When the staff began to drift back into the office in the early afternoon, Jenner slipped out through the morgue and crossed into the municipal building. He found Rudge working the phone in Major Crimes; Rudge held up a hand and gestured for him to sit.

The detective thanked the caller and hung up. “Hey, Jenner. Missed you at the memorial.”

He nodded to the phone. “That was Azure Oceanic. Interesting development: I spoke with Sheree Roburn after the service, she told me she’d booked her parents’ cruise tickets personally. Azure just confirmed it. Bartley screwed up first time around.”

When Jenner didn’t react, he said, “What brings you over here? A little early for dinner…”

Jenner shook his head. He hesitated, then said, “Something weird.”

Rudge leaned back. “And that would be…”

“Your cousin…”

“Reggie?”

“Yes—he ever had any problems?”

Rudge stood. “C’mon, let’s get some air.”

They walked downstairs and out into the breezeway, and joined the administrative staff smoking in the shade.

Rudge turned to him. “So, what’s this about?”

“Probably nothing. But I noticed something strange that’s really picking at me.”

“What?”

Jenner hesitated a second, then said, “Your cousin is transporting a Jewish body up to Chicago. Family objected to autopsy; they’d have objected to embalming too, and Reggie said she hadn’t been embalmed. But the cosmetician said she had, and when I looked at her body, I’m pretty sure she’d been opened up and sewn shut.”

“What are you saying?”

“I don’t know.” Jenner sighed. “I’m just spinning my wheels.”

Rudge nodded. “Well, look, Reggie’s had some problems in the past, but he’s been doing real good down here. He’s put his past behind him, built up a great business, doing things right, this time. I’m sure this is nothing—later, we can go by the place, get you another look at her, ease your mind, okay?”

“I’m sure there’s a reasonable explanation.” Jenner paused. “So what was Reggie in for?”

Rudge shot him a look. “How did you know?”

“He had his shirtsleeves rolled up, I saw his ink.”

Rudge shook his head. “Doc, it was some stupid shit—he got mixed up with some people slinging meth in DeKalb County, Georgia. Did a five-year bit at Phillips State. But he was just a kid, then. He’s really got his act together—you’ve seen the funeral parlor.”

“I’m sure it’s nothing. But can you give him a call, ask him if we can stop by later?”

“No problem. I’ll set it up.”

“Thanks.”

Rudge turned to go back into the building, then stopped.

“Hey, Jenner? I’m sorry we’re not going to work together much longer.”

“Me too.” Jenner nodded. “You wonder why I’m still pushing this?”

Rudge shook his head. “Nope, not at all—if someone killed one of my friends, I’d never stop looking for them.”