“He died in a public place three and a half hours before. You should have been called by five—five-thirty at the latest. This is something that I would like to know more about. Was anything said about it at the coroner’s inquest?”

“I don’t know. We were late getting there, and it was over.”

“They took no testimony from you?” he asked. “Did you get a transcript?”

“No. This is the next thing I’ve done.”

He felt Florence look up. He was thinking of today’s date, too—three months had passed—but for the moment he was more interested in the coroner’s inquest. It was incredible. “Who is we?” he asked. “Who went with you?”

“A neighbor, Dr. Wendell Roberts. He lives next door. Should I say the address?” Florence had been writing again. Leland nodded. Turning to Florence, Mrs. MacIver said, “He lives at Two thirty-six Collegeville Road, Port Smith Nineteen. My address is Two thirty-eight.”

“Is he your doctor?” Leland asked.

“No—we’re good friends, that’s all. He was Colin’s friend as well as mine.”

“Collegeville Road is near the Jefferson campus. What is he? A teacher?”

“Yes, he teaches, but he’s a medical doctor. A psychiatrist.”

“Was Mr. MacIver under his care?”

“Oh, no. I was. I was in therapy for three years, but it ended almost a year before I met Colin.”

“Does Fred Miller know anything about it?”

“Absolutely not, I—”

“Excuse me,” Leland said, “but could you tell me why you had to see Dr. Roberts in the first place?”

“Not right now, if you don’t mind.” She glanced at Florence, who had her eyes on her notebook. Leland nodded understanding.

“It isn’t my business,” he said. “I’m sorry.”

“That’s all right. It’s your business if you’re going to do this for me.”

He had apologized to put her at ease. He thought that he had already indicated that he understood that she would tell him after Florence had gone. She had not grasped it—but not, he knew now, because she was stupid. He said, “Now, about Dr. Roberts again. Did he have any comment about the time it took to contact you on the day Mr. MacIver died?”

“If he did, he kept it from me. We both reacted when we found that the inquest was over before we got there. The room was cleared. We had to learn from a clerk what the verdict was. Dr. Roberts was curious, and so was I. There are some things that he’s fairly innocent about. I’m quoting him now. He had never been to a coroner’s inquest before.”

“Most people pass them up,” Leland said. That had been a slip; he didn’t want to be smart with her. “Now, why haven’t you met Mr. MacIver’s mother and why didn’t she come to the wedding?”