make yourself ill. I’m sure Mr. Flynn is getting the best
of care.”
“It’s very kind of you to look in on us,” Judith said,
trying to smile. “We hope you have a good night, too.”
The obvious, if tactful, dismissal seemed to hurt Mr.
Mummy’s feelings. “Really, I didn’t mean to intrude.
Or to upset you. I had no idea that the Mr. Flynn who
was—”
“Forget it,” Renie said with a wave of her hand. “See
you in the morning.”
Mr. Mummy, with a rueful expression on his round
face, nodded and left. Judith turned to Renie. “He was
right about contacting the police. I should have done
that right away. But I’ve been too worried about Joe to
think logically.”
“You probably won’t learn much even if you call,”
Renie pointed out. “Unless, of course, you could talk
to Woody.”
“Woody.” Judith pressed her palms together, as if in
prayer. “Of course. I’ll call him at home.” She reached
for the phone.
SUTURE SELF
235
Sondra Price answered right away. “Judith?” she
said in surprise. “How are you? How’s Joe? I’ve been
afraid to call the hospital.”
“You know?” Judith asked, giving Renie a high sign.
“Yes,” Sondra replied. “When Woody heard what
happened, he demanded to be assigned to the case. Do
you want to talk to him?”
“Of course,” Judith said. “I’m so relieved that
Woody’s involved.”
“How are
flowers yesterday, but nobody’s delivering until the
streets are clear.”
Judith informed Sondra that she was doing all right.
Sondra, sensing Judith’s urgency, put Woody on the
line.
“I don’t know much,” Joe’s former partner admitted
in his mellow baritone. “Joe had talked to me about
the previous homicides involving homeless people,
but there wasn’t much I could tell him. I hadn’t
worked either of those cases, so all I could do was
look over the reports the other detectives had filed.”
He paused, then his voice turned apologetic. “Joe may
have mentioned that, as a rule, indigent murders don’t
get a high priority. It’s a terrible shame, but with such
a shortage of personnel these days, that’s the way it
is.”
