Blood Work

32

THE ELEVATOR DOWN was packed and silent except for the music piped in, which McCaleb identified as an old Louis Jordan recording of “Knock Me a Kiss.”

As they stepped out, McCaleb pointed Graciela in the direction of the doors leading to the tramway that would take her to the parking garage.

“You go that way.”

“Why? Where are you going?”

“I’m just going to take a cab back to the boat.”

“Well, what are you going to do? I want to go with you.”

He pulled her to the side of the busy elevator lobby.

“You’ve got to go back home to Raymond and your job. In fact, Raymond, he’s your job. This is my job. This is what you asked me to do.”

“I know but I want to help.”

“You did help. You are helping. But you’ve got to go to Raymond. I’m going out through the emergency room. There are always cabs down there.”

She frowned. He could tell by her expression that she knew he was right but it didn’t sit well. He reached into his pocket and pulled out the photocopy of the list he had made in Fox’s office.

“Here, take this. If something happens to me, you have a copy. Give it to Jaye Winston at the sheriff’s office.”

“What do you mean if something happens?”

Her voice was almost shrill and McCaleb immediately regretted his choice of words. He moved her into a little alcove where there were pay phones. No one was using the phones and they had a small measure of privacy. He put the bag on the floor between his feet and leaned forward so his eyes were close to hers.

“Don’t worry, nothing is going to happen,” he said. “It’s just that all this work I’ve done, ever since you came to the boat that day, it all has led to this. The names on this paper. I just think it’s better if we both have a copy of it, that’s all.”

“Do you really think the killer’s name is on there?”

“I don’t know. That’s what I’m going to think about and work on when I get to the boat.”

“I can help you.”

“I know you can, Graciela. You already have. But right now you have to pull back a little bit and be with Raymond. You don’t have to worry. I am going to be on the phone telling you everything that happens. Remember, I’m working for you.”

She tried a half smile.

“No, you’re not. All I had to do was tell you about Glory and after that you were doing what your heart told you.”

“Maybe.”

“How about if I take you and just drop you off at the boat?”

“No way. That will take you into rush hour and you’ll be driving for two hours. Go now, while you can. Go be with Raymond.”

She finally nodded. Still leaning down into her face, McCaleb brought his hands up to her shoulders and gently pulled her into a kiss.

“Graciela?”

“What?”

“There’s something else, too.”

“What is it?”

“I want you to think about this, think about if I’m right. I have to think about this.”

“What do you mean?”

“If I’m right, if somebody killed Glory for something she had inside, then in a way they killed her for me as well. I got a part of her, too. If that’s true, then can we…”

He didn’t finish the question and she didn’t say anything for a long moment. Her eyes dropped their focus to his chest.

“I know that,” she finally said. “But you didn’t do anything. You didn’t cause this.”

“Well, I want you to think about it and just be sure.”

She nodded.

“It’s God’s way of making something good out of something so bad.”

McCaleb leaned his forehead against hers. He didn’t say anything.

“I know what you told me and I know that story about Aubrey-Lynn. It’s all the more reason to believe. I wish you would try.”

He pulled her into an embrace and whispered into her ear.

“Okay, I’ll try.”

A man with a thick briefcase stepped into the alcove and went to one of the phones. He glanced at them and did a double take when he saw Graciela’s nursing uniform. He obviously believed it was a Cedars nurse engaging in some form of unprofessional conduct. It ended the moment for McCaleb. He broke the embrace and looked into Graciela’s face.

“You be careful and say hello to Raymond for me. Tell him I want to go fishing again.”

She smiled and nodded.

“You be careful, too. And call me.”

“I will.”

She leaned forward and kissed him quickly and then headed off in the direction of the parking garage. McCaleb glanced at the man on the phone and then walked away in the opposite direction.