“Rudi,” he corrects.

“You’ve already said, Rudi, that you looked into Blumenthal’s history and that he’s a good guy,” I remind him.

“I am not so certain that he is ‘a good guy.’ But I know that he is a very good detective. And I know this because the police commissioner is a patient of mine.”

“Sally Poblete is a patient of yours?” I say.

“Yes, she has been for a number of years.”

“Is the commissioner pregnant?”

“No,” he says. There goes that smile again. “But she is trying to be.”

I nod. Sarkar continues. Is he being indiscreet or is this well-known information? I decide not to ask.

“Ms. Poblete already knew that Blumenthal was the senior detective on this baby-thievery case.” Only Sarkar would use a word like thievery. “And Ms. Poblete told me we should be grateful he is on this. She called Detective Blumenthal ‘one of the finest of the finest.’ But she did then add that occasionally Blumenthal ‘pushes it.’ Those are her words. When I asked what she meant, she said that this detective is often quite creative in ignoring the rules. Then she again said that we should be very thankful to have him.”

I say nothing, but I’m thinking, Thankful? Maybe if he cracks this case. Then I’ll be thankful.

“May I escort you up the stairs?” Sarkar asks.

“Yeah, sure,” I say, and I walk past the elevators, heading to the door of the internal stairway.

My mind is still churning. Commissioner Poblete said that Blumenthal is creative in ignoring the rules?

I come up with an idea. A great idea. A very, very creative idea.

I’m going to find out just how far Blumenthal is ready to push it. I’m going to see just how creative he might care to be.

“You go up ahead of me,” says Sarkar as we enter the stairwell. “That way I’ll be able to catch you if you fall.”

“It also means that you’ll have a terrific view of my gluteus maximus,” I say.

“Lucy, please!” he says with mock surprise. “And anyway, don’t worry. Do remember. I am a gynecologist.”

Chapter 36

Chapter 36

TWO MINUTES LATER DR. Rudra Sarkar and I go our separate ways. He returns to his office, but I return to the stairwell. I’m going back to see Leon Blumenthal.

As I enter the makeshift operations room and approach Blumenthal’s table, I swear there’s a very slight smile on his face.

“What took you so long to get back to me, Ms. Ryuan?” he asks. Yes, that is definitely a smile on Blumenthal’s face.

And he’s even better looking now that he’s lost the grumpy-dad expression. Funny how a guy’s face can turn from meh to handsome just because of the mood he’s in and, I guess, the mood I’m in.