“But he really didn’t expose anyone, as I recall,” Bruce said.

Noelle asked, “Was there anything in Nelson’s past that involved pharmaceuticals?”

Bruce shook his head and said, “I don’t think so. His clients were tech firms selling sophisticated software abroad.”

“What happens in the novel?” Noelle asked.

“The bad guys get caught, pay up, go to jail. The Daxapene disappears and old folks start dying.”

“What an awful ending.”

“Thank you,” Mercer said. “I didn’t like the ending, the beginning, or anything in between.”

“What happens to it now?” Noelle asked.

“I’m sure his family will try to sell it,” Bruce said. “It’s worth something on the market. Nelson had a lot of fans. Dying young is usually a good career move.”

“I’ll try to remember that,” Mercer said.

Bruce chuckled and poured more coffee. He looked at Thomas and said, “There must be some bad actors in the nursing home business. Look at all these billboards and TV ads from law firms begging for abuse cases.”

“And the patients are pretty vulnerable,” Noelle said.

Thomas said, “There are eight major players and they control ninety percent of the beds. Six are public, two privately owned. Some get high marks for care, others stay in trouble with regulators and the courts. Nursing home litigation is lucrative in most states, especially here in Florida. Lots of old folks, lots of hungry lawyers. I found a bunch of blogs with horror stories of neglect and physical abuse. There’s even a publication, Elder Care Abuse Quarterly, published by some lawyers in California. But, as I said, the business is so lucrative, because of Medicaid and Medicare, that plenty of companies want a piece of the business. And costs are projected to go through the roof.”

“That’s comforting,” Noelle said.

Bruce said, “Well, dear, you’re not sticking me in one of those places. I’ve always said that when it’s time for the diapers it’s time for the black pill.”

“Let’s talk about something else,” Mercer said.

5.

Nick claimed to be in the library but there was soft music in the background. After being sworn to secrecy, he listened intently as Bruce summarized Nelson’s last novel. Nick had just reread his first three books but did not believe they were revealing enough to get the author killed.

When Bruce finished, Nick said, “Nelson wouldn’t know beans about the nursing home industry.”

“I agree.”

“So he probably had an informant, a whistleblower who found him, probably someone who read and admired his work.”

An informant? Once again, Bruce was a step behind Nick.

“Okay. I’m listening.”

“I don’t think there’s anything in his first three books, Bruce. Therefore, it has to be number four. And since he stepped outside his field, then someone approached him with the story. An insider. That’s the guy you have to find.”

Bruce reminded himself that this kid was only twenty-one. A well-read twenty-one, but still a kid nonetheless. “And how do we go about finding this person?”

“He’ll probably find you. What if Nelson promised him something, like a slice of the pie, or maybe some cash up front and the rest on the back end? If you had a really juicy story and wanted to spill the beans, wouldn’t you want some money?”

“Why not go to the FBI like Nelson did?”

“I don’t know. Nelson got screwed by the FBI, didn’t he?”

“He allegedly got five mil. Wanted more but he took what they offered.”

“But he wasn’t happy with the deal. Plus it’s taxable income, right?”

“Right.”

“So maybe this informant had his reasons to stay away from guys with badges, but he wanted the story told and he wanted to get paid. He cut a deal with Nelson and now Nelson got whacked. He’ll probably come sniffing around looking for his money.”

“There is no money. The book hasn’t been sold to a publisher.”

“Maybe he doesn’t know that. Will it get sold?”

“Probably. But according to my secret readers it’s not very good.”

“Do I know these readers?”

“I can’t answer that.”

“Why can’t I read it?”

“Because you’re headed to Venice for a semester of hard work.”

“Let me read it and I’ll figure it out.”

“I’ll think about it. When do you leave?”

“Next week. Do the cops know about the book?”

“I don’t know. They have his computer, but, knowing Nelson, they won’t be able to turn it on.”

“Are they pushing hard?”

“What do you think?”

“Sorry. I saw online that the store has reopened. Congratulations. I already miss the place.”

“We’re open but nothing is selling. The locals aren’t thinking about books, and the tourists have disappeared.”

“Sorry, boss. I’ll send you a postcard from Venice.”

“We might get over there. I’ve never seen those canals.”