“Simple,” Mr. Freeborn said. “Like the judge said, the clinic decided to be magnanimous and not press charges. The ADA went along with it. Of course we’ll have to negotiate the ‘reasonable’ compensation.”

“But other than that, it’s over?” Marissa asked. It seemed like the first good news she’d gotten in months.

“That’s right,” Mr. Freeborn said.

“What kind of compensation do you think it might involve?” Robert asked.

“Not a clue,” Mr. Freeborn said.

Wendy put her arms around Marissa and gave her a big hug. Marissa patted her back. “I’ll call you,” Marissa whispered in her ear. Even with the charges dropped, Marissa knew Wendy would still be depressed.

Wendy nodded, then left with Gustave and their lawyer.

Robert conferred with Mr. Freeborn for a few more minutes. Then the two shook hands and Robert escorted Marissa to their car.

“You girls were mighty lucky,” Robert told Marissa as they pulled into traffic on the Monsignor O’Brien Highway. “George had never heard of such a thing. I have to hand it to the clinic, that was pretty big of them, asking for the charges to be dropped.”

“It’s all a clever cover-up,” Marissa said.

Robert looked at her as if he’d not heard. “What?”

“You heard me,” Marissa said. “It was a clever trick to keep the public from finding out what kinds of beasts they employ for guards. It was also a good way to get us to drop our inquiries into this TB issue and maybe Rebecca Ziegler’s death.”

“Oh, Marissa!” Robert moaned.

“The judge doesn’t know any of the other details,” Marissa said. “He doesn’t have any idea of the dimensions of this case.”

Robert beat the steering wheel with his fist. “I don’t know if I can take this anymore.”

“Stop the car!” Marissa said.

“What?”

“I want you to pull over.”

“Are you getting sick?” Robert asked.

“Just do it.”

Robert glanced over his shoulder and pulled into the roundabout in front of the Science Museum.

Marissa opened her door, got out, and slammed the door behind her. She started walking. Confused, Robert lowered his window and called after her. “What the hell is going on?” he demanded.

“I’m walking,” Marissa said. “I need to be by myself. You’re driving me crazy.”

“I’m driving you crazy?” Robert called after her in disbelief. For a moment he was indecisive. Then he muttered, “Jesus Christ!” Rolling up his window, he drove off without looking back.

With her hands shoved deep into her raincoat pockets, Marissa walked along the Esplanade that bordered the Charles River. It was another overcast day. The color of the river was gunmetal gray. Puddles dotted the walkway.

Marissa walked as far as the Arthur Fiedler shell, then crossed over to Arlington Street. At the corner of Arlington and Boylston she took the T out Huntington Avenue to her pediatric clinic.