Betrayed (Rosato & DiNunzio, #2)(58)

“Hi, is he in?” Judy asked, then introduced herself because she didn’t recognize the voice as Terry’s, Kelin’s secretary.

“No, he’s out for the rest of the day. I can tell him you called.”

“May I have his cell number?” Judy stuffed the Adler file into her messenger bag. She wanted to get on a better footing with Kelin before Morrell’s deposition, but she’d be damned if she’d apologize. On the contrary, the way he’d overacted made her think that she was on the right track. She knew that Govinda would tell Morrell and that both men would have a few sleepless nights, which was the desired effect.

“I’m not permitted to give out his cell number. Sorry.”

“He knows me, I’m opposing counsel, at Rosato and DiNunzio.” Judy wedged her laptop into the messenger bag next to the Adler file.

“I’m sorry, I’m just not permitted to do that.”

“Is Terry in? She knows me.”

“She’s on vacation this week.”

“Okay, could you just tell him I called and he can return my call at my cell number?” Judy gave the secretary her number while she hoisted her messenger bag on her shoulder, then went into her desk and grabbed her purse.

“Will do, thank you.”

“Thanks.” Judy hung up, went online, and Googled the Chester County Coroner as she left her office. She pressed in the phone number and hurried down the hallway while the call connected, wondering if she could ever do just one thing at a time.

“Coroner’s Office of Chester County, may I help you? This is the assistant coroner.”

“Yes, thanks, I’m Judy Carrier and I’m calling about the autopsy of Iris Juarez. I think the results were supposed to be in today.”

“Are you next of kin?”

“No, there’s no next of kin in the country. I’m calling for my aunt, who will be taking care of the burial.” Judy caught sight of Allegra in the library, opening cardboard boxes of the damages cases, and she took a quick turn to check in with her. Allegra looked up expectantly, and Judy flashed her the one-minute signal.

The assistant coroner continued, “In that case, there will be a fee for the report. Let me check if it’s available. Please stay on the line.”

“Thank you.” Judy put the phone on mute and peeked in the cardboard box, which groaned with thick red accordions. She said to Allegra, “Are you checking to make sure we have the right files?”

“Yes.” Allegra nodded, holding the list of case captions that Judy had emailed her.

“Good. Set them up for new matter reports, too.”

“I will, but there are so many boxes, like three hundred.”

“Why so many?”

“The medical files take up so much room. Some were scanned onto discs, but some of the cases are so old, it’s mostly hard copy.”

“Good job.” Judy gave her a quick pat on the back, then turned to go. “Call me if you have any questions. I’ll be at the hospital.”

“I hope everything is okay,” Allegra called after her.

“Hello, Ms. Carrier?” said the assistant coroner, returning. “I’m sorry, but that report has not been completed.”

“Has the autopsy been performed?” Judy headed for the reception area, where Marshall stood beside her desk with the duffel bag of cash. There were two clients in the waiting room, and Marshall handed the bag over discreetly, then they nodded good-bye to each other.

The assistant coroner was saying, “Yes, the autopsy has been performed, but the report will not be complete until the close of business today. You’ll have to call back then.”

“Okay, I will. By the way, is there a toxicology report?” Judy hit the DOWN button for the elevator, hoisting the heavy bag to her shoulder.

“Yes, there is an initial toxicology report and it screens for the presence of illegal drugs.”

“What about legal drugs? Does it test for that, too?” Judy wondered if Iris was abusing prescription medication, even counterfeit prescription medication.

“No. Further testing would be required to determine the presence of legal drugs, but there’s a fee for that and we don’t do it unless the coroner determines that it would be necessary.” The elevator arrived, the stainless steel doors rattled open, and Judy stepped inside the cab.

“Where is the body now?”

“In the hospital morgue. We should be releasing it tomorrow, so you may want to contact your funeral director. He will call us to coordinate the release on your behalf, rather, on your aunt’s behalf.”

“Thank you. I’ll call later for the report.”

“Good-bye now.”

“Bye.” Judy got off the elevator cab on the bottom floor and hurried through the crowded lobby with the duffel, trying not to be nervous that she was carrying so much cash. She acted normal, checking her email on the fly like everybody else. She scrolled through the first ten incoming and ascertained nothing needed immediate attention as she hurried through the exit doors, hit the pavement, strode to the curb, and spotted a Yellow cab almost instantly.

“Yo!” she called, flagging it down. She jogged to meet the cab at the curb, jumped inside, and closed the door behind her. The cabbie was a young African-American man, and he turned to her.