are staying right here, a few steps from the Winthrop.
“According to the statement of Clara Kincaid, Daniel disappeared for an hour or so during the evening of the homicide, from about 23:00 hours to midnight. He was supposedly searching for some Thai food they particularly like. Mr. Summerways says that he wandered about and could find no Thai restaurants that were open, and that he got lost for a while before he found a Chinese takeout.
“Quite a few of the conference scientists, of the Arbor Vitae group at least, including Chen and Sergeant, were at a party at the hotel and can provide alibis for one another. One other person at the party should be mentioned, and that is Mr. Frank Rizzo, the well-known local entrepreneur, gambler, and club owner, who, according to Dr. Ballard, was discussing business matters with the Linton group. A search of Dr. Linton’s room turned up only things that might be expected: clothes, professional papers and books, wallet and credit cards — apparently untouched by any intruder — as well as some bar chits. There was no sign of any kind of struggle. The only curious thing is that Dr. Linton had made an appointment to see someone in the force the very next day —”
Sam interrupted at once. “You mean in the Quebec police force? That’s certainly odd.”
“We’re trying to find out more about that right now.” Paul told him.
“Has anyone examined Dr. Linton’s papers?” McCarthy asked. “Or checked any electronic devices he may have carried.”
“The papers are in my office now,” Paul explained. “The only electronic devices were a cellphone and a laptop, but there were no unusual messages on either of them.”
“If you don’t mind, I’d like to look over that material,” McCarthy said.
Sam found himself irritated by the agent’s manner and his tight-lipped, knowing smile. The flat, bored voice didn’t help.
“No offence, Mr. McCarthy, but just why is the FBI involved in this?”
“I’m not at liberty to go into that,” McCarthy said very quickly. He paused and then added, “I’m surprised that you’re at liberty to ask.”
“What the hell does that mean?”
“I’m here on U.S. government business. That should be enough for you.”
Paul threw up his hands. “Now, look, we’re all professionals, and we seem to have a tough case on our hands. Let’s work together on this, okay? Sam, why don’t you come over to the Winthrop with me. I want to have a quick second go at a few of the main players. On the personal side, I’d also like to tap into your musical expertise. I need to know what you think of a far-out piece Ginette is playing tonight.”
McCarthy smiled and moved toward the doorway. “I’d like to talk to everyone again, Inspector — but later will do fine.”
He was not taken in by the diversion; it was clear that Paul wanted badly to fill Sam in on the FBI presence, and perhaps other things.
Sam was angry at himself for reacting to McCarthy, and silently vowed to be more guarded next time. He listened as Lieutenant Dionne, who had seemed quite intrigued by the tension between the two men, made a suggestion in French, which Sam understood: “So the birds are away for a little while, Chief. Shall we have a close look at the nest?”
Paul nodded. Dionne got on his cellphone and called for help.
Sam was glad they were leaving. With a final look at Daniel’s array of art paraphernalia, he followed his friend out of the room.
Three
A police car deposited Sam and Paul at the Winthrop, a hotel noted for its efficiency and lack of character, but well-located on the edge of the main historical district.
The morning rush of summer tourists had begun to enliven the upper city. The ancient military parade ground, the Place d’Armes, charming in its old age, lay adjacent, surrounded in various directions by the structures of a lost world: residences of merchants and rulers, now converted into museums; courthouse and church, made suitable for visitors; convent and seminary, now open to the public.
“War, religion, and money,” Sam remarked, eagerly devouring everything he could see. “The architecture changes, but the old power show goes on. And people arrive from every direction just to gape and take photographs. It’s pretty spectacular. Which makes me realize, I could be tripping around here with some beautiful creature or another, doing nothing but enjoying myself, instead of dialoguing with a bunch of obsessive cops, artists, and scientists.”
“But you do want to help Clara — and me,” Paul said.
“Oh, sure. If I can just learn to keep my mouth shut.”
Paul laughed. “McCarthy’s a bit touchy. And you’re not exactly benign. He knows we don’t want him here — the damned FBI. But it was orders from the provincial level, or the feds, probably all worked out by the higher-ups in the RCMP. They liaison with the FBI; we don’t. They want this thing solved. They want to keep the Americans happy, and so do we. American tourists come here in droves, as you can see.”
“You think that’s all it is?”
“What more have you got?”
“Plenty. A corporation has been formed. They’ve got what sounds like a grip on some fundamental genetic changes, things that will affect the environment big-time. Some powerful folks have a stake in this. The Canadian and U.S. governments, the big international economic players, the scientists themselves, the environmentalists, everybody has an agenda. McCarthy is here to look out for more than tourism.”
They entered the hotel and Paul began reaching for his police ID. “I hear you,” he told Sam. “I’ll see if I can find out anything else about that guy.”
Paul fetched the key to Dr. Linton’s still vacant room and they made their way through the crowd to the elevator. Considering the size of the hotel, the lobby was not a large space, and everything seemed so plush, so polished, and so upholstered that Sam felt almost claustrophobic.
“We’ll take a quick look at the place where they found the body, then go and see Jane Linton,” Paul told him. “That’s Linton’s ex-wife. She’s a couple of floors up and waiting for us, I hope”
“What’s she doing here … if they’re divorced?”
“She told us she and her husband still had a few issues to settle. Something about their son, who’s just entering college, a property, and also her share of the Arbor Vitae project.”
“What’s she like?”
Paul shrugged his shoulders. “I’ll let you form your own impression. Well, here we are — 1212, this is Linton’s room. We’ve already picked it clean, and the hotel’s putting it back in circulation later today.”
He flicked on all the lights and they looked around. “A very nice room, as you can see. Here’s the writing desk and the chair. They found Linton on the carpet just about here, somewhere near 1:00 a.m. He was reading some scientific paper — you can see it later, if you want to — when the poison started to take effect. He got up, knocked over the chair, and collapsed beside the desk. The effects of atropine are quite severe, they tell me, and things happen quickly. Dilated pupils, dryness of the mouth, and increased
