Genesis by Robin Cook

Author:Robin Cook
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: Thriller
Publisher: Pan Macmillan
Published: 2019-12-03T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 21

May 9th

12:45 P.M.

As Aria approached the front entrance to the old, ramshackle OCME Forensic Pathology building, she had to pass under scaffolding, the presence of which was odd since there didn’t appear to be any construction going on. To Aria it was a curious New York phenomenon that she had noted since becoming a Manhattan resident. There was scaffolding spread all around most NYC neighborhoods, and it stayed up for years without any apparent rationale. Nobody seemed to question it. There was even semi-permanent scaffolding with electric lighting around the Plaza Hotel building with no apparent construction that she passed most mornings on her way to the Langone Medical Center.

Once inside she flashed her ID card to the receptionist, Marlene Wilson, who manned a high-topped counter and guarded entrance both into the identification area, where most visitors were directed to identify the dead, and into the building proper where the chief and deputy chief had their offices. Except for all the medical examiners and the Department of Toxicology, most other OCME functions had been moved to the much more palatial high-rise building at 421 East 26th Street. Hoping to avoid running into Dr. McGovern, Aria used the stairs rather than the elevator to get up to the second floor.

As she passed through the area charitably labeled lunch room with its sad Formica-topped card tables and molded plastic chairs, she tried to be as unobtrusive as possible since Dr. McGovern was a frequent visitor, particularly at lunchtime. Although the room was reasonably crowded, Dr. McGovern wasn’t one of the patrons, but Dr. Tad Muller, Aria’s resident colleague, was. Despite her efforts, he caught sight of her and called her over to his table. He was lunching with several of the mortuary techs. Reluctantly, she veered in his direction.

“Hey, Aria,” Tad said, leaning in her direction and speaking under his breath. “I’m glad I saw you. I wanted to warn you that Dr. McGovern is looking for you, and he’s not all that happy. He said you weren’t answering any texts or voice mail.”

“If you run into him, don’t tell him that you saw me,” Aria said. She briefly looked at the mortuary techs sitting with Tad, daring them to say anything as they had undoubtedly heard the exchange.

“He seemed pretty uptight,” Tad said in a more normal tone. “I’d recommend you call him. I know there are some interesting cases that came in during the morning that he wants us to observe.”

“I’m sure there are,” she said. “But I’m flat-out busy on the one that I actually did yesterday, rather than merely observe, and that promises to teach me more about forensics than standing around holding the dick I don’t have, watching a couple more autopsies.”

“I think you’re making a mistake,” he said, clearly offended.

“You’re entitled to your opinion.” She was tempted to add and you’re a hopeless ass-kisser, but she restrained herself. She glanced briefly again at the mortuary techs, whose bored expressions had changed to smirks. They at least seemed to have a sense of humor.

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