"Actually, I'd agree. I talked to a dentist this morning who remembered her – someone like her, at any rate. He thinks she was one of the last patients he treated before he had to retire. The guy's ninety-three now and couldn't give me the name, but everything else he says seems to fit. I checked with the principal at Quorum High and he referred me to the alternative high school for problem kids. I haven't had a chance to deal with that-I'd just stopped by the motel to give Dolan the news when I found him in the throes of this heart attack."

"You hang on 'til I get there. Then we'll put our heads together and decide what's next. How will I find you?"

"I'll be around somewhere. If I'm not at the motel, you can try me here. You know Dolan's car. Just keep an eye out for that. This town's so small you can hardly miss."

"Let me get a pencil and paper and you can give me that address As soon as I find wheels, I'll be on my way."

I gave him the name and address of the motel.

He said, "Do me a favor and reserve a room in my name."

"Why not take Dolan's? He's already forked out the bucks for it."

"Good plan. Let's do that."

"While we're at it, I need you to do me a favor. Could you stop by my apartment and pick up my leather jacket before you hit the road? It's hanging in my downstairs closet. I'll tell Henry to let you in and he can show you where it is."

"It's that cold?"

"To me it is. You better be prepared." Out of the corner of my eye I saw a woman in scrubs come out of the treatment area with a manila folder in hand. "I think the doc just showed. I'll call you back there's anything to report."

Dr. Flannery, the ER physician, was in her late forties, small, with short, pale brown hair, a broad forehead, thin lips, and deep lines in her face. Her nose was a raw pink, as though she'd blown it a few times since she'd applied her makeup. She had a tissue in her pocket and she dabbed at it before she held her hand out. "Sorry. Allergies, I'm Dr. Flannery. Are you Mr. Dolan's friend?"

We shook hands. "Kinsey Millhone. It's actually Lieutenant Dolan."

She checked his chart. "So it is."

"How's he doing?"