e9c12ac8d703d9a536f23183edf8b22c

Marge smiled.“Yes, I guess it is a little creepy. But of course Steven’s body was removed after the crash, and in fact the only thing that still remains of what happened that night is this car wreck.”

“And now the bones,” I said.

“So were those Steven’s bones?” asked Dooley.

“I probably should ask you guys—you’re usually better informed than me when it comes to that sort of thing.”

“Not this time,” I said.

“No, we were busy looking for Angel—the girl who was abducted by aliens,” Dooley explained.

Marge’s smile dimmed. “Yes, terrible business, that. I can’t even begin to think what her poor mother must be going through. I should probably give her a call.”

“And Father Reilly, her poor father,” said Dooley before I could stop him.

Marge frowned.“Francis is Angel’s father? Are you sure?”

“Oh, yes. Shanille told us all about it. Father Reilly is Angel’s dad, only he can’t come out and say so because his church won’t allow it, and when they find out they’ll kick him out.”

Marge had brought a distraught hand to her face.“Oh, dear,” were her only words, but that was plenty to show us how greatly the news had affected her.

17

Alec Lip hurried into the hospital. His sister had called him with the news that Blake Carrington had suffered some kind of episode, and as the Chief was cursing under his breath, he hastened past the reception desk, then accosted the first person who looked like they worked at the hospital and demanded,“Blake Carrington. What room is he in?”

“I’m sorry, sir,” said the woman. “But you’ll have to ask at reception.”

Alec wildly wheeled around, then finally clapped eyes on the desk and saw that a line of five people had formed. Instead of practicing restraint, he elbowed his way to the front of the line and flashed his badge.“What room is Blake Carrington in?”

“Sir, you’re being very rude,” said the receptionist.

“Police emergency,” he practically barked, before realizing that he was behaving much like a bull in a China shop. So he repeated in more dulcet tones, “I really need to see Blake Carrington. Can you please tell me what room he’s in?”

The receptionist still didn’t seem all that eager to accommodate him, but finally consulted her computer and said, “Seven-thirteen. Walk down this corridor, then take the elevator to the seventh floor and—”

But he was already hurrying away, muttering an apology to the lady first in line, who was eyeing him as if he had personally assaulted her.

He was sweating profusely at this juncture, and cursed the fact that he hadn’t interviewed Blake sooner. Now he might die and he’d never be any the wiser!

He stabbed the elevator button several times until the doors finally closed with agonizing sluggishness, but not before a wizened smallish man with a wide smile on his face pushed them open again and inexorably wormed his way in.“Nice day, isn’t it, sir?” wheezed the man, who must have been at least a hundred if a day.

“What floor?” asked Alec.

“What did you say?” asked the man.

“What floor?” asked Alec, a little louder this time.

“I didn’t get that,” said the man. “Speak up, son.”

“What floor!” Alec practically bellowed this time.

The man’s smile vanished. “No need to shout, sir. I’m not deaf, you know.” And as he regarded Alec balefully, he pressed the button for the first floor, then changed his mind and pressed the button for the second floor, then, since you can never get enough of a good thing, proceeded to press the button for floors three, four, five and six. He gave a grunt of satisfaction for a job well done and declared, rather mystifyingly, “I’ll know it when I see it,” and rocked back on his heels, nearly keeling over as the elevator took off.

And so it was with a delay of perhaps fifteen minutes that Alec finally arrived at room seven-thirteen, and entered. He didn’t know what he’d expected, but the sight of Blake Carrington, hooked up to all kinds of tubes and wires, managed to give him a minor shock. A nurse was checking something, and looked up when he entered. “Is he conscious?” asked Alec, panting from the exertion of getting from point A to point B.

“He is,” said the nurse. “Are you family?”

“No, police,” he said, and flashed his badge for good measure, earning himself a scowl.

“He’s very weak,” the nurse said censoriously. “So whatever you say, keep it brief and don’t upset him.”

“Fine,” he said, holding up his hand in a sign of acknowledgment. Then he pulled up a chair, turned it around and plunked himself down, his meaty arms on the backrest.

Carrington had opened his eyes at this point, and was regarding him curiously.“Alec Lip,” he said in feeble tones. “To what do I owe the pleasure, Chief?”

“I have to talk to you, Blake,” said Alec.

“Well, speak up, man. I don’t have all day,” said Blake, then laughed at his joke, only to end up coughing a great deal.

“I just got word from the county coroner. He investigated the skeleton they found on that piece of land you own—the one behind—”