Page 73 of Unnatural Death

“Are you upset, dear? Because I wouldn’t blame you …” She studies me carefully. “I can’t imagine the ordeal you’ve had.”

“Allergies. And it seems you’ve had ordeals of your own, based on what I overheard.”

“If I was raging …”

“Oh, you were.”

“I apologize, and it’s because of Maggie Cutbush. I was on with her before Marino.”

“I suspected as much.”

“I was telling Marino that she’s clearly on a mission. Stirring the pot.”

“When is she not?” I walk over to my desk where paperwork awaits.

“She’s making a bloody stink about our expense account with Wild World.” Shannon has a habit of talking politely from the doorway. Unlike Maggie, who would boil inside without warning.

“I could have told you that was coming.” I begin initialing finalized autopsy reports that Shannon transcribed and printed. “At risk is anything she learned during her previous time in this office. You name it, and she’s going to weaponize it.”

“Then she hung up on me to boot.”

“After you compared her to a truffle pig, I believe.”

“We’re lucky if that’s the worst thing I call her. On a happier note, and something you rarely hear me say around here? Such a lovely fragrance.” Shannon sniffs the air. “I can’t remember when you’ve had on perfume, Doctor Scarpetta.”

“Generally, I try not to subject others to my choice of fragrances. But tonight I indulged out of self-defense after showering in the trailer.”

“I’m detecting tuberose, maybe a bit of sandalwood.” She sniffs again. “A little lemon, maybe vanilla?”

“It’s called Amorvero. From the Hotel Hassler in Rome, where Benton asked me to marry him. He gets it for me every Christmas.”

“If I could have found someone like him, maybe I wouldn’t be all by my lonesome. I didn’t mind it as much when I was younger. But it would be nice to have some company at this stage of things, especially if he was like that husband of yours.” She sighs dreamily.

“I know how lucky I am.”

“Someone who has his own life and is fine with me having mine,” she says. “A force to be reckoned with yet thoughtful. And interesting and fun. Not to mention easy on the eyes. I always thought the two of you were perfect together. Even back in the day.”

Back in the dayis Shannon’s code for when Benton was married and we were having an affair. We snuck around for years, and she knew when others didn’t.

“We go back a long way, and I can tell when you’re out of sorts,” she says. “No point in trying to hide it.”

“Sometimes we learn things we wish we didn’t know, and yet it’s for our own good.” Collecting a spray bottle of distilled water from a bookcase, I begin misting my potted orchids and trees. “In fact, there’s really not a choice because ignorance isn’t bliss if it gets you hurt or killed.”

“I couldn’t agree more.” Shannon nods her head from the doorway.

“Some information we’re not allowed to share. That’s not always easy,” I add.

“I understand better than you know. I have things that will go with me to the grave. I wish I didn’t know them. But at the same time, truth is what it is. If you don’t mind me doing a little mothering?” Shannon’s eyes are kind on me. “My advice is to go home straight away and get some rest, dear.”

“Mothering is probably what I need right now.”

“A shot or two of whisky would be just what the doctor ordered,” she says. “I suspect that’s in my future as well, a bit of Black Bush neat, and I believe I’ll warm up the beef pot pie I made the other night.”

“That sounds heavenly.” Plastic rustles as I cover my microscope for the night.

“What we mustn’t do is give way to discouragement. That’s the poison.”

“Nothing this day has been much to cheer about.”

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