“So, tell me about Dink,” Herbie said, taking a sip of brandy.

“As far as I’m concerned, Dink is history,” Carson said. “I’m sick of his behavior. I’m here because he told me about you, and I thought you sounded interesting.” She moved her hand up his thigh a bit.

“Well, that’s flattering,” Herbie replied, taking another sip. He rested his head on the back of the sofa cushion and felt her hand move up farther.

“What are you looking for there?” he asked, sipping more brandy.

She moved her hand up to his crotch. “This,” she said.

“Well, now that you’ve found it, what’s next?”

She unzipped his fly and took out his penis.

Herbie felt drowsy. He took another pull on the brandy and set the glass on the coffee table.

She teased him erect, then took him into her mouth.

31

DETECTIVE THIRD GRADE Vivian DeCarlo walked into the emergency room at Lenox Hill Hospital and looked around for her partner, Rose Mahon, who was supposed to meet her there to interview a hit-and-run victim. No sign of Rosie.

“Hey, Viv,” a young female resident in green scrubs said to her.

“Hey, Liz,” Viv replied. “How’s it going?”

“Now that you mention it, I’ve just examined a rape victim, and you might want to talk to her. She’s behind the curtain, there, in exam one.”

“What’s her story?”

“She says some guy got her drunk and raped her. She wasn’t wearing any panties, but there was no bruising, either internal or external, and she didn’t seem all that drunk, either.”

“You think she’s lying?”

“I’ve seen a couple of dozen rape victims in here, and she doesn’t fit the mold. She’s not crying, not even looking upset, and, like I said, not a mark on her. Her first name is Carson.”

“Did you do a rape kit?”

“Yep. I found no semen in her vagina, but there was some on what pubic hair she has left after a major wax job. I’ll get you the kit.”

Viv walked over and pulled the curtain back a few inches. “Carson?”

The girl was stretched out on the exam table, and she lifted her head a bit. “Yes?”

Viv walked into the cubicle and pulled the curtain closed behind her. “I’m Detective DeCarlo. Dr. Edwards tells me you’ve been hurt.”

Carson put her head back onto the table. “I’m not hurt, just raped, that’s all.”

Viv pulled up a chair, sat down, and got out her notebook. “Tell me what happened.”

“I went over to this guy’s apartment for a drink and had a martini. He was doing coke and drinking brandy. He made a move, but I wasn’t into it and I told him so. He slapped me across the mouth, pulled up my dress, and ripped off my panties, and he raped me.”

Viv looked at the woman’s mouth—no sign of swelling. “What’s the man’s name?”

“Herbert Fisher. He’s a lawyer at some big-time firm.”

“Address?”

She rattled off the address. “The penthouse.”