Why Russ Donahue was staying was not a mystery. “I used to be a cop,” he said. “I trust cops. I trust Philadelphia cops. I don’t think they’re corrupt, and I don’t think they’d railroad an innocent man if they knew he was innocent; but sometimes they don’t know, or they think it’s only a matter of time before everybody knows, and then you’ve got trouble.”
“What about Marty Gayle? Do you trust him?”
Russ shrugged. “I don’t know him. I never worked with him, in or out of uniform. He’s got a bad reputation about some things. Why? Don’t you like him?”
Gregor didn’t answer. He was used to working for the police. And, really, given the way Jackman had set it all up, he was working for the police now. What he was really used to was police support of his work, and he didn’t like the fact that he wasn’t getting it.
“That makes seven,” Russ said finally. “How could somebody have seven bodies buried in a cellar without anybody knowing about it?”
“We don’t know that it’s bodies, yet,” Gregor said. “Seven body bags doesn’t necessarily mean seven bodies. They may be taking out pieces, or collections of pieces, rather than whole bodies. Skeletal remains.”
Russ coughed.
Gregor looked at his watch. It was going on three o’clock. The scene was surreal. He was tired and cold. He was too far away from the action.
He got the cell phone Bennis had given him out of his pocket and opened it up. The police showed no signs of packing up to go, but they would, and sooner rather than later. He punched in Jackman’s home number and waited until John picked up.
It’s me.
“What the hell time is it?”
“About three. I can’t believe you haven’t been awake during all this. Do you even know about all this?”
“Of course I know about it. Body or body parts or bodies in a cellar; belongs to a house where one of the former suspects lived. For this I have to stay up?”
“I’m not exactly the most popular person at the crime scene at the moment,” Gregor said. “If you really want me to help with this, I have to have access to information, and the best information is on the scene and fresh. Right now I’m standing across the street from the police cordon talking to Russ Donahue about Bennis Hannaford’s brain.”
“Who are the detectives at the scene?”
“Marty Gayle.”
“That’s it? Just him? His partner isn’t around?”
“Not that I could see.”
“His partner has to be around, Gregor. You don’t go out to a scene like that on your own. Is there some kind of emergency with Cord Leehan that he couldn’t come?”
“I haven’t the faintest idea.”
“Damn.” There was the sound of rustling on the other side of the phone, rustling that Gregor was sure was not caused by John alone. He filed that away in the back of his mind. John was running for mayor after all. There was only so far he could ride the story about being “the most eligible bachelor in public office.” “Damn,” he said again. “Is Rob there?”
“No, but I wouldn’t start screaming about that. The DA isn’t usually sitting around at crime scenes in the middle of the night.”
“I know, but this isn’t just any crime scene. All right. I’ll call Rob. I’ll get Rob to call Cord Leehan.”
“That would be good.”
“You know what the problem is, having worked in a department before you become commissioner of police? You know way too much about all the personalities.”
“I’d think that would help.”
“I think that would lead to more reasons for committing homicide than I’d care to count. Sit tight, Rob’s on his way. And he’ll call Marty. And so will I if I have to. Are there signs that the circus is leaving town?”
“Not at the moment.”
“What are they doing out there? They’ve been there for hours.”
“Well, they’ve brought out seven body bags.”
“Shit,” Jackman said again. Then he said, just under his breath, in just enough of a whisper for Gregor to hear, “Holy Mary, Mother of God, Pray for us who have recourse to thee.”
“Why are you calling on the Virgin Mary?”
“I do it every time I swear,” Jackman said. “You just haven’t noticed it before. Sister would not have been happy with references to excrement. Go, Gregor. Get things done on your side. I’ll get things done on mine.”
There was nothing to get done on Gregor’s side, so he closed the cell phone and put it back in his pocket. Then he started walking back across the street toward the police line. They could certainly keep him out; but if they did they’d hear about it from Jackman, and he had an idea that they knew it.