The Other Path
Chapter 72
As Kate sinks heavily into the couch, Cronut pads over and nuzzles her hand. Unconsciously, she strokes his warm fur. Rick eases himself down beside his wife. "Hard day at crimebusting?"
"Once Tori tracked them down, I spent hours trying to get George Robinson's emails. First, the ISP demanded a court order. Then I couldn't find Markway. When the storm hit, he was on the golf course, so he retired to the 19th hole until the worst of it passed. Lightning knocked out the nearest cell towers, so I couldn't have reached him anyway. Neither could his clerk. By the time I got to explain why I needed a court order, it was late this afternoon. And I spent the rest of my shift trying to find someone at the ISP who could handle my request."
"And did you?"
"With Tori and me working in tandem. Someone who claimed his name was Scott P. identified himself as a senior supervisor – whatever that means. I think he was in India. He promised he'd try to expedite my request but couldn't give me a time to expect the emails. I'm hoping for tomorrow, but I'm not holding my breath."
"Don't you have a checkup with Dr. Drake tomorrow?"
"You know I do. I saw you put the appointment in your phone."
"Then, if the emails arrive, it will be while you're at the doctor's office – the law of maximum universal contrariness."
"I've never heard of that law. You made it up, didn't you?"
"More like observed its existence. It's a corollary to Murphy's Law or perhaps a more wide-ranging restatement. I thought I might make it a catchphrase for one of my characters. Storm would believe it, but he wouldn't put it that way. Rook, maybe, but it's a little late to introduce it now. It might fit into my GAN somewhere."
"Your GAN?"
"Great American novel. But anyway, I want to go to your appointment with you."
"You'll just be sitting in the waiting room."
"Sitting is what I do best right now anyway."
"What about Cronut? Are you going to leave him alone this soon?"
"As a matter a fact, he has a play date with Stromboli, Mrs. Lucci's pug. He won't be alone."
"Then I guess I have no choice."
"Unless you want me to nag you about it for the next seven months or so."
Kate sighs.
"Your blood pressure's up a little, Kate. It's still within normal limits, but we'll want to watch it. Any symptoms concerning you?" Drake queries.
"The smells of things besides coffee are starting to make me nauseous. I skip elevators whenever I can."
"That's not unusual. And at this point, taking the stairs is healthy for you, as long as you don't overdo it. Anything else?"
"It – it doesn't matter."
"Everything about your health matters, Kate."
"It's just my husband is recovering from getting shot. And he's not supposed to – you know – yet. But I really want…."
"Meaning you're horny as hell. That's not unusual either, Kate. It's the result of spiking hormones. For some women, increased libido is the first sign of pregnancy. Usually, it peaks around the end of the first trimester. But Kate, there are many solutions, with and without your husband. And his doctor can advise the two of you about any limitations. Your husband's a writer, isn't he? I'd assume he's creative."
"Very."
"So work something out. It will be good for both of you."
"I don't even know how to bring it up."
"Did he come with you today?"
"I couldn't stop him."
"You want me to facilitate the discussion?"
"Would you do that?"
"Your mental health is as important as your physical health. I'd be happy to."
For a few moments, Rick stares silently ahead as Kate threads the car through mid-town traffic en route to the loft. Finally, he clears his throat. "That was unexpected. Kate, why didn't you just tell me? I would have bought out the inventory of Sex-A-Gogo if you needed it. You know I'll do anything for you."
Kate taps her fingertips against the wheel. "That's the point, Babe. I know you would. You jumped in front of a goddamn bullet for me. I didn't want you to hurt yourself anymore."
"And all the stuff about PT exercises?"
Kate reaches across the console to touch Rick's thigh. "They would help you get your strength back – but safely."
"Ah! Well, Drake said I should talk to my doctor. Maybe this time it's you who should go with me."
Kate feels the heat rising in her cheeks. "Uh, can you just do it on the phone with the speaker on?"
"Yeah. I think I can manage that."
A familiar ding alerts Kate to a text. "Can you check that out, Babe?"
Rick grabs Kate's cell from a cupholder between them. "It's from Tori. The Robinson emails are in."
"Great! I'll drop you at the loft, and I can go over them at the precinct."
"Or, you can have Tori send them to you. We can pick up Cronut from Mrs. Lucci's apartment and go over them together. I'd love to see what Jolene Loesser-Timmons has to say about her plagiaristic ways. As a writer, I take a personal affront to such behavior."
"I'm guessing that George Robinson wasn't too happy with it either."
Rick taps on a line of a printout. "Hey, Kate, listen to this. After George tells Jolene that he wants to discuss the discrepancies in her work, she informs him she will be in New York for a while and would like to meet with him face to face."
"Did they set a time?" Kate asks.
Rick flips through several pages. "Yes, here it is. It was a few days ago, the day George was murdered. And he gave her the address of his apartment. Kate, Cronut wouldn't have been upset by Jolene's presence. George let her in. To his furry companion, that would have made her a friend."
"But how do we get from a visit by one of George's clients to having her poison his coffee?"
"The scenario is painting itself in my mind. But getting Jolene to admit to it will take an application of Beckett interrogation artistry. Jolene said she was going to spend some time in New York. Maybe she's still here."
"We should be able to track her by credit or debit card transactions. I'll put the boys on it. They don't have much else to do right now."
"That's police work. How about our personal business? Are you ready for me to make my phone call?"
"Only if you don't tell the doctor I'm listening in."
With a wry smile, Rick shakes his head. "The kick-ass Kate Beckett gets shy at the damndest times. All right. I'll talk to the man. You be a fly on the wall. But feel free to start buzzing anytime you're ready."
"I'm going to call the boys. But as soon as we get home, let's do it."
Jolene gazes around her hotel room. At the first knock on the door after she returned from Robinson's place, she was sure it was the police coming after her. But it was only housekeeping, bringing a replacement coverlet. Apparently, when the maid was cleaning, she'd noticed a tear in the one on Jolene's bed. Since then, Jolene calmed down a bit. Her other business in New York, digging through the back rooms of used book stores, is almost finished. It's time to think about going home.
