Her father didn't have much to say. He made it clear that he never thought it was the police. "Why would the police waste their time sitting in a car in front of my house?" That was how he put it. No, he hadn't had a good look at who was inside; a man, of that he was almost positive, unless it was a large woman made up to look like a man. Not in uniform though, he was wearing some kind of overcoat. The car was grey but he couldn't say what make or model.
Simratpal who had been sitting on the hallway stairs, called out, "It was an Infiniti, Dad." He was invited into the living room to talk to the police officer and impressed him sufficiently with his knowledge of cars that the officer wrote down the details. Two door with tinted windows and custom hubcaps. Last year's model. How had Simratpal, her little brother, become so smart about cars?
Jaswinder was able to give the first three letters of the license plate. After about a half hour the officers left. The younger one thanked them for providing so much information. "Most people can't give us as much detail as you have. You're all very observant." He looked at Simratpal with a smile. "Maybe you should be a police officer when you grow up; all that knowledge you have of vehicle models would be useful." Her brother looked so proud of himself. He had struggled to learn to read so praise from an outsider would be precious to him. Her father and mother and Jas walked the officers to the door.
The older one turned back to them on the porch. "Detective Osborne asked me to make sure you understood that no police detail was assigned to any surveillance duty here. Call us right away if you see any suspicious vehicles on your street again."
By now it was close to 11 p.m. "I'm going to bed, Mom and Dad." This was all getting too scary.
CHAPTER 13
At work the two days later, on Wednesday, Jaswinder telephoned Manisha and asked if she could come over to her house that evening after dinner. She had decided it might be best not to have a conversation about everything that her parents might overhear if she called from home. Since the time Jovan had heard clicking on their line, Jaswinder also felt she should be careful what she said on the phone. "I want to tell you something interesting."
"What?"
"Someone's coming, Manisha; I've got to hang up. I'll see you at seven tonight."
The clinic's coffee supply was running low coffee and Jaswinder remembered that she had decided to see if Cheryl could be persuaded to be a little friendlier. Someone to talk to at lunch breaks at least. Alice was nice enough but she would only be there another week or so and besides, Jaswinder had found that she talked a lot about her children. She walked around to Cheryl's hygiene office. A young boy was having his lower front teeth scaled.
"Hey, Cheryl, I need to pick up some more coffee for the office. I was wondering if there was a certain kind you like best. I don't think Dr. Parker cares what we get."
Cheryl looked over her shoulder at Jaswinder for a moment then went back to the patient. "I prefer dark coffee, dark and strong. And organic is best. You can definitely tell the difference. That medium roast just doesn't cut it for me. But maybe you should ask the others."
"Got it. Let's just try that, for a change and see if anyone notices."
"Okay, thanks for asking."
Jaswinder went back to her seat. It had been a start anyway.
At Manisha's that evening they went over the sketch Jaswinder had drawn of the dental clinic. Using pennies, they placed everyone's approximate location.
"You said the back door was unlocked, Jaswinder?"
"I found out that it has to stay unlocked during the day. It's a fire regulation; you need two exits."
“That protester, what was his name? He probably knew it was kept unlocked from when he was Dr. Atkinson's patient." Manisha said.
"Yeah, probably."
"He was the closest to the room, Operatory four, you said it was called, right?"
"Well, he could have been but he also could have left by then. I don't know if anyone heard the door open and close. I don't know Jim Buckle at all except that he is upset enough or maybe weird enough to keep protesting for a day every week or so. Does he hate us enough that he would kill one of our patients to make us look bad?"
"But he'd be found out for sure. I mean, the police know who he is."
"The police know who we all are."
"The back door is beside Carl's lab. Does Carl keep his door open or closed?"
"Closed, usually. But not locked. He's what you call anti-social. Although after seeing him at the restaurant the other night it might be something he puts on for us."
"But why would he do that?
"Maybe he just doesn't like us."
"I'm sure you've never done anything to offend him, Jaswinder."
Jaswinder laughed. "Maybe not before, but I think he knows I went snooping in his lab after everyone had gone."
"You did? You didn't tell me that. What did you find?"
Jaswinder went over the highlights for her friend. "It was quite dusty in there, from the stuff used for the moulds. I'll bet that he saw some footprints or finger marks or something the next day and that's how he knew someone had been in there. But why did he think it was me?"
Manisha shrugged her shoulders. "You're the smartest?" Jaswinder had to smile at her friend. Always supportive, that was Manisha.
"What about Cheryl's room?" Manisha went on.
"What about it?"
"Is the door usually open or closed?"
"It's always open. I'm not even sure it closes." Jaswinder thought for a moment. "No, it has one of those pocket doors you can slide out. But she doesn't use it. The room is kind of small and has no window. You'd feel claustrophobic, I think."
"Well, then, it sounds to me like Cheryl was the closest to Mr. Viktor, and she wouldn't even have to open and close her door. And isn't the sedation machine right near her room?"
"Yeah, but you're assuming Carl was in his lab, working away."
"Well was he?"
"I'd phoned him to come up to the front to help me with Herbie, the dog, remember?"
"Think now, Jaswinder. Had you seen him before the old lady went into the Operatory and screamed?"
"No . . . no, I first saw him when he came to the front. But you could say the same about Cheryl." Jaswinder frowned, trying to remember. "But she came out to the front and took off her gloves and threw them in my wastebasket; she said she'd been cleaning her operatory, I think. But nobody would ever know if she hadn't cleaned it thoroughly or at all."
"Her patient had left already, though, right? What did you say her name was?"
"That was Florence McNeil. Yes, she didn't even stop at Reception, just told me to bill her credit card. We keep some patient financial details on-line, if they're agreeable to that. Did I remember to bill her? Oh, I don't think I did in all the confusion after. I'll have to check that tomorrow; I can just put it through then."
"So when did Florence leave, Jas?"
"Let me think." Jaswinder closed her eyes and willed her brain to recreate that brief moment in time. "Mr. Plinsky was still at reception when she left. I remember that he eyed her up. She's still pretty good looking, in a buxom kind of way I mean, even though she's older. Well, she must be almost forty."
"Good for you, remembering that."
"I hate guys who do that. I remember thinking that."
"So, there were a few minutes there before you took Mr. Plinsky into the room? Cheryl would have had time to wheel in the sedation equipment."
"No, no! I remember now. The sedation machine wasn’t there when I seated him so someone set it up after I left. It could have been done innocently, if it was thought that it would be used.”
"Maybe someone was just being efficient. Can you ask Dr. Parker? He was never out of sight, was he? So he can't be the one."
"I guess I could. He'd wonder why I was asking. I don't think he would approve of my little investigations."
"Tell him you're thinking of upgrading yourself and you've been doing some reading. Bosses always like th
at, especially if they don't have to pay for it."
"Okay, I'll think about how I can word it. Now you've creeped me out, Manisha. I hadn't really thought about Cheryl as the murderer. It was just so violent. Would a woman do that?"
"Just make sure you're not alone with her, Jas!"
"But remember the show, Law and Order? Two things are necessary, opportunity and motive. Unless you're dealing with a complete wacko. Maybe Cheryl had the opportunity, but what would be her motive? She didn't know Mr. Plinsky."
"Yeah, you're right. Maybe he made a pass at her. You said he was eyeballing Florence McNeil. Maybe he's the type of guy who tries it on with every woman under sixty."
Jaswinder sounded doubtful. "Maybe . . . but he said he was in a lot of pain. Doesn't that affect even men like that?"
They both laughed. "You could ask Jovan," Manisha teased.
"You know, that's one more good thing about Jovan, now that I think about it, he's not a gawker. I mean, I'm sure he looks but he's very unobtrusive about it."
"Yes, you're right. It's really an insult when a guy stops in the middle of a conversation with you, turns around and stares at some girl in a short skirt that just walked by."
"Sounds like that's happened to you, Manisha."
"Too many times. But I use that fact in my rating system."
"Oh, that's right, I forgot. Your rating system. Tell me how it works again, and I'll rate Jovan. Just don't ever tell him." Distracted from the murder investigation, the rest of the evening, until Manisha had to go home, was spent rating the different boyfriends they'd had since high school, with Manisha's rating system for men.
As she was leaving, Manisha stopped at the front door and asked, "What about Marnie, the CDA? She's quit, hasn't she?"
Jaswinder looked around to make sure Manisha’s parents weren't in earshot. "Marnie is the one person that I know for sure where she was. Well, both her and Dr. Parker. She was in Operatory One, that's the one closest to Reception, adjusting Krystal's braces. You know, Manisha, Krystal was sent home before the police came, before the ambulance even came. I'm sure the police haven't talked to her at all or even know she was there."
"Why was that, Jas?"
Jaswinder answered slowly, "I think maybe Dr. Parker was trying to protect her or something. I mean she definitely had nothing to do with anything, poor kid."
"How old is she?"
"Oh, maybe thirteen. So Krystal and Dr. Parker and Marnie can definitely be off the suspect list. But I was actually thinking of inviting Marnie out for lunch sometime. It would be good to see her again and see how she's doing. But maybe I could also discuss the case with her. She could, you know, give me a different perspective."
"Good idea. At least we've narrowed things down."
"So that leaves Carl, Jim Buckle and Cheryl as the only ones that were out of sight, so to speak, for at least a few minutes. Assumes leaving me off the list, Manisha. And Herbie. Mrs. Harrington would have had about thirty seconds, not counting her scream."
“Remember, opportunity and motive.”
"Well, Manisha, we have three people with opportunity, leaving off Mrs. Harrington. What motive could she have? That means they were in the right place at the right time and had enough time to do the deed."
"You sound like a real detective when you talk like that, Jas."
"Thanks, I think. But you'd think Detective Osborne would have thought of these things as well. Except that he probably also considers me a suspect."
Manisha lowered her voice. "It's kind of scary that someone was parked outside your house and then took off and practically ran over your Dad. You're sure that wasn't one of the suspects?"
"No, I don't think any of them drive that model of car. It was an Infiniti, and that's an expensive car. But I've been thinking about that. Detective Osborne implied that Mr. Plinsky was a member of some kind of gang. Not a gang like we think of it, breaking into houses and cars, but something bigger like illegal businesses or people smuggling or money laundering. Or drugs. Lots of money involved in those things. I think Mr. Plinsky was driving a Jaguar the day he came. Simratpal told me that is a very expensive car. Maybe a member of his group wants revenge."
"I never thought of that. So his gang friends are watching everyone or at least the people they have decided are suspects. But why would that only be you, Jas?"
"I don't know, maybe they're watching everyone but the others haven't noticed. I think these guys are probably good at what they do."
"Well, I'll tell you what I think, Jaswinder, and you can tell me if you think I'm right or wrong. Carl is the one with the motive. You told me that his brother was killed by a Russian. It was probably Mr. Plinsky's gang or if not his gang, maybe one of his friends or relatives. Even if it wasn't, maybe he wanted revenge, or he freaked out or something. You don't get many Russian patients, usually, do you Jas?"
"I have no idea where the patients come from. I mean, some have an accent and some you can tell by the features or colour, but the rest could be from anywhere. You know Surrey, it's a real melting pot. At least that's what my Dad says."
At the mention of her father, Jaswinder looked at her watch and decided she'd better head home.
"Are you afraid to drive home by yourself? Do you want me to come with you?"
"How would you get back to your house then, Manisha? No, don't worry, it's only a few blocks."
Jaswinder got home without incident. The neighbourhood she and Manisha lived in was quiet; nothing much happened after nine o'clock at night. Once in bed, she couldn't fall asleep and lay running the things she'd talked to her friend about through her mind, over and over. Opportunity and motive. Opportunity and motive.
The protester, Jim Buckle, would have the motive of trying to ruin Dr. Parker's practice especially as the parading back and forth with a sign hadn't had much effect. But you'd have to be crazy to do something like that just to get back at someone, the wrong someone, for a misdiagnosis. Was he crazy? How could she find that out?
And how much did she really know about Cheryl? She didn't talk much about her past and they all walked on eggshells around her, trying to avoid upsetting her about her fiancé. But what motive would she have for killing Mr. Plinsky? Cheryl wasn't Chechen, was she? Her last name was MacKenzie. That would be Scottish.
Jaswinder tried to remember her high school history. The Russians, or the Soviet Union, as it had been called previously, had been at war with many different countries over the years. It was possible that Cheryl had some grudge against Russians. Maybe she should talk to Detective Osborne. She could always use the excuse about the car that almost ran over her father and ask if the police had tracked down the car. Finally she drifted off to sleep, the alarm clock on the table beside her bed reading 2:20.
Chapter 14
Jaswinder couldn't stop yawning the next day. Maybe she should take a day off. Could she do that to Dr. Parker or would that look suspicious? She had just about made up her mind to stay home the next day and call in sick when Dr. Parker came out to her. He looked a little more relaxed than he had since the murder.
"I was interviewing after you left yesterday, Jaswinder and I've hired a new dental assistant to take Marnie's place. She's going to start next week, on Monday."
"Oh, that's good, Dr. Parker. Is Alice staying until Friday?"
"Yes, she says she can. And I want to thank you again. You've been a great help in this difficult time. I know there are a couple of weeks left in your probation period but I think we'll consider it complete. So your hourly pay will go up $2.00 an hour starting with the next pay period."
"Thanks, Dr. Parker." He walked back to his office. I can't really take tomorrow off, now, Jaswinder thought. I should take up Cheryl's coffee habit; it might give me more energy.
When she opened the mail after it was delivered a little later there was the usual monthly Members Report from the College of Dental Surgeons for Dr. Parker. I wonder if someone made a report on Dr. Atkinson. That would be somethi
ng to read. There's probably a thick file somewhere with his name on it. She started reading through a recent report; a dentist up North had made what were called 'inappropriate advances' to a patient. Too bad the report is edited, she thought, it sounds like it would be juicy reading. The dentist's defense was that the patient hadn't resisted and it was only when her husband got wind of things that the wife decided the advances were inappropriate.
As she put the newsletter in the pile to take to Dr. Parker's office, Jaswinder remembered that the Dental College files were open to the public; at least some of them were. Maybe she could go there and look at the files. And it wasn't just dentists, certified dental assistants, dental lab technicians and hygienists all registered with the College. Maybe there would be something significant there.
Operatory of Death: A Jaswinder Mystery Page 9