۱۰ روز بعد

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

Ten days later

Latto stayed in Santa Cruz for the whole two weeks after all. He and Sylvia Koning spent that time together. He watched her at work and she showed him how Deborah Spencer had taught her to help patients with Parkinson’s Disease. They spent evenings and nights together at her house near Twin Lakes State Beach. They took time off and travelled down to Monterey and Big Sur for the weekend. They tried not to think about the time when Latto would return to Scotland.

On Latto’s last evening, he and Koning were sitting outside his room, drinking beer and looking over the ocean. Suddenly Martinez appeared carrying a bag in each hand.

‘Your laptop,’ he said, giving one of the bags to Latto. ‘The Salinas police found it at Crocker’s house. The scientists have finished with it and I thought you might like it back before you go home.’

‘Thanks,’ said Latto.

‘It might be a good idea to check it still works,’ said Martinez. ‘But before you do that, take a look at this.’

The door to Latto’s room was open. Martinez walked in and put the other bag on the desk. He took out another laptop and started it up. Latto and Koning had followed Martinez into the room and were watching him.

‘This is Deborah Spencer’s laptop,’ Martinez explained. ‘I thought you might like to see this email that came in a couple of days ago. You might even want to note down the address of the person who sent it.’

Subject: Your book

Date: 14 March, 2006 9:52 am

From: Dr Alison Partridge

To: SPENCER, Deborah

Dear Deborah

I was so pleased to get the copy of your book that you emailed me last week.

I’ve read it all through and I think it’s really interesting. Of course, there have been developments in the drugs industry. The drugs that are given to people with Parkinson’s Disease are getting better all the time. However, your way of looking at the disease is so completely new and different.

I’ve got lots of questions to ask, but I’m coming down to San Francisco in a couple of weeks on business. Perhaps I could come down to Santa Cruz and meet up with you then? I’d be able to come down on March 30 or 31. Which date would be best for you?

By the way, I got an email from Gina last week. I haven’t heard from her in about fifteen years! Do you remember her? She was the very tall one in our class at UCLA. I’ll tell you all about it when I see you.

With best wishes - and congratulations

Love

Ali