“It’s Lucy Ryuan, midwife,” I say. “Please connect me to the NYPD/FBI setup in the residents’ cafeteria.”

Finally I hear Blumenthal’s voice. I identify myself.

“What’s up now, Ms. Ryuan?” I wouldn’t call his tone of voice polite, but I might call it civil.

“I’m at home right now, Detective,” I say, “but I’ve just met with Katra Kovac’s father. He gave me a boatload of information on the attack and kidnap situation. I’m going to Uber back into Manhattan right now. You and I need to meet.”

“Okay,” he says. The tone of voice is now actually polite. “I was about to go out for a little supper. But I’ll wait right here. Never want to miss one of your lectures.”

I ignore the wise-guy crack and say, “Hey, I can bring something from home for you to eat.”

“That’d be cool,” he says. Maybe he is being sarcastic. I can’t tell anymore.

“Yeah,” I say. “We’ve got some delicious leftovers.”

“Sounds good. Thank you.”

I don’t dare ask him the question I’m thinking. How do you feel about meatloaf and cornflakes?

Chapter 33

Chapter 33

Immaculate Conception Hospital
West Chelsea, New York City

IMMACULATE CONCEPTION HOSPITAL SITS directly next to the High Line on West 24th Street. All patient rooms have a view of either the majestic Hudson River or the wacky-beautiful High Line itself.

The patients pay dearly for the view. In return they receive the pampered service most of them are used to. A person might go to NewYork-Presbyterian for bypass surgery or Mount Sinai for cancer, but if they need a facelift, an eyebrow lift, or a tummy tuck, that person heads over to Immaculate.

Immaculate is the only hospital in New York City to offer an unusual and frequently sought surgical service: hand rejuvenation. After all, nothing undermines a magnificent facelift more than bumpy, blue-veined, wrinkled old hands.

Immaculate is also the hospital to visit if one is very rich and slated to give birth. The birthing rooms were designed by the late “Prince of Chintz,” Mario Buatta, with a lot of flowered fabrics and lamps made from antique Chinese tea containers.

Immaculate Conception may sound like the name of a Catholic hospital, and when it was founded in 1880, it was run by nursing nuns, but now, facelifts and chintz curtains. Times have changed. So have cafeteria conversations.

“I played tennis yesterday with my friend Kenny Kelleher. He’s the gastro guy up at Gramatan. He says the cops and the FBI are guarding the place like it’s Fort Knox,” says dermatologist-surgeon John Aquilino.

Dr. Aquilino is having a late-afternoon taste of a delicious 2006 Puligny-Montrachet in the Immaculate Conception wine bar with Dr. Jeffrey Schlotman, a surgeon whose specialty is fast-recovery breast reduction.

“That kidnapping stuff must be driving Barrett Katz crazy,” says Aquilino.

“Couldn’t happen to a nicer little prick,” says Schlotman.