of a television set was blank. Someone had brought in Easter decorations; a basket filled with plastic eggs nestled in impossibly green paper grass. I wasn't even sure when Easter fell this year, but it was doubtless coming up soon, unless these were left from last year. Two patients came in while I was waiting: a man with superficial contusions and abrasions from a bike accident (judging from his shaved legs and his bun-hugging Spandex shorts), and a woman with her right ankle sandwiched between ice packs. Both were taken into examining rooms in the rear, but probably placed on hold while the doctors dealt with Dolan.

Outside, the sun was shining and the town of Quorum was going about its business as though nothing unusual had occurred. It was odd having a medical emergency in the middle of the day. Somehow, in my life, crises of this sort always seem to happen in the dead of night. I couldn't tally the number of times I'd been sitting in waiting rooms like this one while outside, city streets were deserted and shrouded in darkness.

Restless, I left my seat and wandered into the hall, where I asked a passing nurse for the nearest pay phone. I was directed to the hospital lobby, two long corridors away. I dialed Stacey's home number, charging the call to my credit card. Two rings later, he was on the line and I was filling him in.

"How's he doing?"

"Don't know. I haven't talked to the doctor yet. I wish I'd busted into his room when I first got there. I'm telling you, Stacey, his face was gray. He should have dialed 911 himself, but I think he was in denial. You know him."

"This is ridiculous. You can't do this alone. I'm coming down."

"Don't be silly. You're not well yourself. Just stay where you are. I've got enough on my hands."

"I'm fine. Didn't Dolan tell you? The docs showed my X-rays to some big muckety-muck and she says the shadow's insignificant. I forget now what they call it, but it's bullshit. Biopsy came back negative too so I got a clean bill of health."

"Are you serious?"

"Of course. Why would I lie about a thing like that? I'm in remission. At least for now."

"Lucky you didn't blow your brains out last week. Wouldn't you be pissed?"

"I just wish I hadn't gotten rid of my all personal possessions."

"I could have told you as much."

"Speaking of which, I'd like to have my family photos back."

"Forget it. Find another bunch. Those are mine."

"Come on now, Kinsey. I'll get duplicates made."

"Quit wheedling. I don't want duplicates. I want those. Anyway, you shredded Cousin Mortimer and he was my favorite."

"You never even met him."

"I know, but he had a good face."

"You're tough."

"A deal's a deal."