Fever Dream

ignorant bystander, I would say that--given the position of the bullet hole and the placement of the victim--it might be worth examining the shrubbery at the southeast corner of the building as a likely place from which the shot originated.'

The detective's eyes flickered to the building and along the trajectory, immediately comprehending the geometry of the situation. 'Right.' He waved two detectives over and spoke to them in a low voice.

Immediately Pendergast began moving away.

'Sir? Just a minute, sir.'

But Pendergast was already out of hearing, mingling with the general hubbub of the crowd. He drifted toward the building, Hayward in tow, keeping with the moving masses of people. But instead of heading toward their parked car, he turned and entered the Vital Records Building.

'That was an interesting exchange,' Hayward said.

'It seemed prudent to furnish them with any available assistance. We need every possible edge we can obtain in this case. However, I believe'--Pendergast continued as they approached the receptionist--'that our adversary might just have made his second false move.'

'Which is?'

Instead of answering, Pendergast turned to the clerk. 'We're interested in seeing your files on a June Brodie. They may still be out of the stacks--a gentleman, I believe, was looking at them earlier today.'

As the woman was retrieving the file from a sorting cart, Hayward turned to Pendergast. 'Okay. I'll bite this one time. What was the first false move?'

'Missing me at Penumbra and hitting Vincent instead.'

54

New York City

DR. JOHN FELDER STEPPED DOWN FROM THE witness stand at the involuntary- commitment hearing and took his seat. He avoided looking in the direction of Constance Greene, the accused; there was something profoundly unsettling about the steady gaze from those violet eyes. Felder had said what he had to say and what his professional belief was: that she was profoundly mentally ill and should be involuntarily committed. It was moot, because she was already charged with first-degree murder with bail denied, but it was still a necessary stage in the legal process. And, Felder had to admit, in this particular case it was an eminently valid determination. Because despite her self-possession, despite her high intelligence and apparent lucidity, Felder was now convinced she was deeply insane--unable to tell right from wrong.

There was some shuffling of papers and clearing of throats as the judge wrapped up the hearing. 'I note for the record,' he intoned, 'that the alleged mentally ill person has not availed herself of legal counsel.'

'That's correct, Your Honor,' said Greene primly, hands folded on her prison-garb skirt.

'You have a right to speak at this proceeding,' the judge said. 'Is there anything you wish to say?'

'Not at present, Your Honor.'

'You have heard the testimony of Dr. Felder, who says he believes you are a danger to yourself and to others and should be involuntarily committed to an institution for the mentally ill. Do you have any comment on that testimony?'

'I would not wish to dispute an expert.'

'Very well.' The judge handed a sheaf of papers to a court officer, and received another in return. 'And now I have a question of my own.' He pulled his glasses down his nose and looked at her.

Felder was mildly surprised. He had attended dozens of involuntary-commitment hearings, but rarely, if ever, had a judge asked questions directly of the accused. Usually the judge concluded with a pontification of some kind, replete with moral urgings and pop-psychology observations.

'Ms. Greene, no one seems to be able to establish your identity or even verify your existence. The same is true of your baby. Despite a diligent search, there appears to be no evidence that you gave birth. The latter point is a problem for your trial judge. But I also face significant legal issues in committing you involuntarily without a Social Security number or evidence that you are an American citizen. In short, we do not know who you really are.'

He paused. Greene looked at him attentively, hands still folded.

'I wonder if you're ready to tell this court the truth about your past,' the judge said in a stern but not unkindly tone. 'Who you really are, and where you are from.'

'Your Honor, I've already told the truth,' said Constance.

'In this transcript you indicate that you were born on Water Street in the 1970s. But the record shows this cannot be true.'

'It isn't true.'

Felder felt a certain weariness creep in. The judge should know better; this was fruitless, a waste of the court's time. Felder had patients to attend to--paying patients.

'You say it right here, in this transcript I have in my hand.'

'I do not say it.'

The judge, exasperated, began to read from the transcript:

Question: When were you born?

Answer: I don't recall.

Question: Well, of course you wouldn't recall, but surely you know the date of your birth?

Answer: I'm afraid I don't.