Page 152 of The Bone Code
Vislosky flipped pages. Not many. Seemed business wasn’t brisk at ye olde Garden.
A few more flips, then Vislosky looked to me and nodded.
“Chalamet and Boatwright were here for eight days in February of 2018. Show me their room.”
“I’m not ’sposed—”
Vislosky turned the ledger toward Tong and finger-jabbed a notation.
“D Two.” Sharp. “Show me.”
“No call to be rude.”
“I haven’t even begun.”
Tong led us to a gloomy second-floor dorm with two sets of bunks and two mismatched twin beds. Double-tiered metal lockers lined the rear wall, only one with a padlock.
“Where did they sleep?”
“What boarders choose ain’t my bidness.”
Arms crossed, feet spread, Tong watched us search. Not a good stance given the tight polyester.
The lockers were empty. Nothing was wedged behind or hidden under either of the bunks. Ditto for the twins.
Vislosky and I stood a moment, eyeing the single beds. The one farthest from the door had a high wooden headboard.
We had the same thought. Vislosky voiced it.
“Let’s pull this sucker out.”
Easier said than done.
But well worth the effort.
33
Thursday, November 18–Friday, November 19
Behind the headboard was a makeshift hole in the plaster. Tucked in the hole was a plastic-wrapped package.
I dug surgical gloves from my purse and handed them to Vislosky. As I shot video with my phone, she removed and unwrapped the package.
“What’s Jean Coutu?” she asked, reading the logo and pronouncing the name Gene Cow-too.
“A pharmacy chain in Quebec.”
Inside the bag was a single videocassette tape.
“Jesus, take the wheel!” I’d never seen Vislosky so animated. “This baby goes with me.” Side glance to Tong.
Tong started to object. Rethought the impulse and closed her mouth. Stood mute as the rude cop and I hurried down the stairs and out into the night.
Vislosky was silent on the trip downtown. Suited me. I was exhausted from my long day of air and highway travel.
We were turning onto Lockwood when her mobile buzzed. She answered. Listened. Responded curtly, saying she’d be there.
“Goddammit.”
