'Patronage,' McCaskey said. 'That is certainly possible. We may know more after checking her background.'
He accessed the medical examiner's file and read her curriculum vitae.
'Red flag number one,' he said. 'She graduated from the University of Texas Medical School.'
'So did thousands of other men and women,' Maria said. 'That does not mean anything.'
'Do me a favor, hon? Don't play devil's advocate right now,' McCaskey said as sweetly as possible.
'Why? You told me you needed extra eyes and another brain working on this problem.'
'I do. But that doesn't mean shooting down everything I say.'
'That was not everything. It was one thing.'
'Okay,' he said. 'I'm sorry. Let's just drop it.'
'If I say something contrary, will you think I am covering for her?
Will I become a suspect then?'
'Don't be extreme,' McCaskey said, looking back at his wife. 'I was just thinking out loud. I don't want to hit a speed bump every time I open my mouth. Look, just forget I said anything.'
'You are the one being extreme. I was simply pointing out that coming from Texas may be a false blip. Each of Senator Orr's senior staff members comes from a state of the union. Would they all be flags as well?'
McCaskey turned back to the computer monitor. He intended to let the subject drop. He hoped that she would, too. He did not want to explain to the Spanish-born lady that Texans shared a special bond, that they helped Texans, that he would not be surprised to learn that Senator Orr had promised her the surgeon general job if she helped him.
Yes, it was a leap. But that was what detective work was about.
McCaskey heard Maria breathing heavily through her nose. He tried to ignore her as he continued to read. Following her internship at the Cambridge Medical Center in Minnesota, Dr. Hennepin went to work at the Walter Reed Army Medical Center Department of Clinical Investigation. She was eventually promoted to assistant chief and placed in charge of the team performing oversight of research involving human, animal, and laboratory-related studies. When Hennepin was passed over for directorship of the division, she filed a discrimination complaint with the medical center and the United States Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. Three weeks later, she went to work as the assistant medical examiner. Within the year, Dr.
Hennepin had the top spot. There was no indication that anyone, Senator Orr included, had helped her. Of course, that was the kind of information that might be deleted if Dr. Hennepin were planning on becoming an assassin.
'Well? Did you find any other red banners?' Maria asked.
'Flags. And I'm not sure.'
'I learned to give injections, too,' Maria said testily. 'My little sister Penelope is a diabetic.'
'You were with me last night,' McCaskey said. 'Listen, honI said I'm sorry. Can we please just let it drop?'
'With pleasure,' she said.
McCaskey could hear the angry pout in her voice. This was not going to be buried until he put a stake in its heart. And maybe that was his responsibility. Some of the useful speculation in this case had come from her. He closed the Op-Center site, turned back to his wife, and took her hands.
'Maria, I do need help, your help,' he said. 'We have a different idea what that entails, but I was wrong. I should have deferred to you.'
'Are you just saying that?'
'No. I got defensive. This whole situation, this whole goddamn week has been a nightmare. Forgive me?'
Maria hesitated, but not as long as she would have if she were really angry. 'All right,' she said. 'Then let me ask you something that I have been wondering.'
