giving as good as he was getting. His face was beet red, and he was being every bit as belligerent as Noah. The boys were clustered around her brother like a small legion of warriors ready to strike on command.
Laurant got out of the car before Nick had time to open the door for her. She saw him slip on his gun and tried not to let it bother her.
'I thought Tommy had to go to the hospital for more tests today,' she remarked.
'It’s after ten now,' he said. 'They’ve probably already been there.'
'Shouldn’t you do something about that?' she asked with a nod toward Noah, who had just poked Tommy in the chest. Her brother retaliated by blowing his whistle in Noah’s face.
Nick burst out laughing. 'Look at the boys’ faces.'
'They don’t like Noah shouting at their priest.'
'He’s just having some fun.'
'But I don’t think the boys understand that. Noah’s outnumbered.'
'You think so?'
She looked up at him. 'You don’t think so?'
'He can hold his own,' Nick said.
'I’m going inside,' she said, waving to her brother as she crossed the parking lot. She saw Monsignor waiting for her in the open doorway and hurried toward him.
Noah spotted her out of the corner of his eye. He stopped shouting in midinsult and turned his back on Tommy so he could get a better view.
'What are you staring at?' Tommy demanded, still panting from the shouting match.
'Laurant,' Noah answered. 'She’s got a great body.'
'You’re talking about his sister,' Nick reminded him, giving his shoulder a shove from behind.
'Yeah, I know. It’s hard to believe they’re related. She’s so damned pretty and sweet, and he’s such a jerk. By the way, your friend’s as blind as a bat,' he added. 'He can’t even tell a ball’s out of bounds when the line’s two feet away from him.'
The shouting match started all over again.
Ten minutes later the three of them came lumbering inside. Tommy was mopping his brow with the edge of his shirt, but Nick and Noah hadn’t even broken a sweat. They were all laughing as they headed for the kitchen to get something to drink.
Laurant stepped back into the living room to get out of their way, shifting the heavy laundry basket she was holding to her other hip.
'I can’t believe you offered those kids beers,' Tommy chided.
'It’s hot out,' Noah defended. 'I figured they’d want one.'
'They’re underage,' Tommy pointed out in exasperation. 'And it’s not even noon yet.'
Nick winked at her as he passed her again, carrying a six-pack of Coke. Noah told Tommy to stay inside while he and Nick talked to the boys on the porch.
'What was that all about?' she asked her brother.
'One of the boys told Monsignor he might have seen the car the guy was driving Saturday, so Nick is talking to him.'
'Did the boy tell the police?'
'No, none of the kids talk to the police,' he explained. 'But they all heard what happened, and as Frankie- he’s the leader of the pack-so eloquently put it, ‘Nobody’s gonna come in our ‘f’ing parish and mess with one of our ‘f’ing priests.’'
Laurant’s eyes widened. Tommy nodded. 'Frankie’s a good kid,' he said. 'But he has to keep up appearances. Being tough is important to all of them. Anyway, they started talking to their friends. They all hang out on the street, day and night, and one did remember seeing a strange van parked on Thirteenth Street, next to that empty lot. Nick’s hoping he can get a description of the guy driving. Keep your fingers crossed,' he added. Then, switching the subject, he asked, 'What are you doing with the laundry basket?'
'I can’t stand waiting. I have to keep busy, so I asked Monsignor if I could help with anything.'
Tommy opened the door to the basement, turned on the light, and watched her go down the wooden steps.
Dr. Morganstern arrived five minutes later. She could hear him talking when she came up the stairs. The men were standing together in the front hall. His agents were a full head taller, and so was Tommy, but they were all deferentially 'siring' him to death.
Laurant was nervous and apprehensive about meeting the doctor, and she hoped it didn’t show when Nick pulled her forward to introduce her.
He shook her hand, insisted she call him Pete, and then said, 'Why don’t we go sit down and figure out what we’re going to do.'
Instinctively she looked at Nick. He gave her a quick nod, and she followed Tommy into the living room. Morganstern stayed behind to speak to his agents. He spoke to Nick first, but in such a low voice, Laurant couldn’t hear what he was saying. Then he turned to Noah, and whatever he said to him so startled the agent he suddenly burst into laughter.
'God will strike me dead, sir.'
'And lose one of his trusted soldiers? I think not,' Pete responded as he led the two men into the living room. 'Besides, I’m fully convinced God has a sense of humor.'
Pete placed his briefcase on the table and flipped open the latches. Nick dropped down on the sofa next to Laurant, and Noah stood behind his superior, acting like a sentry, with his arms folded across his chest.
'I was wondering, sir, if you’d found out anything significant from that profiler you assigned to the case,' Noah said. 'What was his name, Nick?'
The doctor answered the question. 'His name is George Walker, and yes, he does have a few ideas that can help us. Nothing concrete unfortunately.'
'Don’t profilers figure things out from crime scenes?' Tommy asked. 'I read somewhere that that’s how they get their information.'
'Yes, that’s true,' Pete agreed. 'However, there are other ways too.'
'Like the tape?'
'Yes.'
'Tommy, will you please stop pacing around and sit down,' Laurant said.
Her brother motioned for her to move closer to Nick and then sat down on her other side. He didn’t know quite how to phrase the question he wanted to ask, and so he decided to be blunt.
'Exactly why are you here, Pete?'
'We’re very happy that you’re here,' Laurant interjected so that the doctor wouldn’t think her brother was as rude as he sounded. 'Isn’t that right, Tommy?' she added as she nudged him in the side.
'Yes, of course,' he agreed. 'Pete knows I appreciate his help. We go way back, don’t we?' he asked the psychiatrist.
Pete nodded. Tommy turned to Laurant to explain. 'I called Pete a couple of years ago about a troubled kid I was trying to help. It was out of my league, and Pete helped get him into a treatment center. That was the first time I used my connection through Nick, but since then, Pete’s come through for me with three other difficult cases. You never say no to me, do you?'
'I try not to,' Pete answered. 'I came here today to sit down with you, Tom. I wanted to review what happened in the confessional.'
'You’ve heard the tape,' Tommy reminded him.
'Yes, I have, and it’s been very helpful with the investigation. However, it doesn’t tell me what you were thinking while our unsub was talking. I’d like to take you through it again.'
'I’ve told Nick everything I remember. I’ve gone over it at least ten times.'
'Yeah, but Pete will be asking different questions,' Nick said.
'Okay. If you think it will help, I’ll go through it again.'
Pete smiled. 'Noah, why don’t you and Laurant wait in the other room. Nick, I’d like you to stay.'
Laurant followed Noah to the door then turned back just as Pete was opening his briefcase. 'Pete? When you’re finished, may I have a word in private with you?'
