Page 81 of City of the Dead

We got in the car, he swung a U-ey on Palms Boulevard and sped north.

I said, “Cordi knew Caspian was footing a big bill for Joseph but she still took a discount.”

He shook his head. “Like I said, complex. Which, in my business, is a filthy word.”

—

Milo’s office computer revealed that Amalia Beniste, the source of Caspian Delage’s headache meds, had no criminal record and that while her hair color changed frequently, her “major passion” never wavered.

Self-labeled as a member of “the migraine community” the twenty-four-year-old advocated for all headache medicines shifting to over-the-counter status and expressed a clear intent to “give anyone and everyone anything and everything I have in my vascular-hell repertoire. NO ONE SHOULD SUFFER NEEDLESSLY. NO FUCKING ONE!!!! HEAR THAT FUCKING FDA?”

Milo said, “Sounds like she could give herself a headache. But unlike Cordi, she actually gave the poor guy something, can’t see any reason to show up at the studio and terrify her.”

He checked with Reed. Still no sighting of Tyler Hoffgarden, no results from the BOLO on Hoffgarden’s Mini.

He hung up. “Another day of Mr. Muscle flewing the coop, how’s that for evidence of guilt? Do me a favor and call Hoffgarden’s ex, on the off chance she’s seen him.”

“Not a good idea,” I said.

“Why not? Divorces are public records, you’re not breaking any rules.”

“Gray area.”

“Meaning?”

“Drawing a patient into a homicide investigation. Sorry.”

“Fine.” He pulled out his pad. “What’s her name?”

“Like you said, public record.”

He stared at me. “You’re kidding.”

I shrugged.

“Unbelievable—do you ever break rules?”

“I’ve driven your unmarked twice.”

“What? How do you get two?”

“The Swoboda case. You wanted to do some phone research and then some napping so you asked me—”

“That? We’re talking what, half a minute?”

More like thirty.

I said, “That I’d be happy to do again.”

“What’s the difference?”

“Patients are vulnerable. You’re not.”

“Shows how much you know.”

His face had reddened at the corners. “So when do you come up for beatification?”

“Nothing from Rome yet, but a guy can hope.”

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