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“I don’t think so. I got the same look here in the house when I was getting a tranquilizer out of my purse for her. She’s decided—seeing how Matt collapsed completely probably had a lot to do with it—that he’s still an irresponsible boy, who can’t be blamed. She needs somebody to blame. I make a fine candidate to be the real villain, because I really didn’t help Penny at all.”
There was a moment’s silence, and then Wohl said, “I’m on my way, Amy,” and the line went dead in her ear.
“It’s a good thing I know you’re a doctor,” Inspector Peter Wohl said to Dr. Amelia Payne as they came off the elevator into the lobby of the Delaware Valley Cancer Society Building on Rittenhouse Square.“Meaning what?”
“The folklore among us laypersons is don’t mix booze and pills.”
“That’s a good general rule of thumb,” Amy said. “What I gave Matt is what we doctor persons prescribe as a sedative when the patient person has been soaking up cognac like a sponge. It is my professional opinion that that patient person will be out like a light for the next twelve to eighteen hours without side effects. Any other questions, layperson?”
Wohl smiled at her.
“How about dinner tonight?”
“Absolutely not.”
“I guess that makes breakfast tomorrow out of the question.”
“I didn’t say that,” Amy said. “I said no dinner. I have to make my rounds, and then there’s a very sick young woman I want to spend some time with. But I didn’t say anything about breakfast, or, for that matter, a midnight supper with candles and wine, being out of any question.”
“My place or yours, doctor person?”
She didn’t reply directly.
“We left my car at the Detweilers’s.”
“Give me the keys. I’ll have someone run me out there, and I’ll drop it by—where? The hospital? Your place?”
“Wouldn’t it be easier if you took it to your place? When I leave the hospital, I’ll catch a cab out there. It’ll probably be after eleven.”
“Done,” he said, putting his hand out for the keys.
“You’re headed for the hospital now?” he asked. She nodded. “You want a ride?”
“Where are you going?”
“Wherever you need to go is right on my way.”
“I’ll catch a cab,” she said.
“You’re sure?”
She nodded.
Their eyes met, and held. Somewhat hesitantly, Wohl moved his face closer to hers.
“Don’t push me, Peter,” Amy said, and then moved her face closer to his and kissed him on the lips.
Then she quickly walked away from him, out the door and onto Rittenhouse Square. He started to follow her, then changed his mind.
He went to the receptionist’s desk and asked to use her telephone.
“Of course,” she said with a smile that suggested she did not find him unattractive.
He smiled at her and dialed a number from memory.
“Inspector Wohl,” he said as he watched Amy get into a cab. “Anything for me?”
“Chief Lowenstein’s been trying to reach you all afternoon, sir,” the tour lieutenant reported.
