“There’s a sister?”
“There was. She died a while back. Look, I’ll put that stuff together. I know where to look for everything on the Conroys. Who’s the other target?”
“Prison doctor from Rockview. Herman Volker. When I did a background on him for my story I got as far as him being from Europe. The name’s German, but the accent isn’t. Sounds Polish or something. Lived here a long time. Medical degree from Jefferson in Philly. ”
“Okay. I’ll get what I can get. Anything else?”
“No, sweetie, but I need this ASAP. ”
“Is this tied with what’s happening at Doc’s?”
“I don’t know. We stopped there and ran into Dez, and that could have gone better. She ran us off. ”
“Ouch,” she said. “I’ll see if I can find out what’s going on out there. Lots of cops on that one and more coming in, and they just made a second call for ambulances. ”
“Who’s hurt?”
“Unknown. They’ve switched to a tactical channel that we can’t get. ”
Trout felt a momentary flash of panic in his chest. Please don’t let it be Dez, he thought.
Marcia, insightful as ever, said, “I’ll call Flower over at the station and see if I can pry anything out of her. Dez probably beat someone up because he looked like you. ”
“Nice. ”
“Seriously, Billy, I’m sure everything’s copacetic,” Marcia laughed.
“Thanks. You rock, Marcia. ”
“You have no idea,” she said with a wicked laugh and hung up.
Goat was grinning as Trout put his phone away.
“What?” asked Trout.
“When are you going to tap that?”
“She’s a coworker. ”
“Uh-huh. Not after hours and not between the sheets. She’s a wild woman. ”
“How the hell would you know?” growled Trout.
Goat’s grin broadened. “The only way there is to know. ”
Trout looked at him. “Is there anyone you haven’t screwed?”
“In Stebbins?”
“In North America. ”
Goat considered. “I haven’t screwed that cop with the tits. ”
Trout shook his head. “You’re not her type. ”
“Why? ’Cause I’m Jewish?”
“No. ’Cause you’re sane. ”