'Shh.'
'Eh...'
Closed eyes.
Soft snores.
Stephanie held her for several moments, then slipped her hands free.
'Must be the magic touch,' she said sadly. Looping her stethoscope over her neck, she walked out of the room.
A nurse and a policewoman arrived soon after.
I gave the cop the packet of pills and sleepwalked my way to the teak doors.
Out in Five East, people were moving and talking, but I didn't focus on them. I rode the elevator down to the basement. The cafeteria was closed. Wondering if Chip had a key to that, too, I bought coffee from a machine, found a pay phone, and sipped as I asked information for a number on a Jennifer Leavitt. Nothing.
Before the operator could break the connection, I had him check for any leavitts in the Fairfax district. Two. One of them matched my vague memory of Jennifer's parents' home number.
My watch said 9:30. I knew Mr. Leavitt went to sleep early in order to make it to the bakery by 5:00 A.M. Hoping it wasn't too late, I punched numbers.
'Hello.'
'Mrs. Leavitt? It's Dr. Delaware.'
'Doctor. How are you?'
'Time, and you?'
'Very good.'
Am I calling too late?'
'Oh, no. We're just watching television. But Jenny's not here.
She has her own apartment now-my daughter the doctor, very independent.'
'You must be proud of her.'
'What's not to be proud of? She's always made me proud. Do you want her new number?'
'Please.'
'Hold on... She's in Westwood Village, right near the U.
With another girl, a nice girl... Here it is. If she's not there, she's probably in her office--she's got an office, too.' Chuckle.
'That's great.' I copied down the numbers.
An office,' she said. 'You know, raising a child like that, it's a privilege.... I miss her. For my taste, the house is too quiet.'
'I'll bet.'
'You were very helpful to her, Dr. Delaware. College at her age wasn't so easy--you should be proud of yourself'
No one answered at Jennifer's apartment. But she picked up her office phone after one ring: 'leavitt.'
'Jennifer, it's Alex Delaware.'
'Hi, Alex. Did you solve your Munchausen by proxy?'
