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sees fit to unleash this demon on our society again. I will rise from my moldy
grave to visit it upon them myself.
He winked in my direction and then told the phalanx of court officers who
stood behind the cuffed prisoner to put him back in the pens. As Rovaro walked
out, his expression never changed, but when he reached the door that led from
the courtroom to the cell, he turned and spit at the judge s bench. The
captain grabbed the collar of his shirt and pulled him out of the room. I
walked into the well to congratulate Gayle on the outcome as one of the court
officers came back to us to make sure she was okay.
 Rovaro pees ice water, he told us, shaking his head.  You should feel good
about this one.
She did, and I waved to Torres, walking out of the part as Gayle wheeled her
shopping cart full of exhibits down the hallway with me. With any luck, Gemma
Dogen s killer would be tried before a jurist like him. That is, if the killer
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were caught.
 You just missed Drew Renaud s call, Laura greeted me several minutes later.
 He said he was leaving his hotel room. Didn t want to disturb you in the
middle of the night. Said he ll try you a little later so he can get you
before you leave for London.
 McKinney wants you, too. Wants to know what you re going to do about the new
case up near Columbia-Presbyterian and who s going to sit on things while
you re out of town. And he s also a bit riled up about something to do with
Phil. Wouldn t say what.
 Got it, Laura, thanks.
Both phone lines lighted up before I could reach my desk and I had the
feeling it was going to be one of those wild days, as it always seemed to be
when I had to go out of town.
Through the intercom I heard Laura announce that Mercer was on the first line
while a reporter from New York One was on the backup.  Kick the reporter over
to the press office I m not talking to any of them. I ll take Mercer.
 G morning. I gather Mike called you about the attack up at Columbia? I m
going over to the hospital now to see what I can pick up. Would you ask Laura
to pound out a subpoena for Dietrich s bank? I called over there when they
opened up this morning. Got someone who told me he s way deep in the hole.
Racked up a huge bunch of debts and owes people a lot of money. She wouldn t
give me specifics without a grand jury subpoena 
 Will she take it by fax? I ll have one ready in fifteen minutes.
 Fine. It ll give me something to do while you and Chapman are having tea
with the Queen. See you later.
I hung up but saw that the button for the second line was still lighted.
Obviously, a persistent reporter whom Laura couldn t shake loose.  Alex, the
guy on line two says he s not looking for news, he s got a tip for you. Won t
tell me what it is and won t tell it to Brenda s office. Want him?
 Sure. I switched the line and the high-pitched voice of a young researcher
for the local channel piped up to introduce himself to me.
 Miss Cooper? We know you re handling the investigation at Mid-Manhattan.
Your people know anything about the break-in last night at Metropolitan
Hospital?
No point bullshitting him if he knew more than I did. I pulled a pad into
place and began making notes as I told him I didn t know a thing about it.
 What ve you got? Any patients hurt?
 That s what we re looking for. So far, they re denying patient involvement,
but we just don t know whether to trust the information or not. Nobody wants
it to be another Mid-Manhattan, and I take it you ve already heard about
Columbia.
 Yes. What s your story on Metropolitan?
 They re playing it down. Saying the guy never got past the administrative
offices on the ground floor. Patients and medical staff were never in any
danger. Usual disclaimers.
 Who discovered it?
 Night cleaning staff. Lady came in and found lights on in the billing
department at 3A.M. Heard footsteps but couldn t see anybody running out. Door
lock had been jimmied.
 I know you re not going to give me your source, but 
 Not an issue. It s all over the place here. The cleaning lady does one shift
at Met, then she does our offices back to back. She was real upset when she
got here this morning. All she could talk about was the burglar in the
hospital practically in the president s office, in the middle of the night.
She doesn t want to go back to work there had enough of hospitals after the
last two weeks.
 I ll drink to that. Tell her she s not the only one.
 Well, the reason I called was to see if you got word that anything else
happened at Metropolitan last night. You know, was this guy on his way in or
his way out when our cleaning lady spotted him?
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