“Yes indeed. And apparently he still plans on making some deliveries of his specialty products in the near future. The very near future.”

So al-Barani Rashid had moved to the West Coast to hide out.

“He was just spotted with some associates but his friends’ll be leaving in the morning. And our friend will be all alone in a pleasant little cottage all day tomorrow. And the good news is that the local tourist board is absolutely fine about a visit from us. So, wondering if you could draw up some revised travel plans for our approval. Details are on their way.”

A new STO?

But aren’t I being fired? he wondered.

“Of course. I’ll get right on it. But…?”

“Yes?” the Wizard asked.

Metzger asked, “Those meetings? The budgetary issues?”

A pause. “Oh, the committee moved on to other matters.” After a beat the Wizard said sternly, “If there had been issues, I would’ve mentioned them to you, don’t you think?”

“Sure, you would have. Of course.”

“Of course.”

Click.

FRIDAY, MAY 26

VIII

WHEN YOU MOVE…

Chapter 99

CHAPTER 99

THE MORNING OF THE SURGERY.

Rhyme, trailed by Sachs and Thom, wheeled fast down the hospital corridor to the Surgical Procedures waiting room where the patients could visit with their friends and family until they were whisked off for the knife.

“I hate hospitals,” Sachs said.

“Really? Why?” Rhyme found himself in quite a good mood. “The staff can be sooo charming, the food sooo good. The latest magazines. And all the miracles of modern medicine,” Rhyme proclaimed. “If you’ll forgive the alliteration.”

Sachs gave a brief laugh.

They’d waited only five minutes when the doctor strode into the room and shook all their hands, carefully noting Rhyme’s articulating right arm and digits. “Good,” he said. “That is very good.”

“I do my best.”

The doctor explained what they all knew at this point: that the surgery should take three hours, possibly a little longer. The stay in the recovery room could be expected to last an hour or so. The surgeon would come find them here, though, right after the operation was completed to tell them how it had gone.

Exuding confidence, the man smiled and headed off to gown and scrub.

The pre-op nurse, a pretty African American woman in puppy-decorated scrubs, arrived and introduced herself, smiling broadly. It’s a scary thing, to be knocked out and cut open then put back together. Some medicos didn’t appreciate the trauma but this woman did and kept everyone at ease. Finally she asked, “Ready?”

Amelia Sachs leaned over and kissed Rhyme on the mouth. She rose and, limping, accompanied the nurse down the hall.

He called, “We’ll be in the recovery room when you wake up.”

She turned back. “Don’t be crazy, Rhyme. Go back home. Solve a case or something.”

“We’ll be in the recovery room,” he repeated, as the door swung shut and she disappeared.