Faye Kellerman - 1998 - Moon Music - com v4.0 by Moon Music

Author:Moon Music [Music, Moon]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2012-05-10T19:53:24+00:00

TWENTY-EIGHT

POE BROUGHT the mirror in front of his face. Three neat, parallel lines running down his neck, dipping under his jawline, and ending at his Adam’s apple, all of it tidily raked like a Japanese rock garden. It felt worse than it looked. Or maybe that was the snakebite talking. It was hard to separate the two. Still, he was drunk with newfound freedom and grateful for being tube-free.

Dr. Guenswite had put down the scissors and the tweezers and was now lecturing Poe on how to keep the wound clean and how to change the dressing. A plastic surgeon, Guenswite was in his forties, his face Vegas bronze and his nails manicured pink and perfect. He wore a natty tie under his white coat. He spoke professorially. If Poe didn’t want scarring, he’d have to keep the area covered when he was outdoors. Sunlight was the wound’s worst enemy. Sunblock was not enough. He’d have to—

“I don’t care about scars,” Poe interrupted. “I’m not going around with a bandage on my face. It puts people off.”

The surgeon spoke authoritatively. “I understand the inconvenience. But I caution you against acting in a rash manner. You may regret it later.”

“I’m sure I will,” Poe answered. “In the meantime, leave it uncovered and I’ll take my chances.”

Rukmani broke in, “Paul, could you give me a minute with your patient?”

The surgeon twisted his wrist, flashing a gold Rolex. “I’m on a tight schedule, Rukmani.”

“You know, you’re just about done. How about if I finish up?”

Guenswite liked the suggestion. He quickly charted his patient, then left, giving them both a toothpaste-white smile. Rukmani waited a moment, then said, “He’s a dandy, but a damn good surgeon. And he’s right about the scarring.”

“I’m sure he is,” Poe said. “Gimme a mirror again.”

Rukmani complied. “You don’t have to be wrapped like a mummy, Rom. A simple gauze bandage just to protect—”

“I thought you said it looks masculine.”

“It looks like a baby version of Brittany Newel’s wounds.” She smiled. “Hey, where was Alison on the night of the murder?”

“Out,” Poe replied. “How do I know? I’ve had Patricia check up on her behind Jensen’s back.”

Rukmani paused. “I was kidding.”

“I know. But I wasn’t. Am I supposed to slap some antibacterial cream on this?”

“I’ll do it.” Rukmani took a tube of ointment and applied it to her gloved fingers. She dabbed it gently onto Poe’s cheek. Instinctively, he jerked away. One-time operant learning thanks to Alison’s nails.

“Stings?” Rukmani asked.

“A little.”

“Hold still.” She smoothed balm over his wounds. “Do you honestly… suspect Alison?”

“As you said, the wounds are similar. But that isn’t the only reason.”

Another application of topical. “What is it, then?”

He waited a beat. “Alison is just too familiar with the cases. I know she hears Jensen talking over the phone. But even so, she just knows too much.”

“For instance?”

“She knew that Jensen had had an affair with Newel. We kept that under tight wraps. Steve certainly wouldn’t have told her. So how did she find out?”

“Wives have ways.”

“She knew about our suspect’s hat.

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