The Assassin Part 75

"It's all right, Marion," Brother Jerome said, taking the keys from him. "We'll find it."

At 7:45 P.M., Detective Matthew M. Payne got off the elevator in the Psychiatric Wing of the University of Pennsylvania Hospital.

One of the nurses at the Nursing Station, a formidable red-haired harridan, told him that Miss Detweiler was in 9023, but he couldn't see her because his name wasn't on the list, and anyway, her doctor was in there.

"Dr. Payne is expecting me," Matt said. "Ninety twenty-three, you said?"

Penny was sitting in a chrome, vinyl-upholstered chair by the window. She was wearing a hospital gown and, he could not help but notice, absolutely nothing else. Amelia Payne, M.D., was sitting on the bed.

"What are you doing here?" Dr. Payne snapped.

"I heard this is where the action is," Matt said.

"I don't think this is a good idea," Amy said. "I think you had better leave."

"Please, Amy!" Penny said.

"Take a walk, Amy," Matt said.

Dr. Payne considered that for a long moment, and then pushed herself off the bed and walked to the door, where she turned.

"Five minutes," she said, and left.

Matt walked over to Penny and handed her a grease-stained paper bag.

"Ribs," he said. "They're cold by now, but I'll bet they'll be better than what they serve in here."

"I don't suppose I could have eaten roses, but candy would have been nice," Penny said. "Matt, are you disgusted with me?"

"I was," he blurted. "Until just now. When I saw you."

"My parents blame you for the whole thing, you know," she said.

"I figured that would happen."

"Amy says it was my fault."

"Amy's right," Matt said. "If you had thrown something at me, even taken a shot at me, that would have been my fault. But what you did to yourself . . ."

Penny suddenly pushed herself out of the chair. She threw the bag of ribs at the garbage can and missed. She turned to the window. Matt could see her backbone and the crack of her b.u.t.tocks. He looked away, then headed for the door.

"Amy's right. I shouldn't have come here."

Penny turned.

"Matt!"

He looked at her.

"Matt, don't leave me!"

After a long moment, he said, his voice on the edge of breaking, "Penny, I don't know what to do with you!"

"Give me a chance," she said. "Give us us a chance!" a chance!"

Then she walked, almost ran to him, stopped and looked up at him.

"Please, Matt," she said, and then his arms went around her.

I love her.

A junkie is a junkie is a junkie.

Oh, s.h.i.+t!

District Attorney Thomas J. Callis, after a psychiatric examination of Marion Claude Wheatley, pet.i.tioned the court for Mr. Wheatley's involuntary commitment to a psychiatric inst.i.tution for the criminally insane. The pet.i.tion was granted.

District Attorney Callis, after studying the available evidence, decided that it was insufficient to bring Mr. Paulo Ca.s.sandro, Mr. Ricco Baltazari, Mr. Gian-Carlo Rosselli, or any of the others mentioned in Mr. Vito Lanza's sworn statements to trial.

Mr. Vito Lanza, on a plea of guilty to charges of possession of controlled substances with the intention to distribute, was sentenced to two years imprisonment. At Mr. Callis's recommendation, no charges were brought against Mrs. Magdelana Lanza.

Inspector Peter Wohl retained command of the Special Operations Division of the Philadelphia Police Department.

Detective Matthew M. Payne was led to believe by Supervisory Special Agent H. Charles Larkin of the Secret Service that his application for appointment to the Secret Service would be favorably received. Detective Payne declined to make such an application.

Mr. Ricco Baltazari was found shot to death in a drainage ditch in the Tinnic.u.m Swamps near Philadelphia International Airport. No arrests have been made to date in the case.

t.i.tles by W.E.B. Griffin

HONOR BOUND.

HONOR BOUND.

BLOOD AND HONOR.

SECRET HONOR.

BROTHERHOOD.

OF WAR.

BOOK I: THE LIEUTENANTS.

BOOK II: THE CAPTAINS.

BOOK III: THE MAJORS.

BOOK IV: THE COLONELS.

BOOK V: THE BERETS.

BOOK VI: THE GENERALS.

BOOK VII: THE NEW BREED.

BOOK VIII: THE AVIATORS.

BOOK IX: SPECIAL OPS.

THE CORPS.

BOOK I: SEMPER FI.

BOOK II: CALL TO ARMS.

BOOK III: COUNTERATTACK.

BOOK IV: BATTLEGROUND.

BOOK V: LINE OF FIRE.

BOOK VI: CLOSE COMBAT.

BOOK VII: BEHIND THE LINES.

BOOK VIII: IN DANGER'S PATH BOOK IX: UNDER FIRE.

BOOK X: RETREAT, h.e.l.l!.

BADGE OF HONOR.

BOOK I: MEN IN BLUE.

BOOK II: SPECIAL OPERATIONS.

BOOK III: THE VICTIM.

BOOK IV: THE WITNESS.

BOOK V: THE a.s.sa.s.sIN.

BOOK VI: THE MURDERERS.

BOOK VII: THE INVESTIGATORS.

BOOK VIII: FINAL JUSTICE.

MEN AT WAR.

BOOK I: THE LAST HEROES.

BOOK II: THE SECRET WARRIORS.

BOOK III: THE SOLDIER SPIES.

BOOK IV: THE FIGHTING AGENTS.

BOOK V: THE SABOTEURS.

BOOK VI: THE DOUBLE AGENTS.

PRESIDENTIAL AGENT.

BOOK I: BY ORDER OF THE PRESIDENT.

BOOK II: THE HOSTAGE.

BOOK III: THE HUNTERS.