Now that Jeffrey Byrne was still among the missing, Leland Anderson promised to send someone to the Byrne residence to let Randy know the body in Norfolk was not his father. But Anderson was quick to point out that the Byrne case was still closed as far as Parkside was concerned.

Dean returned to the room where Cynthia Byrne was slowly returning to the world of the living. She sat on the edge of the bed and had been ill again, but was awake and alert. He told her of his conversation with Parkside and she was appreciative that word was being conveyed to Randy. However, she still wanted to speak to her son personally as soon as she felt able.

"God, that was terrible," she said. "I can't do this again when they find Jeff. Someone else will have to identify him." Dean did-n't answer. She stood up, brushing down her skirt and looked at him. "Are they always...that bloated?" she asked.

"Wassermann had a pretty good head start," he answered. "I think he actually lost weight."

"You knew him?"

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"Sort of." Dean was getting tired of telling the story of the ever-popular Wassermann twins, but related it one more time.

"What was he doing here? We're hundreds of miles from Parkside."

Dean hadn't given that much thought but he remembered what Vinnie Baratto had said about the Maryland eastern shore and explained it was across the Chesapeake Bay. "He probably floated out on the tide."

Dean left word with the attendant that he would phone the coroner and the Norfolk police in the morning. No, he didn't know where they would be staying. Somewhere near the airport, he guessed.

The weather had not improved. The wind made short work of Cynthia Byrne's dainty umbrella, wrenching it to a mass of twist­ed wire and ripped fabric as they scrambled into the car. Dean had been wrong about the efficiency of the Norfolk police. A soggy parking ticket was spread over his windshield by the first sweep of the wipers.

"Shit," said Dean, quickly apologizing. Cynthia laughed, the first sign of life since the ordeal had begun. It was a good sign.

Dean smiled and looked over at her. "We have to get you a good stiff drink and a stomach full of food."

"That sounds just fine," she answered. Ignoring the seatbelt, she moved closer to him. It felt good.

They drove along in silence for a few moments. "You're a nice man and I'm taking terrible advantage of you," she said.

"I'll let you buy me the first drink," he answered, "and then every other one. But first of all, we'd better find a place to stay. Given the weather, that might not be easy, especially near the air­port."




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