wasnât he?â She withdrew her hand and drained the glass.
McGuire shook his head.
âYes, he was.â She twisted backwards to replace the empty glass on the other night table. âI could see it all over your face. I thought you were going to reach across and punch him at one point.â
âYou donât need any help from me handling Ralph.â
She turned to face him again, a new expression of concern on her face. âAre you really going to be able to handle working alone?â she asked. âIt looks to me as though Kavander is trying to humiliate you. Heâs trying to drive you a little nuts maybe.â
âBetter to be crazy and know it than be sane and have doubts.â
âThatâs good. Where did you read that?â
âOllie used to say it.â
âGod, what a tragedy.â She sat on the edge of the bed, turning her back to him, and began dressing. âIâll never get over what happened to Ollie. And I donât think you will either.â She stood to pull on her pantyhose. âDo you think Bernie knows?â
âAbout what?â
âAbout us. You never can tell with Bernie, can you?â
âNo, you canât.â McGuire sat against the headboard, his hands clasped behind his head. âWhat about Max?â
She was slipping her bra straps over her shoulders. âWhat about him?â
âDoes he know?â
âCome on, Joe . . .â
âJealous husbands have a way of ruining your whole day with a shotgun blast to the crotch when you least expect it.â
âNot Max. Heâs too wrapped up in the restaurant. Besides, I think he may be making it with one of the waitresses. Some little honey he hired last month.â She stepped into her skirt and pulled it up to her hips. âSilly old fool, going through male menopause. Damn this zipper!â
At the door she turned and kissed him lightly. âThanks, Joe,â she said.
âFor what?â
âFor making me feel good.â She smiled and walked down the hall to the stairs, knowing McGuire was watching her but not looking back. She never looks back, McGuire mused.
It always bothered him that she never looked back. And he never knew why. Never tried to wonder why.
Chapter Five
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PRELIMINARY INVESTIGATION REPORT
FILE#: 884â239A
INVESTIGATING DETECTIVES: E.D. Vance, T. Fox
DATE: 3/5/89
VICTIMâS NAME: Peter Michael Genovese
VICTIMâS ADDRESS: 2349 Chestnut Hill Drive, Brookline
VICTIMâS AGE: 42
MARITAL STATUS: Single
CRIMINAL RECORD, IF ANY: See attached sheets
INVESTIGATING POLICE OFFICERS: T. Radinsky, D. Barker
DATE/TIME OF INITIAL CALL: March 5, 12:13 a.m.
REPORT DETAILS: Call received on 911 re: hit and run, Atlantic Avenue, S. of Beach. Officers Radinsky and Barker arrived at scene approximately 12:20 a.m. Victim discovered against curbside power line pole; constables confirmed apparent instantaneous death from multiple injuries suffered a) by collision with unknown automobile; b) by secondary impact with power line pole.
Standard procedures followed re: measurement of point of impact from body, location of body, etc. (See attached H&R traffic report #3896509.)
Also automotive parts collected at scene (see above report).
Initial case conducted as standard H&R until approx. 3 p.m. 3/5/89 when unidentified witness called from telephone booth (confirmed via trace: Washington & Winter Streets). Witness reported details of collision with above victim (see attached witness report).
INTERVIEWS (LIST ON REVERSE IF NECESSARY):
NONE: [X]
AUTOPSY REPORT: Attached [X]
Not attached [ ] Why not?
CURRENT STATUS: N.M./N.S.
McGuire poured another inch of brandy in his coffee mug, stretched his legs in front of him, and looked out the apartment window at the floodlight towers of Fenway Park three blocks away.
âN.M./N.S.â No Motive/No Suspects. Fat Eddie Vance had written it under