After dinner that evening she telephoned Jovan. It had been a few days since they had been able to get together. Final exams were coming up for him and for all his joking ways, Jovan wanted to do well. After five years at a series of low paying jobs Jovan had applied for and been accepted into the Engineering program at university. He would be half way through this year and Jaswinder hoped that things would work out so that they could get married before they both turned thirty. Her mother was nineteen when she married her Dad but that was how things had changed. Jovan lived at home, too. University was expensive but Jovan didn't want to work too many shifts delivering pizza. He needed the time for assignments and studying.
So Jaswinder had some trepidation about the favour she was going to ask, but she decided that their relationship was open enough that Jovan would tell her if he didn't have time to help with her investigations. At least he took her efforts seriously, even if he did warn her regularly to 'be careful, Jas.'
"Jovan, there's something I would like to do but I just can't take off time right now and the place that has the information is only open when I'm at work."
"Oh, that's too bad."
"Well, . . . I was wondering, Jovan, how busy you are right now at school? I know you have Thursday afternoons off. Are you doing a lot of studying right now?"
"Fortunately, I got ahead during the Reading Break last month. Remember, you hardly saw me in February?"
"I'm going to ask a favour, Jovan, but I want you to say 'no' if you are too busy or if you don't want to."
"Is it something I'm going to be embarrassed to tell my friends about, Jas?"
"No, it's nothing like that. Okay, I'll tell you. I was wondering if you could go to the office of the College of Dental Surgeons and look at their Complaints files. They're open to the public."
"What are you looking for, Jaswinder?"
"I'm not sure, but I'll know it when I see it. You're a smart guy, Jovan, and you know something about this case. You'd probably recognize something significant, too, don't you think?"
"I'd like to help you. How long do you think it will take? I could probably spend a few hours there."
"I wouldn't want you to put in any more time than that, Jovan. You can probably figure out who I'd like you to look into. Dr. Atkinson, Carl -- his last name is Asimov. Cheryl MacKenzie is the hygienist at the clinic. I'd like to find out more about the protester, Jim Buckle; there should be something about the complaint he made on Dr. Atkinson. That's all, just those three people. What do you think?"
"Sure thing, Jas. As long as they don't ask me why I want those files. I'd rather not have to get into any explanations."
"No, I called and checked. The files are open to the public -- that includes you."
"You want me to take notes, right?"
"Yes, and I'm going to rely on you to write down what you think is relevant."
"You got it. Hopefully my expensive university education has honed my critical thinking skills."
"That's why I thought, Jovan. Maybe you could come over on Friday evening and show me what you found. I'll bake some cookies."
"Chocolate chip, please."
They talked for awhile longer before Jaswinder ended the call after an extended yawn. She should get to bed early and not think about anything tonight.
Chapter 15
On Monday morning, Jaswinder asked Dr. Parker if he had Marnie's home telephone number. "I thought I'd ask her if she wanted to go out for lunch tomorrow or the next day, or something . . ."
"Hey, that's a nice thought. I'm sure I have it here somewhere. Is it okay if I get it for you before lunch?"
Dr. Parker gave her the home number and after a couple of tries Jaswinder was able to get hold of Marnie. She was happy at the thought of getting back together for a visit. "I've missed you, Jaswinder. And I've found out that the job market is kind of slow now for CDA's. I hadn't been working long enough to collect unemployment insurance so things are getting a little tight."
"Dr. Parker said he would treat you."
"He did? How nice is that? I'm beginning to be sorry I quit in a rush." Her voice brightened. "But I've pulled Jeremy out of daycare for the time being, that was one of my biggest expenses."
"But you can get someone to look after him while we go out for lunch, can't you?”
"My Dad took early retirement last year, so he has offered to take Jeremy anytime. They get along really well."
"I was thinking we could try an ethnic restaurant I've discovered. It's a little ways from here, but not too far."
"Sure, I like trying new things."
Nobody from Restaurant Chatya would know them and maybe they could uncover something. Okay, it's a long shot, Jas. She wasn’t sure why she didn’t explain things to Marnie.
They made arrangements to meet at the restaurant two days later on Wednesday.
Jaswinder gave Marnie the address. She'd mention it to Dr. Parker and let him know that she'd probably be half an hour longer for lunch but that she would make up the time at the end of the day. Even though she had taken time off last week at lunch that was a goodbye lunch for Alice and almost a business lunch.
Jaswinder rushed home after work and jostled with her mother in the kitchen, making the promised chocolate chip cookies. When she saw Jovan's smiling face on the front porch, she rushed up to him and grabbed him in a big hug. Just seeing him made her feel good and after the past few weeks, feeling good felt . . . well, good. "Come on in, Jovan. Tell me how it went."
"It was kind of interesting, Jas."
They were sitting in her father's den, as he liked to call it. He said he used it to work on his banking or taxes but her mother thought it was more about watching football in peace.
"So, it wasn't a problem to see the files?"
"No, but the College of Dental Surgeons only keeps records on dentists and certified dental assistants. So there was nothing about Cheryl or Carl. Sorry, Jas."
"Oh, I didn't know that. Well, what did you find out?"
"It was pretty funny reading about that Dr. Atkinson. Lucky you never worked for him, Jaswinder. So, there was quite a lot on the complaint from James Buckle. He's the protester marching in front of the clinic, right?" She nodded. "One of the things I read which I don't think you told me about was that Dr. Atkinson's locum coverage was cancelled in December for non-payment."
"Really? I can't believe that. A dentist has to provide locum coverage for emergencies. Unless he's prepared to be available himself 24/7. So Mr. Buckle wouldn't have been able to get any help from the office over Christmas."
"No, and in the report it said he'd paid Dr. Atkinson in full, and had no money left to pay anyone else. There was something about him going bankrupt two years ago and he didn't have a credit card."
"So that would be why he finally went into Emergency at the hospital; they would treat him for free."
"It was kind of a sad situation really, Jas. I know the guy's been a pest but his life has turned out pathetic. His wife left him a few years ago and he went bankrupt a little while after. He'd just gotten his last job a few months before and things were going a bit better for him. But after he was off work while he was in hospital with septicemia from the abscess in his tooth that Dr. Atkinson hadn't treated, he lost his job. He hadn't been able to get another one. There was a long letter from Jim Buckle in the file."
"That Dr. Atkinson has a lot to answer for. But surely he knows that Dr. Parker has nothing to do with Dr. Atkinson."
"There was something in the report about how the thinks that Dr. Parker is covering up for Dr. Atkinson and that they're actually partners."
"No, that's not so. Anyway, I can't believe that he would kill someone he doesn't know with some idea of getting back at Dr. Atkinson."
"No, it does seem a bit much." He leaned back and stretched. "Well, I'd better be going Jas," he said, grabbing a couple of cookies. "I'll eat these on my lunch break at school tomorrow. Go with the pizza."
Jovan got free leftover
pizza the evenings he worked. He said he got tired of it, but that it was quick and easy to grab on his way out the door in the mornings.
"Oh, I had a quick look at Dr. Parker's file. Did you know he volunteered in Guatemala for six months after he gradated from Dental School? He was treating poor people out in rural areas that had never seen a dentist. Seems like a nice guy, Jas."
The last thing Jovan said as he went down the stairs was to admonish Jaswinder to be careful. "Let the police do their work, Jas. Why don't you call up that detective and tell him what you know."
"Maybe. Well, you'd better head home now, Jovan. We shouldn't be too late on a week night."
Jaswinder lay awake for a while again thinking about whether she should call Detective Osborne. Even if he was annoying, the goal was to solve this case so they could all go on with their lives. She had pretty well decided to call him later in the week when she fell asleep.
The next day was the lunch with Marnie. It was so good to see her again; Jaswinder realized how much she had missed her.
"I'm almost sorry I quit. No, I think I am sorry. I did it without thinking because I was scared."
"Don't feel bad about that, Marnie; we're all a little scared."
"Yes, but nothing has happened and I know now I gave up a good job. Dr. Parker was flexible if I had to leave for a doctor's appointment for Jeremy. I mean, the pay was a little less, but I know he's just starting out."
"What were you so worried about, Marnie?"
"That someone in the clinic was a murderer."
"That is possible. I suppose it's most likely probable, unless you think the protester did it."
"But who?" Marnie lowered her voice as the waiter came over to take their order. Of course, they weren't ready.
"Do you have any herbal tea?"
"Of course."
"And I'll have ice water with a slice of lemon. What's the special today?"
"We have Djepelgesh on the special menu today. Would you like me to describe it for you?" They nodded.
"It is something like a samosa. A bit spicy, but not too much."
"Okay, I'll try it."
"Me, too."
The waiter backed away and they went back to their interrupted conversation.
"Dr. Parker has hired someone; she hasn't started yet. I suppose it's possible that she won't work out . . ."
"Does she know about the murder?"
"I don't know. Dr. Parker would probably tell her though; he's an upfront kind of guy, I think."
They talked for ten minutes about Jeremy, or rather, Marnie had some funny stories to tell. Jaswinder tried to imagine herself and Jovan with a four year old child but that was difficult, somehow. Jaswinder brought her up to date on some of the patients that Marnie knew. She decided to change the subject as their food was delivered. Part of her wanted Marnie back but she also hoped the new CDA would work out.
"My friend, Manisha and I have been trying to figure out who the likely person is. You know, the one who did the deed. Would it bother you to talk about it?"
"Now that I'm not there anymore I don't mind. I have been thinking about it, much as I've tried not to."
"We, Manisha and I, decided that the only possibilities are the protester, Jim Buckle, Cheryl or Carl. Manisha and I decided that it couldn't be me." Jaswinder laughed a little nervously.
"For sure." Marnie was a loyal friend.
"I could see you and Dr. Parker all the time, pretty well, so you see, that just leaves those three. But I knew it couldn’t be you, Marnie."
"Ha, thanks. But I think you're right, Jaswinder. But which one?"
Jaswinder lowered her voice. "I picked this restaurant for a reason, Marnie. Carl works here four nights a week. Did you know that?"
Marnie shook her head. "Well, he does. I guess he's trying to save up for Dental School. I mean, that's fine. But did you know he came over here from Chechnya? That's probably why he works at this restaurant; it's Chechen. Probably they get some old timers in here that don't speak much English so they like to have some native speakers."
"Okay . . .?"
"The Chechens were at war with Russia for a long time. Carl's younger brother was killed in that war. I'm not sure if he was in the army or if he was just killed walking down the street, you know, a random bystander. Or maybe he was in some kind Resistance or Underground. Like they had in World War II."
"And . . . "
"Well, Marnie, the patient that was killed, Viktor Plinsky, was Russian. He was actually a member of some kind of high level Russian business organization involved in illegal business."
"That sure sounds like a motive."
"That's what I thought." She took another a bite of the dish. "Hey, this is pretty good. Too bad I can't tell Carl; I don't want him to know we ate here today." Jaswinder looked at her watch. "I'd better finish up here and get back. You know, Dr. Parker seemed pleased that I was going out to lunch with you. I think he likes you, in a platonic way, of course. He values you as a CDA."
"Yeah, he and I always got along pretty well. He could be quiet when he was working on patients and I usually could fill in the silences, if you know what I mean."
"Yes, patients sometimes think something is wrong when the dentist doesn't say anything for a while." She smiled at Marnie as the waiter brought over two bills. She scooped up both of them and walked over to the till, telling Marnie she'd be right back.
Jaswinder added a generous tip for the waiter who had been efficient and unobtrusive. When she smiled at him, he commented,
"You work with Carl, yes?"
Oh, my God. Why would he say that? What did he know?
But the waiter continued as if Marnie and she eating there was the most natural thing in the world. "I heard you talking about dentistry. We don't have any dental offices around here."
Oh, that was okay. But would he tell Carl?
Jaswinder decided to act innocent and play along. "Oh yes, of course. Carl's great. And what a hard working guy!"
"Well, you know, he hopes to be a full dentist himself, one of these days. We'll lose him here, of course, when that happens, but the world will gain an excellent dentist."
Jaswinder tried to smooth things over. "Maybe it would be best not to mention we were here. I mean, we enjoyed our lunch very much." The waiter smiled at this. "But I wouldn't want Carl to, you know, be embarrassed or anything."
"I understand." The waiter smiled, conspiratorially. "Carl was always a big hit with the ladies back home, too. I won't tell him you girls were looking for him."
Oh, what colossal egos men had. Let him think that then. As long as he keeps quiet. "Thanks a lot. You're a true gentleman." Might as well lay it on.
The waiter winked at her and nodded as she turned back to Marnie, now putting on her coat.
"Let's get going, Marnie." Jaswinder pulled her out the front door and down the corner to where her car was parked. Once out of sight she collapsed in laughter on the hood of her car. "I've got to get going, Marnie. I'll call you later and let you in on the joke."
Chapter 16
That evening, Jaswinder decided to follow up on her promise to Jovan to talk to Detective Osborne. It really would be best to have this whole thing over and done with even if it meant bad news about a co-worker. She dialed his number with some trepidation. This time she knew he would answer it himself.
"Detective Osborne here."
"Oh, good evening, Detective. This is Jaswinder Pandher." He had Call Display, no doubt. Might as well be extra polite. "How are you?"
"Fine, fine. What's up?"
"I was thinking maybe we could . . . get together and talk about the case. I have a few questions and I might have some information that would be useful to you. To solve the case, I mean."
"I see. Well, by all means, let's get together. I've noticed you have a lot of interest in solving crimes, Jaswinder. Are you thinking of a career in law enforcement?"
Was he being friendly or sarcastic? Maybe I should give him the
benefit of the doubt. "Oh, you never know. All those teeth look alike after a while."
He had the grace to give a small laugh. "Okay, do you want to come down to my office?"
"That would be best, I think. I've got your card with the address on it. What time works best for you?"
Operatory of Death: A Jaswinder Mystery Page 10