“I thought you were in Georgia.”

“I was. Took a look at the liquor store where the two people were stabbed, scouted around the area, in general. Now I’m here.”

“And?”

“And?” He raised an eyebrow. “Organized crime.”

“I wasn’t thinking about Georgia.”

“Tell me what you are thinking. I seem to be losing the art of mind reading. And you look particularly lovely today, let me add,” he said to my mask.

“I’m going to go crazy if I don’t get out of here soon,” I said. “I’ve got to get to CDC.”

“Lucy tells me you’ve been communicating with deadoc.” The playful light vanished from his eyes.

“To no great extent and with not much luck,” I angrily said.

To communicate with this killer was infuriating for it was exactly what he wanted. I had made it my mission in life not to reward people like him.

“Don’t give up,” Wesley said.

“He makes allusions to medical matters, such as diseases and germs,” I said. “Doesn’t this concern you in light of what is going on?”

“He no doubt follows the news.” He made the same point Janet had.

“But what if it’s more than that?” I asked. “The woman he dismembered seems to have the same disease that the victim from Tangier does.”

“And you can’t verify that yet.”

“You know, I didn’t get where I am by making assumptions and leaping to conclusions.” I was getting very out of sorts. “I will verify this disease as soon as I can, but I think we should be guided by common sense in the meantime.”

“I’m not certain I understand what you’re saying.” His eyes never left mine.

“I’m saying that we might be dealing with biological warfare. A Unabomber who uses a disease.”

“I hope to God we’re not.”

“But the thought has crossed your mind, too. Don’t tell me you think that a fatal disease somehow linked with a dismemberment is coincidental.”

I studied his face, and I knew he had a headache. The same vein on his forehead always stood out like a bluish rope.

“And you’re sure you’re feeling all right,” he said.

“Yes. I’m more worried about you.”

“What about this disease? What about the risk to you?” He was getting irritated with me, the way he always did when he thought I was in danger.

“I’ve been revaccinated.”

“You’ve been vaccinated for smallpox,” he said. “What if that’s not what it is?”

“Then we’re in a world of trouble. Janet came by.”

“I know,” he said into his phone. “I’m sorry. The last thing you needed right now . . .”

“No, Benton,” I interrupted him. “I had to be told. There’s never a good time for news like that. What do you think will happen?”

But he did not want to say.

“Then you think it will ruin her, too,” I said in despair.

“I doubt she’ll be terminated. What usually happens is you stop getting promoted, get lousy assignments, field offices out in the middle of nowhere. She and Janet will end up three thousand miles apart. One or both will quit.”