The Last Word Read online

  Table of Contents

  Title Page

  Copyright Page

  Dedication

  Acknowledgements

  CHAPTER ONE

  CHAPTER TWO

  CHAPTER THREE

  CHAPTER FOUR

  CHAPTER FIVE

  CHAPTER SIX

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  CHAPTER NINE

  CHAPTER TEN

  CHAPTER ELEVEN

  CHAPTER TWELVE

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN

  CHAPTER FOURTEEN

  CHAPTER FIFTEEN

  CHAPTER SIXTEEN

  CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

  CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

  CHAPTER NINETEEN

  CHAPTER TWENTY

  CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

  CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

  CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

  CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

  CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

  CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

  CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

  CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

  CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE

  CHAPTER THIRTY

  CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE

  CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO

  CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE

  CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR

  CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE

  CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX

  CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN

  CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT

  CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE

  CHAPTER FORTY

  CHAPTER FORTY-ONE

  CHAPTER FORTY-TWO

  CHAPTER FORTY-THREE

  CHAPTER FORTY-FOUR

  CHAPTER FORTY-FIVE

  CHAPTER FORTY-SIX

  CHAPTER FORTY-SEVEN

  CHAPTER FORTY-EIGHT

  CHAPTER FORTY-NINE

  CHAPTER FIFTY

  CHAPTER FIFTY-ONE

  CHAPTER FIFTY-TWO

  CHAPTER FIFTY-THREE

  CHAPTER FIFTY-FOUR

  CHAPTER FIFTY-FIVE

  CHAPTER FIFTY-SIX

  CHAPTER FIFTY-SEVEN

  CHAPTER FIFTY-EIGHT

  CHAPTER FIFTY-NINE

  CHAPTER SIXTY

  CHAPTER SIXTY-ONE

  CHAPTER SIXTY-TWO

  Praise for the Diagnosis Murder novels

  “Diagnosis Murder: The Past Tense is the latest—and arguably the best—original mystery based on the popular Dick Van Dyke TV series, which Goldberg wrote and produced. What makes it more than just another spin-off is the way Goldberg takes the reader—and his hero, Dr. Mark Sloan—through forty years of Los Angeles history, a journey that captures the unique flavor of the city so many of us used to call home.”—Chicago Tribune

  “The Past Tense contains all the elements of a fine mystery novel: good characters, interesting plot, surprising twists, and, above all, crisp and enjoyable writing. With books this good, who needs TV?”—Chicago Sun-Times

  “The novel begins with tension and ends with surprise. Throughout it is filled with gentle humor and a sure hand. . . . This is not just a novel for fans of the television series, it is a nifty creative take on the tradition of great amateur sleuths with a cast of quirky characters.”—Edgar® Award-winning author

  Stuart M. Kaminsky

  “[The Past Tense] is Lee Goldberg’s best Diagnosis Murder novel yet. He can plot and write with the best of them.”—Mystery Scene

  “A whodunit thrill ride that captures all the charm, mystery, and fun of the TV series . . . and then some. . . . Goldberg wrote the very best Diagnosis Murder episodes, so it’s no surprise that this book delivers everything you’d expect from the show. . . . A clever, high-octane mystery that moves like a bullet-train. Dr. Mark Sloan, the deceptively eccentric deductive genius, is destined to join the pantheon of great literary sleuths. . . . You’ll finish this book breathless. Don’t blink, or you’ll miss a clue. A brilliant debut for a brilliant detective. Long live Dr. Mark Sloan!”

  —New York Times bestselling author Janet Evanovich

  “Can books be better than television? You bet they can—when Lee Goldberg’s writing them. Get aboard right now for a thrill ride.”—New York Times bestselling author Lee Child

  “An exciting and completely satisfying read for all Diagnosis Murder fans. We were hooked. . . . Goldberg’s skill in bringing our favorite characters to the printed page left us begging for more.”—Aimee and David Thurlo, authors of the Ella Clah,

  Sister Agatha, and Lee Nez Mysteries

  “Lee Goldberg has done the job Diagnosis Murder fans have been anxiously awaiting—tying up old relationships and delving deeply into the characters, answering all the questions about who they are and what makes them tick, in a riveting mystery that elevates Dr. Mark Sloan to the pantheon of great detectives. Wonderful stuff.”—Paul Bishop, two-time LAPD Detective of the Year, and author of Twice Dead, Chalk, and Whispers

  “Dr. Mark Sloan returns in a crime story that seamlessly interweaves two radically different story lines while taking the reader on a roller-coaster ride through the delights—and dangers—of Hawaii. If you liked the broadcast episodes, you’ll love The Death Merchant.”—Jeremiah Healy, author of the

  John Cuddy mysteries

  “Fans of Dr. Mark Sloan will not be disappointed. If anything, The Shooting Script is an even more compelling showcase for the good doctor than the television series.”—Rick Riordan,

  Edgar® Award-winning author of Southtown

  “This is the Diagnosis Murder we all know and love. Even if you’ve never seen a moment of the TV series, you are bound to be caught up in the twists, the thrills, and the fun on every page. From start to finish, The Shooting Script is a damned entertaining read.”—Eric Garcia, author of Anonymous Rex and Matchstick Men

  “For those who have, as I do, an addiction to Mark Sloan, Lee Goldberg provides a terrific fix. . . . Will cure any Diagnosis Murder withdrawal symptoms you might have had.”

  —S. J. Rozan, Edgar® Award-winning

  author of Winter and Night

  “A swift saga with colorful homicides, glamorous locales, and clever puzzles—sure to please Dr. Mark Sloan loyalists.”

  —Walter Wager, author of Telefon, Twilight’s Last Gleaming,

  and 58 Minutes

  “The Diagnosis Murder novels are great reads. Intricate plots and engaging characters combined with Lee Goldberg’s trademark humor make for page-turning entertainment.”

  —Barbara Seranella, bestselling author of

  the Munch Mancini novels

  “Even if you never watched the TV show, read these mysteries! Sly humor, endearing characters, tricky plots—Lee Goldberg’s smart writing is what makes these terrific Diagnosis Murder books something to tell all your friends about.”

  —Jerrilyn Farmer, bestselling author of

  the Madeline Bean mysteries

  “Lee Goldberg takes the utterly familiar Dr. Mark Sloan and surprises us with heartbreaking glimpses of the past that allow the good doctor to step off the television screen and into a flesh-and-blood reality. Well plotted and beautifully rendered.”

  —Margaret Maron, Edgar®, Agatha, and Macavity

  Award-winning author of the Deborah Knott mysteries

  “Just what the doctor ordered, a sure cure after a rash of blah mysteries. Diagnosis Murder: The Past Tense has more plot twists than a strand of DNA.”—Elaine Viets, author of

  Murder With Reservations

  “Lee Goldberg’s Diagnosis Murder books are fast-paced, tightly constructed mysteries that are even better than the TV show. You’ll read them in great big gulps.”—Gregg Hurwitz, author of The Program

  “Lee Goldberg takes you on a streamlined ride through forty years of LA history with a busload of suspicious characters. The Past Tense will quicken the pulses of longtime Diagnosis Murder fans and newcomers alike wh
ile Dr. Mark Sloan’s quest for justice is sure to warm hearts.”—Denise Hamilton, author of the Eve Diamond crime novels

  “A clever, twisting tale. The Past Tense leaves you guessing right up until the heart-stopping ending. This was my first time reading a Diagnosis Murder novel, but it won’t be my last.”

  —Lisa Gardner, author of Gone

  SIGNET

  Published by New American Library, a division of

  Penguin Group (USA) Inc., 375 Hudson Street,

  New York, New York 10014, USA

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  Penguin Books Ltd., Registered Offices:

  80 Strand, London WC2R 0RL, England

  First published by Signet, an imprint of New American Library,

  a division of Penguin Group (USA) Inc.

  First Printing, May 2007

  Copyright © 2007 CBS Studios Productions, Inc.

  All rights reserved

  The Edgar® name is a registered service mark of the Mystery Writers of America, Inc.

  REGISTERED TRADEMARK—MARCA REGISTRADA

  Without limiting the rights under copyright reserved above, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise), without the prior written permission of both the copyright owner and the above publisher of this book.

  PUBLISHER’S NOTE

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental. The publisher does not have any control over and does not assume any responsibility for author or third-party Web sites or their content.

  The scanning, uploading, and distribution of this book via the Internet or via any other means without the permission of the publisher is illegal and punishable by law. Please purchase only authorized electronic editions, and do not participate in or encourage electronic piracy of copyrighted materials. Your support of the author’s rights is appreciated.

  eISBN : 978-1-101-01081-5

  http://us.penguingroup.com

  To Dick Van Dyke,

  the one and only Dr. Mark Sloan

  ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

  I would like to thank my wife, Valerie, and my daughter, Madison, for their love and support during the long days and nights it took me to write this book. I thought I’d never finish it and I know that they did, too. I’m also grateful to Dr. D. P. Lyle, Diane Stavroulakis, Robin Burcell, Paul Bishop, Karen Dinino, Joel Goldman, Colleen Casey, and Peter Keane for their advice and wise counsel. Whatever medical or legal errors I’ve made or creative liberties that I’ve taken are entirely my own.

  The story you are about to read picks up characters and events from my previous books in this series as well as the Diagnosis Murder episodes “Retribution,” “Obsession,” and “Resurrection,” which I cowrote with William Rabkin, with whom I produced the TV series.

  Fair warning: If you haven’t read the previous Diagnosis Murder books, you might want to set this one down until you have, because I spoil some of the surprise endings in this novel.

  I’ve been associated with Diagnosis Murder, on-screen and in print, for well over a decade and it has been one of the highlights of my career as both a TV writer and a novelist. I’ve enjoyed every minute that I’ve spent with Dr. Mark Sloan, and I hope that you have, too. Let me know at www.diagnosis-murder.com.

  CHAPTER ONE

  Carter Sweeney was a pale, slight man with a receding hairline and a meticulously groomed goatee. He wore a loose-fitting bright orange jumpsuit and sat in a stiff-backed stainless-steel chair. His wrists and ankles were in irons, which were looped around his waist and strung through an eyebolt in the concrete floor.

  Despite these restrictions, Sweeney seemed completely relaxed, as if he were lounging on a beach instead of sitting in the chilly, sterile visitation room at Sunrise Valley State Prison, home to extremely violent offenders. That’s because the visitation room was a luxury suite compared to solitary confinement in his twelve-by-seven-foot cell, where his bed, writing shelf, and stool were all made of poured concrete.

  During his first year at Sunrise Valley, he was allowed outdoors for only one hour each day, by himself, in a concrete cavern known as the Dog Run. After three years of incarceration, he was allowed three hours per day in the Dog Run with two other prisoners. With continued good behavior, that was the most sunlight and social interaction he could expect to enjoy until his execution.

  So the opportunity to spend time in the visitation room with someone from the outside world was truly an experience to be savored for as long as possible. Unfortunately for Sweeney, his reluctant guest didn’t share his eagerness to prolong the visit.

  “You don’t call. You don’t write. I was beginning to wonder if you still cared about me,” Sweeney said in the smooth, calming voice that had made him a Los Angeles talk radio star at one time.

  Dr. Mark Sloan sat across from Sweeney in a stainless steel chair that felt like it had been carved from a block of solid ice. He was shivering from the cold, but he couldn’t let Sweeney see it. Sweeney would interpret the shaking as fear and use it as a psychological weapon against him.

  Mark knew it would be foolhardy to underestimate Sweeney simply because he was chained and imprisoned. Sweeney was the most dangerous man Mark had encountered in his forty years as a homicide consultant to the LAPD.

  It wasn’t that Sweeney was a violent man, at least not physically. As far as Mark knew, Sweeney had never hurt anyone with his bare hands. His preferred method of killing was an explosive encased in an ornately crafted, hand-carved wooden box. Sweeney and his younger sister, Caitlin, had learned their bomb-making and wood-carving skills from their father, Regan, a furniture maker who set off bombs all over Los Angeles after his store was condemned by the city to build a new freeway.

  But Carter Sweeney’s true weapon was his mind, which Mark was sure the years of near-solitary confinement hadn’t broken. He was a brilliant analytical thinker, with the frightening ability to manipulate others into doing exactly what he wanted, often without them ever being aware of it.

  “I didn’t come here to play games with you,” Mark said, despite knowing full well that he was deluding himself. Simply by showing up, he was already playing whatever game Sweeney had begun.

  “Of course not,” Sweeney said. “We both know how much you dislike games—unless there’s a corpse involved.”

  “You kill people,” Mark said. “I don’t.”

  “So that must have been a different Dr. Mark Sloan I read about a few months ago,” Sweeney said. “That Mark Sloan gunned down a woman in his own home.”

  “It was self-defense,” Mark said. “Not premeditated murder.”

  For an instant, that horrible moment played out in front of Mark’s eyes again. He was in bed, helpless, recovering from a head injury. She was going to smother him with a pillow. He had to shoot. But the first shot didn’t stop her. She just kept coming—<
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  He blinked hard, willing the image away, but he knew it was a temporary reprieve. The memory of that blood-soaked night would haunt him for the rest of his life.

  “But you knew she would show up,” Sweeney said. “If you didn’t intend to kill her, why were you waiting for her with a loaded gun?”

  “I tried to reason with her,” Mark said. “I didn’t want her to die.”

  “Sure you didn’t.” Sweeney winked at him.

  So was that what this visit was about? Mark wondered. Did Sweeney want to revel in Mark’s deadly misfortune? If that was it, Mark wasn’t going to play along.

  “You’re in no position to judge me or anybody else,” Mark said. “You’re a mass murderer. You blew up a hospital, maiming and killing dozens of innocent people.”

  “Come now, Mark. You know I didn’t do that. My poor, disturbed sister, Caitlin, planted those bombs. You saw her there yourself, right before the hospital fell on top of you.”

  “She was acting on your orders,” Mark said. “You wanted revenge against me for sending your father here.”

  “You killed him.”

  “I caught him,” Mark said. “The State of California executed him.”

  Within days of Regan Sweeney’s execution, Carter Sweeney embarked on a copycat bombing campaign to make it appear that Mark had framed an innocent man. Sweeney also used his popular radio program to expertly turn public opinion against Mark, the LAPD, and the district attorney’s office. But Carter ultimately failed, undone by his own arrogance, which Mark used to trick him into incriminating himself in the bombings.

  But Mark didn’t know that Carter’s sister was also involved in the plot. She remained free and blew up Community General Hospital, trapping Mark, his son, and many of his closest friends in the flaming rubble.