An Affair Of Sorcerers

'Do you want me to leave?' Regina asked, reacting to my tone and starting to rise.

'It's all right,' Garth said, gripping her elbow and gently pulling her back down into her chair. 'I don't really have that much to say, Mongo. I think you'll be wasting your time on that one. You know the background of the case?'

'Some of it. I know Morales was involved in a research project, and his work with the two doctors was part of it. He was working with their patients.'

Garth nodded. 'Samuels-the M.D. he killed-had filed a complaint on him, something about practicing medicine without a license. Samuels claimed Morales had administered drugs to a patient-something he'd been specifically prohibited from doing. It was channeled to me because Morales is billed as a psychic healer.'

'Why is everyone so damn sure that Morales is the killer?'

'He was found standing over the body. Samuels and Jordon met every Thursday night at their offices to go over their business affairs. Morales got there early one night and slit Samuels' throat. Dr. Jordon came in a few minutes later and found Morales with the body. Morales had dropped the knife he'd used into a vial of acid.'

'Then it was Jordon who reported the murder?'

'Right.'

'That I didn't know. Sounds suspicious.'

Garth smiled condescendingly. 'Why? Jordon wasn't anywhere he wasn't supposed to be.'

'What does Morales say happened?'

'He claims he received a call from Samuels asking him to meet Samuels a few minutes before Samuels' meeting with Jordon. When he got there, he saw the body and went over to it; that's when Dr. Jordon walked in. Hell, what would you expect him to say?'

'Does he have a lawyer?'

'Legal Aid.'

'People who know the man say he's not a killer.'

Garth shrugged. 'Hey, he's a real nice old fellow; but then, even nice old fellows have been known to kill.'

'How much investigating are you doing?'

'We're looking into it, but there just isn't anyone else with a motive to kill Samuels.'

'No one that you know of, and you're not likely to find anyone else without a little digging. A complaint isn't that strong a motive, Garth.'

'Hey, what can I tell you? He was found standing next to the body.'

'Can I get in to see him?'

He thought about it, said: 'Let me know when you're ready. If Morales and his lawyer don't have any objections, I'll see what I can do.' He paused, drummed his fingers on the table. 'Personally, I like the old man; I hope you do find out something. But I don't think you will.'

'Thanks, brother. I'm not sure when I'll get to that, but I would appreciate it if you'd check with Morales. Tell him I'd like to help, if I can.'

'Fair enough.'

I knew I needed sleep, but wasn't sure I could. I shaved with Garth's razor, then took a hot shower. I dressed again, then lay down on the couch. I'd intended simply to rest until a more reasonable hour when I could try to reach Madeline Jones-but I was asleep by the time I put my feet up.

Chapter 6

My sleep was filled with recurring dreams of Kathy bursting into flames. I awoke with a start, realized where I was and anxiously glanced at my watch. It was nine thirty. Despite the fact that I'd had only two hours of troubled sleep, I felt oddly invigorated; it was an unnatural, nervous energy, fueled by anxiety-but I was grateful for it. It was time to go out and do battle again.

Garth and Regina were gone. I made myself a cup of acrid instant coffee, then called the university and asked for Madeline's extension. She answered the phone herself.

'Hey, darlin',' I said. 'Guess who?'

'Mongo!' she exclaimed in her sultry, breathy voice. 'My God, I haven't seen you in months.'

'Well, that's not my fault; I'm not the one traipsing all over the world. I've got all the crooks I need right here in New York.' I paused, lowered my voice. 'Mad, I'd like to talk. Got a half hour for me?'

'Sure,' she purred in a tone that always made me feel flushed. 'And here I was afraid you'd forgotten all about me.'

'I'll be there in a few minutes; I believe I'm going to have to take a cold shower first.'

She laughed huskily, hung up.

I drove to the university, parked, then walked to the Hall of Sciences, where I found Madeline in her suite of offices. If there was order in the universe, it certainly wasn't reflected in Madeline Jones's working quarters. As usual, her office was cluttered with charts, telescope parts and other astronomical paraphernalia. A coffeepot was percolating on a hot plate on a corner of her desk, its pleasant aroma filling the room.

Madeline's hair, a natural strawberry blond in old photos she'd shown me, was now a burnished silver. She wore it long, swept back from her face in a manner that gave her a sleek, sexy look. She was pushing fifty, but daily, vigorous jogging had given her the face and body of a thirty-year-old, and she had the glittering, playful eyes of a teen-ager. She was a sensual woman, and made no effort to hide the fact; she was attractive-and energetic- enough to have carried on a string of affairs with a procession of lab assistants twenty years her junior. Madeline Jones might have been many things, but a tease wasn't one of them. I'd had more than one thinly veiled invitation from her, but had passed each time. I wasn't sure why; maybe she scared the hell out of me-or maybe I simply didn't want to jeopardize a cherished friendship.

Madeline glanced up from a celestial map she'd been studying and grinned at me as I entered the office. 'Hello, Sugar,' she said throatily, sea-blue eyes flashing. 'Remember to take your cold shower?'

'Please don't test me, darlin',' I said, going across the room and kissing her hand. 'Damn, you're a good-looking woman!'

'You look tired,' she said seriously.

'I am, babe.'

'Oh!' she said playfully, pointing to the package I carried under my arm. 'You've brought me a present!'

'Not exactly, Mad,' I replied, unwrapping the gown and handing it to her. 'I'm told you might be able to tell me what these symbols mean.'

Madeline tentatively took the garment from my hand and examined it. When she looked up, her eyes were veiled. 'What makes you think I'd know anything about these designs?' she asked guardedly.

'Garth told me about you, Mad. Lieutenant Frederickson. Did you know he was my brother?'

'I knew,' she said icily. 'He had no right betraying my confidence.'

It was the first time I'd ever seen her angry; somehow, it made her even more beautiful. 'Garth wouldn't have done it if it weren't absolutely necessary, Mad. This is an emergency. A little girl's life could depend on what I can find out about the symbols on this gown-and how fast.'

I quickly filled Madeline in on the details of what had happened during the night. As Mad listened, her face became stiff and she seemed to grow increasingly agitated. When I told her about Kathy's condition, she raised the back of her hand to her mouth as if to stifle a cry. When I finished, she abruptly turned and walked to the opposite side of the room.

'The girl's lucky she has you as a friend, Mongo,' the astronomer said very softly. 'You were right; the symbols do mean something. I don't know what's been done to her, but something has been. . done. The girl's life is definitely in danger. The gown is covered with magical vengeance and attack symbols. It's meant that she should die. . and I think her death is meant as a warning to someone.'