I walked over to the open French window and peered down on the crowd that had formed in front of the hotel , the cause of all the city noise and bustling that awoke me from my slumber . Three cop cars formed a circle , yellow tape had been posted , and crowd control was pushing onlookers back . The smell of blood was on the air , as was death .
“ Mr . Kade , can you come away from the window , please ?”
“ Of course . I was wondering what the commotion was . My apologies .” I closed the window and sat in the dove gray armchair next to the bed .
“ Did you hear anything last night or see anything this morning ? Anything at all ?”
“ No , sir . I was back to the hotel by ten , latest , and went to bed shortly thereafter . I didn ’ t wake for the day until I heard the sirens outside , and you knocking at my door .”
“ I see ,” he said as he wrote in his notebook . “ Do you have a number that we can reach you at , Mr . Kade ?”
“ It ’ s an out-of-state number .”
“ I expected so . Where are you from and what brings you to New Haven ?”
“ I ’ m a doctor in L . A .” I gently stood – careful of my movement as Detective Syke ’ s eyes bore down on me – and picked up a silver monogrammed business card holder with my initials . “ My card .”
“ Dr . Matthias L . Kade , M . D . Strythsford Medical Clinic . L . A .” he read aloud , glancing at his partner , “ phone
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