Geometry

Chapter 7

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The next morning, after stopping at Dief's favorite donut shop for a box of sugar fix for the squad room, Ray punched the speed dial on his cell phone for Marina and to his perplexity her phone rang several times then went to voicemail. He frowned darkly as he stopped the GTO for a red light.

"That's funny."

"What is, Ray?" Fraser noted his partner's frown with concern.

"Mina's not answering. I told her we'd be by in the morning. I thought we'd check in at the station first, but..."

Fraser's gaze sharpened abruptly. "You think something's wrong?"

Ray shrugged, unsure. "Dunno. Dief's there, but..."

"Perhaps we should go by and check? Doctor MacLeod is, after all, in custody of an important piece of evidence in a murder investigation."

Ray brightened. "Good excuse, Frase. We'll bring her the donuts and pretend like we were coming by for breakfast."

Fraser's brows knitted in confusion. "It's hardly an excuse, Ray. Why should we conceal the fact we're concerned about her?"

His partner shrugged. "Tough girls are funny, Frase. Never even imply they might not be able to take care of themselves. They go from zero to pissy in a heartbeat."

"Ah. Understood."

Fifteen minutes later they were standing in front of the doors of her building and stymied. Without Dief, how to get up to Marina's apartment? He was the one with the security clearance for the building.

Fate intervened in the form of Theresa, who came rattling down the staircase with an armful of books on her way to class. She gave them a smile in welcome and pushed the security doors open.

"Hey you two. Stuck without Dief?"

Ray rubbed the back of his head sheepishly. "Yeah. Any suggestions on how to get up to her place?"

"No problem. Follow me." Theresa walked them over to the elevator and punched the 'up' button, and when the doors slid open, she leaned in and said, "Fourth floor override. Theresa." She grinned at them. "There you go."

"Thank you kindly, Theresa." Fraser told her politely.

"No sweat. But you better remind Doc Mac to put you on the security grid. She always forgets stuff like that, one of her guys used to take care of it." A car horn honked outside and all three looked over to see a red Honda Civic with Lotus at the wheel. Lotus waved a hello when she saw Fraser and Ray through the glass doors. They waved back.

"Oops, gotta go! Hey, stop by Heather's, will ya? We're all missing Dief!" And Theresa ran out the front door with a last wave.

"Sure!" Ray called out as the elevator doors closed. But when they reached the fourth floor and got to Marina's door, before they could knock, Fraser's sharp hearing caught a scrabbling of claws on polished wood and Dief's double-bark. The electronic lock clicked and the wolf nosed the door open, wagging his tail in welcome with his gaze fixed on the donut box.

"Those are not for you, Diefenbaker," Fraser said severely. "Is Doctor MacLeod at home?"

They got an answer when a small moan came from the direction of her blue couch. Marina sat up, a throw blanket falling off her shoulders, and rubbed her eyes dazedly. "Dief? Baby?"