The Conspiracy Club

53

At midnight, as he drove to the police station in an unmarked sedan that smelled of potato chips, Bob Doresh said, “I’m a pretty good shot, huh? Told you military service was useful.”

“Where’s Angela?” said Jeremy.

“Still,” said Doresh, “you never know how you’re going to react when it’s real. Twenty-three years I’ve been on the job, and it’s the first time I had to fire the damn thing. They say killing someone, even when it’s righteous, can be traumatic. I’d have to say I feel pretty good, right now. Think I’ll need help later, Doc?”

“Where’s Angela?”

Doresh had one hand on the wheel. The other rested on the back of the seat. He drove slowly, with skill. During the onslaught of officers, crime-scene techs and coroner’s examiners, he’d kept Jeremy under wraps in the Tivoli Arms rest room. A uniformed cop had stood watch, mute as Renfrew.

No one had talked to him.

“I asked you something, Detective.”

Doresh said, “Okay, here’s the situation with Dr. Rios. First things first: She’s safe, been sitting in her own apartment with my partner Steve Hoker watching over her. Protective custody, if you will.”

“You called her off the ward?” said Jeremy.

“That’s the second thing, Doc. My motivation. Steve’s and mine. We pulled her out of the hospital because we wanted to talk to her about you. We thought you were dangerous- okay, we were wrong, but with the way you’ve been acting- especially yesterday, in the chapel.” He shrugged. “Sitting in a motel room by yourself. That’s a little… different, wouldn’t you say? I mean I understand now, you were watching that other guy, but see it from my perspective.”

“You told her I was a murderous psychopath.”

Doresh touched his temple, kept his foot light on the accelerator. The night was crisp and bright, and the unmarked car’s heater was surprisingly efficient. “We were looking out for her best interest.”

“Thanks.”

Doresh gave him a sidelong glance. “You being sarcastic?”

“No, I mean it. Thanks. You had her safety in mind. Thanks for protecting her.”

“Okay… you’re welcome. And excuse me for wondering about the sarcasm, but let’s face it, you can get pretty sarcastic.”

“I’ve had my moments.”

“You have,” said Doresh. “But no harm, no foul. It was never personal, right? In the end we were both on the same side.”

“True.”

Doresh smiled, and his big chin jutted. “The difference being that I was doing my job and you were… improvising.”

“Am I supposed to apologize for that?”

“Here we go again, butting heads. Must be some sort of… personality clash. Nah, no apologies necessary. You got a little carried away. In the end it worked out fine. Better than fine- hey, Doc, your hands are shaking pretty bad. When we get there, let me fix you some coffee- mine’s a helluva lot better than yours. My partner Steve Hoker’s driving Dr. Rios over to meet you. I told him the situation. She won’t be scared of you.”

“She was scared, huh?”

“The things I told her, you kidding? She was terrified. And I make no apologies for that. I had the game pretty well mapped out, I just didn’t know the players.”

“Live and learn,” said Jeremy.

“You got it, Doc,” said Doresh. “Stop learning, you might as well curl up and die.”