Clearing the Course

by Diane Weiner

  Pat opened the box and reached in. “Just raisins, no vials of fertility drugs.”

  “This was fruitless.”

  “Not the right choice of words. Technically, raisins are fruit.” He tore open the package of Peanut Butter Cups. “Here. These will just go to waste.” He popped one in his mouth and handed the other to Henry.

  “Now what?”

  “Let’s have a look.” He opened the desk drawers and rummaged through.

  “Feel under the drawers,” said Henry. His friend Susan Wiles taught them that trick.

  “Nothing.”

  “Then see if there’s a false bottom. Here, let me try.” Henry felt around. “See, there’s something behind this drawer.” He pulled it off the tract and turned it upside down, dropping pens and staples on the floor. Taped to the back, was a small, black book. “Bingo.”

  “Well, well. What do we have here?”

  Henry flipped through. “It’s names, dates, and dosages. Look, here’s Li Min, and what was the name of that patient who died from the overdose?”

  “Riley or Reina—something with an r.”

  “There’s a Ruth, and a Regine.”

  “Regine sounds familiar.”

  “These look like standard doses, nothing crazy. He’s got half a dozen first names here. I wonder if any of them actually became pregnant.”

  “We know Regine and Li Min didn’t. We can check his patient list and find out about the others. I’ll bet his nurse knows.”

  Henry took out his phone and took a picture of the pages. Then he flipped to the back of the book. “There are several addresses here with tally marks and dates beside them. I wonder what that means?”

  Pat looked at the entries and shrugged his shoulders. “You got me.” Then he rifled through the papers on the desk. “Hey, look at this, buddy.” He pulled a letter from an envelope he found under one of the piles. “Justice will be done if I die trying. Something about he knows it wasn’t an accident.” He skimmed the page. “Even though the courts didn’t agree, I hold you responsible and will not let this go.”

  “What’s the name?” asked Henry.

  “Sean Mercer.”

  “Sean Mercer? Remember Dan was involved in a snowmobile accident last winter? I read the films.”

  “Yeah, he was hobbling around on crutches for a while.”

  The door opened, and a nurse stepped in. “Can I help you, Dr. Fox?” She discretely wiped her eyes with a tissue from the top of the desk. “I was looking for any new files that might be in here. I’m facing the tough job of calling his patients and breaking the news. I’m referring them to the new resident that just started. Dr. Jules is working on reducing his caseload since he plans to retire next year, but maybe in a pinch he can handle any complicated cases.”

  “Are there many of those? Complicated cases?” asked Henry.

  “Not really,” said the nurse. “Pretty much routine around here. I can’t believe Dr. Dan is gone. He was so good to his patients and treated me and the other nurses like we mattered.” She blew her nose. “Can I help you find something?”

  “Dr. Fischer had a new drug he was trying out. He had asked me to consult on the side effects. I was wondering if it was in here.”

  “Why would it be? He’d have it locked up with all the others on this floor.”

  “It was still experimental so he may have kept it separate. Where else could he have kept it refrigerated?”

  “I’d start with our floor storage. Come on.” She led them to a room behind the nurses’ station, then pulled out a key. “What exactly are you looking for?”

  “Fertility drugs,” said Henry.

  “Nothing’s listed.” The nurse rummaged through the medications. “I don’t see anything like that. There’s a carton of Pitocin and antibiotics, that’s all.”

  “Where else might we look?”

  “He spent some time in labor and delivery and kept some meds up there. Then there’s always the doctor’s lounge. There’s a fridge in there.”

  Henry stared at her, wondering about the possibility.

  “I’m kidding. Your best bet is labor and delivery. I’ve got to go. Let me know if I can help you with anything else.”

  Pat straightened the pile and tucked the letter in his jacket pocket. “I’ll give this to Megan when I see her later. Let’s check labor and delivery.” Pat led the way.

  “Here we are.” He got the nurse to unlock the cabinet, then foraged through.

  The nurse, still holding the key, said, “Here’s the inventory. These are the only drugs Dr. Fischer kept in here.”

  Henry scanned the list, then continued rifling through the cabinet. Convinced, he said, “Thanks. Let’s go, Pat.”

  “Do you think he might have actually used the lounge fridge?” said Pat.

  “It sounds crazy, but we can try.” He opened the door to the lounge. “No one’s in here.” He opened the fridge and pulled out a carton. “Empty milk carton, a few apples. Hey, this looks promising.” He opened a take-out carton.

  “Well? Did you find something?”

  Henry sniffed. “I think it’s Kung Pao Chicken.”

  “This is a wild goose chase. I’d better get back to work.”

  “Wait! That takeout carton gave me an idea. Let’s go back to Dan’s office.”

  When they got back to the office, Henry opened Dan’s fridge. He took out the Styrofoam container and sniffed. “It doesn’t smell like leftovers.” He opened the lid. “Unlabeled vials!”

  “We can’t be sure what’s in those.”

  “But you have that friend in the lab who can help. The one who’s always flirting with you.”

  “I’ll drop it off. I’ll be discreet.”

  “Let me know what Megan says about the letter you found. I’d better go back to work. Oh, and maybe Megan can interview the other patients listed in the little black book we found taped to the desk drawer. And Sean Mercer, the father of the kid who Dan had the snowmobile accident with.”

  Chapter 18

  Emily finished her morning coffee at the kitchen table, while editing the previous day’s writing. The table was half-littered with plates and dishes they’d removed from the cabinets. Somehow, sitting in the kitchen with the TV morning show playing in the background seemed less like work than sitting at her desk. She had envisioned spending all day all summer on her new book, but the allure of the present mystery pulled her in like a magnet. With the deadline fast approaching, she still hadn’t finished the revisions of her current book her editor requested. Henry had left for the hospital, and Maddy was still asleep.

  Back to work. She set aside the new book and pulled up the immediate task. She actually enjoyed the editing process, when she didn’t feel rushed. Once the words were there on paper, she could relax and revel in the words, not worrying about keeping the facts and sequence straight. She’d lost track of time when there was a knock on the door.

  “Hi, Dallas, come on in.” He followed her into the kitchen. She scooped up her laptop and notes. “I’ll get out of your way. Can I get you some coffee?”

  “No thanks. Already had my limit for the day.”

  “That’s right. I bet you were up half the night with Alexandra. Or is she sleeping through the night already?”

  “Yeah, you were right the first time. Still wants her bottle a couple of times a night.”

  “I run on a lovely path down to the river. Lots of shade. You should tell your wife it’s a nice place to take a stroller, and there’s a little play area with toddler swings and a jungle gym. I guess she’s too young for that.”

  “She gets around pretty good. She climbs up on the dresser and gets into my wife’s necklaces. Already likes to play dress up.”

  Emily had no idea at what age babies started doing that sort of thing. Then again, at the last baby shower she attended for her work colleague, she remembered a basketful of safety latches and outlet plugs, so she supposed they got into things fairly quickly.

  �
�Did you make any headway on the clues we found?”

  “We’ve looked at the first four. There’s the clue about the river, then we think the clue about chimes could mean a church. I recognized the third clue as an excerpt from Thomas Gray’s Elegy Written in a Country Churchyard.”

  “This is only my second summer here, but on the way here I pass an old church down by the river. And there’s a cemetery next to it with an old-fashioned iron fence around it.”

  “That would be a great start. The fourth clue is a mish-mosh of letters.” She put down the laptop and tore a sheet of paper from her notebook. “Does that mean anything to you?”

  “Did you try unscrambling it? Or maybe each letter stands for something.”

  She scribbled some versions of letter arrangements. “Yeah, but doesn’t ring a bell.”

  Dallas took the pen and scribbled. “Gre, Tad…”

  “When I have time, I’ll look at a map and see if any of those make sense. I’ve got to run by the college. Are you all set?”

  “I’ll finish clearing out the old cabinets today and I’ll get measurements. By tomorrow I should be able to get the wood for you. Is there a Home Depot around here?”

  “Yes, but that’s silly. You’ll get a better price from one of the local lumber mills. Ask Coralee. And I’ll check with Henry. He’s bought smaller amounts for some of his projects. Maddy’s still asleep but she knows you’ll be here.”

  Emily gathered her things and grabbed her keys. When she opened the front door, she realized she was blocked in by Dallas’s van. The door was open, displaying an array of tools.

  “Dallas, I can’t get out of my driveway.”

  “Sorry. I should have parked along the road. Wasn’t thinking.”

  He slid the door closed, jumped in the van, and pulled out of the driveway. Emily waved as she took off for St. Edwards.

  In the mornings, she was usually able to get by with an open window in her Audi, but the humidity was particularly nasty today. She turned on the AC and resumed her audiobook. She pulled into the housing parking lot, listened to the end of the chapter, then went to see Li Min.

  The office was as quiet as a graveyard and when the door creaked open, Li Min looked up from the book she was reading at the front counter.

  “Emily, what can I do for you?”

  Understandably, Li Min lacked the effervescence she’d had last time Emily visited this office. She took a lackadaisical swig from the thermos on the counter.

  “At least now I can drink coffee.”

  “I’m so sorry. I know how excited you were about having a baby.”

  “I’m beginning to think it will never happen. We spent the last of our savings working with Dr. Dan. At least he got what he deserved. I’m not shedding any tears about his death.”

  “It sounds clichéd, but there are many ways to have a family. Look at Henry and me. We never expected to wind up adopting a teenager at our age, but what a blessing it’s been.”

  “We can’t afford private adoption. Especially not now.”

  “Li Min, did Damari have anything to do with Dr. Fischer’s fertility enterprise? I’ve heard of college students selling their eggs for…”

  Li Min laughed. “No way. Damari wouldn’t even get a flu shot. She hated needles.

  “Why were you convinced Dr. Fischer was your answer to getting pregnant? I mean, why not go to one of the big fertility clinics?”

  “For one, the nearest one is four hours away, and you have to get shots daily and have bloodwork…it isn’t feasible, not if you have a job you have to be at in a different town. And the expense. Insurance doesn’t cover fertility treatments but Dr. Fischer found a way around it.”

  “Why would he do that?”

  “He cared about his patients—or so he said.”

  “Did the police question you about Dr. Fischer’s murder? I mean, there were all those witnesses who saw you getting angry at him at Coralee’s that night.”

  “Do I look like a murderer? Come on. Besides, Shen and I both have an alibi. We stopped for drinks at Toby’s Tavern. After all, it didn’t matter anymore if I drank. There were plenty of witnesses. I’m not sure I like how you suspect me.”

  “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to come off that way. I’ve just gotten wrapped up in this whole thing. I’ll let you get back to work.”

  Cared about his patients? Emily knew doctors were compassionate but to risk being linked to fraudulent insurance claims? There was too much at stake. She arrived home just as Jonathan was pulling into the driveway, behind Dallas’s van.

  “Perfect timing,” said Jonathan. He followed her into the house.

  “Don’t mind all the banging. We’re having new cabinets made. Let’s sit out in the back yard. Where it’s quieter.”

  “We got back the forensics report. The blood on the oar didn’t belong to Robby, nor did they find his fingerprints. That’s good news.”

  “Unless he wore gloves.”

  “If we’re thinking crime of passion, it’s unlikely he thought ahead. Besides, there weren’t any gloves found at the crime scene or in Robby’s room.”

  “Were you able to poke holes in any of the eyewitness reports?”

  “As a matter of fact, I scoured the records from the interviews. Dan Fischer said he saw Robby at the picnic eating a hotdog.”

  “And?”

  “Didn’t Maddy say something about him being a vegan?”

  “Of course! So Dan was lying about seeing him the day of Damari’s murder!”

  “And the fast food receipt? Would he have ordered a quarter pounder?”

  “Someone planted it. Do you think it was Dan? Come to think of it, Dan was the one who found the lunchbox.”

  “I know he’s dead, but I think we can build a case for Dan framing Robby.”

  “And killing Damari?” Emily hoped this would end Robby’s nightmare.

  “Nothing tangible but we’ll keep looking. At least by showing Robby was framed, it gives us reasonable doubt.”

  “Henry thinks Damari may have caught on to Dan importing those fertility drugs and that’s why he killed her.”

  “We’re exploring all options,” said Megan.

  “What about the anonymous tips? Someone claims to have seen a boy in a red sweatshirt fleeing the crime scene. And the red hoodie found by the lake?”

  “The key word is anonymous. Dan could have made that call.” Jonathan stood up from the picnic table. “I’m going back to work on this.”

  Emily noticed the kitchen curtains blowing through the open window and wondered how much longer they’d be able to get away without running the A/C all day. She walked Jonathan out to his car, then went back inside where there was a lull in the cacophony in the kitchen. She peeked in.

  “Wow, it’s looking good! I’m excited!”

  “This wood looks lovely in here. Great choice. Feel this.” He pulled a drawer open and closed. “Hear anything?”

  “No! It’s smooth as glass. I won’t miss jiggling the drawer back onto its track every time I pull out a spatula.”

  “I heard your lawyer friend come in. Did he clear your daughter’s friend?”

  “He’s working on it.”

  “Finding the murder weapon in the closet couldn’t have been helpful. I heard there was blood on the oar. I wonder if it was his?”

  “It wasn’t. I’m sure it won’t be long before they figure out who’s blood besides the victim’s it really is.” She looked at the clock. “If you want to knock off a little early and take that baby of yours out to the park, go ahead. You did a lot today.”

  “I’ll be back tomorrow, then. Another day or two and I’ll be out of your hair.”

  Chapter 19

  Emily took a quick shower, pulled her still damp hair into a stubby ponytail, and put on a pair of baby blue capris with a gauzy, embroidered top. She’d been thinking about the clues, and along with what Dallas said about the graveyard, was convinced it was worth investigating. Henry would be worki
ng late and agreed to meet them at the inn for dinner, but not for a few hours. She knocked on Maddy’s door.

  “Feel like going on a scavenger hunt? What do you say we swing by the cemetery before dinner?” The words rolled out of her mouth as casually as if she’d just asked Maddy to stop at the grocery store with her.

  “Do you think we’ll find something?”

  “We’ve got the quote from Gray’s Elegy Written in a Country Churchyard, chimes, and river. The old cemetery, behind the old church, isn’t far from the river.”

  “What about that mish mosh of letters? We haven’t unscrambled it yet.”

  Surprised Maddy wasn’t more eager, she said, “We don’t have to, it was just a thought.”

  “No, I want to. It’ll keep my mind off Robby sitting in a jail cell. I can be ready in ten minutes.”

  Emily had run by the river before, but not near the church. When they pulled up next to it, the grass in front was overgrown and a piece of board hung half off the roof at the base of the steeple.

  “I wonder if there are chimes up in that bell tower,” said Emily. She felt like she was on the set of a horror movie as she made her way up to the wooden church door, but then again, her imagination was always in overdrive. “It’s locked.”

  Maddy whispered over her shoulder. “That padlock is so rusty, I bet we can hack through it.”

  “With what? The nail clipper in my purse? We need a real tool for that. Besides, I’m pretty sure that would be considered trespassing. Look at the placard. It’s an official historic building.”

  “What about the cemetery? No one says we can’t walk around outside, right? Come on.”

  Emily followed her daughter around the outside of the church. The back was a mess of weeds and fallen branches.

  “I’m wearing my new sandals,” said Emily. “And there may be snakes or spiders in there for all we know.” Whose idea was this, anyway?”

  “We’re here now. I’m wearing sneakers. I’ll go.” She waded through the grass and weeds to the rusty, iron fence surrounding the churchyard. Again, a rusty padlock guarded the area. She pulled on it, but it wouldn’t budge. Then she tried climbing the fence.