“We ruled that out with a CAT scan that was normal,” Michael said. “We also did an LP, and the fluid was clear.”

“Any fever, skin lesions, or other signs of infection?” Jack asked.

“Nothing,” Michael said. “In fact, her temperature was subnormal.”

“And you did get a strong history of asthma and allergies,” Jack said. “How did you get it? Was it through hospital records?”

“No, from the husband,” Michael said. “He was pretty together despite his ordeal and was able to give us a good history.”

Jack thanked the man and hung up. He turned to Warren and Flash. “This is getting more interesting. It doesn’t sound as if the history was corroborated. I think maybe I ought to take a look at Connie.”

“Can you do that?” Warren asked.

“Why not?” Jack said.

Jack went back to the phone to try to get Randolph on the line directly, but no one picked up. Next he tried paging him. When the operator came back to ask who was calling, Jack gave his name and waited again. When the operator returned the second time, she told him that the doctor was busy. Jack left a message that he was on his way over.

“Seems that Dr. Sanders is indulging in a bit of passive-aggressive behavior,” Jack said as he stood up. He picked up his cellular phone and his small camera and pocketed both. “What do you guys want to do? You’re welcome to come along.”

“You want to go?” Warren asked Flash. “I got the time.”

Flash nodded. “I want to see this to the end.”

“How’d you get here to the ME’s office?” Jack asked.

Warren held up an ignition key. “I got my wheels parked right outside on Thirtieth Street.”

“Perfect,” Jack said. “Let’s go!”

They took the elevator down to the basement and were about to exit through the loading dock area when Jack paused.

“I’ve just been thinking,” he said. “Who knows what my reception’s going to be over in Brooklyn. It might be best to bring my own supplies.”

“What kind of supplies you talking about?” Warren asked.

“It’ll take too long to explain,” Jack said. “You guys wait here or out by the car. I’ll be right back.”

Jack detoured into the depths of the morgue, passing the bank of refrigerated compartments where the bodies were stored prior to being autopsied. Conveniently, he ran into Vinnie coming out of the pit. Jack asked the mortuary tech to get him a bunch of sample containers for various body fluids, a mask, rubber gloves, a clutch of syringes, a couple of scalpels, and a nasogastric tube.

“What the hell are you going to do?” Vinnie asked. He eyed Jack suspiciously.

“Probably going to get myself in hot water,” Jack said.

“Are you going out of house?”

“I’m afraid so.”

“You want me to come along?” Vinnie asked.