Conspiracy

86

Dean had just gotten out of bed when the sat phone buzzed with a call from the Art Room. He held the phone to his ear and lay back down. The mattress was so thin he could feel the knots in the rope that held it up.

“Charlie, we want you to check on a Dr. Vuong who works in town,” said Marie Telach. “He’s the doctor who was present when the body of a Sergeant Tolong was exhumed a few years ago. See what details you can get from him.”

“You think he’d tell me if they found money?” asked Dean.

“Let’s just cover the bases, Charlie. Stand by for directions to Dr. Vuong’s office.”

Qui was already waiting in the breakfast room when Dean came down.

“I have a change in plans,” he told her. “I want to speak to one of the doctors here. He assisted when a Marine was dis-interred a few years ago and sent back to the States. I want to talk to him about it. It shouldn’t take long. We’ll leave after that.”

“Would you like me to come?”

“This is another case where I think you’d be better off waiting outside.”

“Who do you really work for, Mr. Dean?”

“I’m a do-gooder, just like you.” She smiled faintly.

“Let’s have some breakfast,” Dean told her. “Come on.”