Chet swung back around. He examined his officemate’s broad face and saw that he was being serious.

“What do you want me to say?” Chet asked.

“I want you to confirm my concerns,” Jack said.

“Fine,” Chet said. “You’re right! So do something about it! Call back the epidemiologist and make sure he’s thought of these issues! Get it off your chest. Then you and I can get some work done.”

Jack eyed his phone, then looked back at Chet. “You really think so? He’s not a fan of mine and he’s not what you’d call receptive to suggestions, especially my suggestions.”

“So what if the guy is a nerd?” Chet said. “At least you’ll have the satisfaction of having done everything you could possibly do. What do you care what he thinks of you?”

“I suppose you’re right,” Jack said as he reached for the phone. “I can’t expect everybody to love me like I do.”

Jack called back the city epidemiologist. The secretary asked for Jack’s name, then put him on hold. Jack waited for several minutes. He looked up at Chet.

“So the guy’s being a little passive-aggressive,” Chet said. “Hang in there.”

Jack nodded. He drew interlocking circles on his scratch pad, then drummed his fingers on the desktop. Finally the secretary came back on the line.

“I’m sorry but the doctor is busy,” she said. “You’ll have to call back.”

Jack hung up. “I suppose I shouldn’t be surprised. I just love this intra-agency cooperation crap.”

“Send him a fax,” Chet suggested. “It will accomplish the same thing without the aggravation of having to talk with him.”

“I’ve got a better idea,” Jack said. He got out the identification sheet and retrieved Helen Papparis’s phone number. He then put in a second call to the rug dealer’s bereaved wife.

“I’m sorry to bother you again,” Jack said after identifying himself.

“It’s no bother,” Helen said. She was as gracious as she’d been on the first call.

“I wanted to ask if you’d heard from any of the city public health people,” Jack said.

“Yes, I have,” Helen answered. “A Dr. Abelard called soon after I spoke with you.”

“I’m glad,” Jack said. “Could I ask what he said?”

“He was very businesslike,” Helen said. “He wanted the address and the keys for the warehouse. Then he made arrangements for the local police to come by and get them.”

“Excellent,” Jack said. “What about the office in Manhattan? Did Dr. Abelard ask you about that?”

“Nothing was said about the office.”

“I see,” Jack said. He glanced at Chet, who shrugged. Jack thought for a moment and then added: “I’d like to take a look inside the office myself. Would you have a problem with that?”

Chet started waving his hands and silently but emphatically mouthing the word no over and over again. Jack ignored him.

“If you think it would help in any way,” Helen said. “It’s certainly all right by me.”

Jack explained to the woman what he’d said to Chet, particularly about checking to see if any of the recent shipment had been sold and sent out. Helen understood immediately.