Four Classic Alex Delaware Thrillers 4-Book Bundle

by Jonathan Kellerman

  Returning to the car, I drove the rest of the way home thinking about pneumonia, respiratory therapy, and a baby boy lying still and gray in his crib. By the time I arrived, I was feeling short of breath.

  I changed into shorts and a T-shirt, reviewed my chat with Cindy.

  People must think I’m crazy.… Sometimes I think I’m crazy.

  Guilt? A veiled confession? Or just tantalizing me?

  Waltzing.

  She’d been totally cooperative until I’d suggested we leave the room.

  The “overly caring” Munchausen mother? Or simply the reasonable anxiety of a woman who’s lost one child and suffered plenty with another?

  I recalled the nervous surprise she’d shown when I told her of my plans for a home visit.

  Something to hide? Or just surprise—a logical reaction—because doctors didn’t do house calls anymore?

  Another risk factor: Her mother-figure, the nurse. A woman who came across, even in Cindy’s loving recollection, as something of a martinet.

  A nurse who worked for a doctor but fought with him. Who disparaged physicians.

  She’d guided Cindy into health care but away from nursing.

  Ambivalence about doctors? About the health-care power structure? Preoccupation with sickness and treatment?

  Had all that been communicated to Cindy at a young age?

  Then there was the matter of her own illnesses—the flu and pneumonia that had disrupted her career plans.

  Everything worked out for the best.

  The blush, the yanking at her braid. The discharge was definitely a sensitive topic.

  I got on the kitchen phone, obtained the 803 area code for South Carolina and dialed Information there. Fort Jackson turned out to be in Columbia. I wrote down the number and called it.

  A drawling female voice answered. I asked for the base’s chief medical officer.

  “You want the commander of the hospital?”

  “Yes, please.”

  “One moment.”

  A second later: “Colonel Hedgeworth’s office.”

  “This is Dr. Delaware, from Los Angeles, California. I’d like to speak with the colonel, please.”

  “What was that name, sir?”

  “Delaware.” I added my professional title and medical school affiliation.

  “Colonel Hedgeworth is out of the office, sir. Would you care to speak with Major Dunlap?”

  “That would be fine.”

  “Please hold.”

  Half a dozen beats, then another drawling voice. Male baritone: “Major Dunlap.”

  “Major, this is Dr. Alex Delaware, from L.A.” I repeated my credentials.

  “Uh-huh. What can I do for you, Doctor?”

  “We’ve been doing some pilot research—contagion patterns of viral epidemics, influenza and pneumonia, specifically—in relatively closed environments such as prisons, private schools, and military bases. Contrasting it with control groups in the general population.”

  “Epidemiological research?”

  “We’re working out of the Pediatrics department. Still in the process of assembling a preliminary data base, and Fort Jackson came up as a possible target site.”

  “Uh-huh,” he said. Long pause. “Have you got a research grant on this?”

  “Not yet, just some preliminary seed money. Whether or not we apply for full funding depends on how the data base shapes up. If we do write a proposal it would be as a collaborative effort—the target sites, plus us. We’d carry all the overhead, would just need access to facts and figures.”

  He chuckled. “We give you our stats and you put our names on any papers you write?”

  “That would be part of it, but we’d always be open to scientific input.”

  “What med school was that?”

  I told him.

  “Uh-huh.” Another laugh. “Well, I guess that would be pretty attractive, if I still cared about that kind of thing. But yeah, sure, I guess you can put our names down, for the time being—conditionally, no commitment. Got to check it with Colonel Hedgeworth, though, before I finalize anything.”

  “When will he be back?”

  He laughed again. “She’ll be back in a couple of days. Give me your number.”

  I gave him my home exchange, saying, “That’s a private line, easier to reach.”

  “And what was your name?”

  “Delaware.”

  “Like in the state?”

  “Exactly.”

  “And you’re with Pediatrics?”

  “Yes,” I said. Technically true, but I hoped he wouldn’t delve too deeply and find out I had a clinical appointment but hadn’t lectured in years.

  “Fine,” he said. “Get back to you soon as I can. If you don’t hear from me in, say, a week—call back.”

  “Will do, Major. Thanks.”

  “No problem.”

  “In the meantime, though, if you could give me one bit of information, I’d appreciate it.”

  “What’s that?”

  “Do you recall any epidemics of either influenza or pneumonia at your base during the last ten years?”

  “Ten years? Hmm. I haven’t been here that long. We did have a meningitis outbreak a couple of years ago, but that was bacterial. Very nasty.”

  “We’re limiting the inquiry to viral respiratory illnesses.”

  “Well,” he said, “I guess the information’s somewhere—hold on.”

  Two minutes passed.

  “Captain Katz, how can I help you?”

  I repeated my request.

  “That far back wouldn’t be on our computer,” he said. “Can I get back to you on that?”

  “Sure. Thanks.”

  Another exchange of numbers.

  I put the receiver down, clogged with frustration, knowing the information was on someone’s hard drive or floppy disc, accessible, instantly, at the push of the right button.

  Milo didn’t call back until four.

  “Been trying to keep up with your Joneses,” he said. “The coroner has a death form on file for the first kid. Charles Lyman Jones the Fourth. Nothing suspicious—sudden infant death syndrome, certified by your friend Stephanie and backed up by a Rita Kohler, M.D.”

  “She’s the head of the General Pediatrics division. Stephanie’s boss. She was originally their doctor, was out of town when Chad died.”

  “Uh-huh. Well, it all looks kosher. Now, in terms of the parents, here’s what I’ve got so far. They live out in the West Valley and pay their property taxes on time—lots of taxes, cause they own lots of property. Fifty parcels.”

  “Fifty? Where?”

  “Right where they live—the entire surrounding tract is theirs. Not bad for a college teacher, huh?”

  “College teacher with a trust fund.”

  “No doubt. Other than that, they seem to live pretty simple and straight. Charles Lyman the Third drives a 1985 Volvo 240 four-door, received a speeding ticket last year and two parking citations, all paid. Cindy Brooks Jones drives a Plymouth Voyager van and is pure as the driven snow, infraction-wise. Ditto your surly nurse, if she’s Victoria June Bottomley, DOB 4/24/36, with an address in Sun Valley.”

  “Sounds like her.”

  “So far, Beaver Cleaverland.”

  “You obviously didn’t get my message.”

  “No. When and where?”

  “Around eleven. I left it with Rick’s sister.”

  “I didn’t get any emergency call.”

  “That’s ’cause I did a one beeper,” I said. “Respecting your business procedures.” I recounted the suspicions my talk with Cindy had aroused and my call to South Carolina.

  “Joe Sleuth,” he said. “Just can’t control yourself.”

  “Hey, with your fees, I figured anything I could do myself would be a bargain.”

  He grunted. “Knowing me is a bargain. Pneumonia, huh? So what’re you saying? Her lungs clog, it messes her plans up, so she fucks up her kids’ lungs—whatchacallit,
projecting?”

  “Something like that. On top of that, she was trained in respiratory therapy.”

  “Then why would she move away from respiratory stuff? Why the stomach problems and the seizures?”

  “I don’t know, but the facts remain: Lung sickness disrupted her life. And/or gave her a lot of attention.”

  “So she passed it on to the kids in order to get more attention for herself? Or got mad at being sick and took it out on the kids?”

  “Either. Neither. Both. I don’t know. Maybe I’m just blowing air—no pun intended.”

  “That comment about being nuts. You think she suspects she’s under watch?”

  “It’s possible. Or maybe she was just playing around with me. She’s on edge, but who wouldn’t be, with a child constantly sick? That’s the problem with this whole case—anything I see can be explained several different ways. What does stick in my mind is the way she blushed and fiddled with her hair when she talked about the army. I’m wondering if the pneumonia story could be a cover for a psychiatric discharge or something else she doesn’t want coming out. I’m hoping the army can confirm it, one way or the other.”

  “When’s the army gonna call you back?”

  “The guy I spoke to didn’t commit himself. Said their health records that far back aren’t computerized. Would health data be included in the military data banks Charlie’s hacked into?”

  “Don’t know, but I’ll ask him.”

  “Thanks.”

  “How’s the baby doing?”

  “Full recovery. No neurological problems that would have caused her to seize. Stephanie wants to watch her for a day or two. Mom says she wouldn’t mind going home, but makes no effort to push it—Miss Compliant, doctor knows all. She’s also claiming Cassie’s talking more since I met her. She’s certain it’s something I did.”

  “The old kiss-up?”

  “Munchausen moms are notorious for it—the staff generally loves them.”

  “Well,” he said, “enjoy it while it lasts. You dig up some dirt on this lady, she’s not gonna be kissing you anywhere.”

  9

  After he hung up, I took the mail, the morning paper, and a month’s worth of bills to a deli in West L.A. The place was nearly full—old people hunched over soup, young families with small children, two uniformed policemen at the rear joshing with the owner, mountainous sandwiches sharing table space with their walkie-talkies.

  I sat at the corner table at the front, to the left of the counter, and had smoked turkey on onion roll, cole slaw, and Dr. Brown’s CelRay soda.

  Good stuff, but hospital thoughts intruded on my digestion.

  At 9:00 P.M. I decided to go back to the hospital for an unscheduled visit. See how Mrs. Charles Lyman Jones the Third reacted to that.

  Black night; the shadows on Sunset seemed to be moving in slow motion and the boulevard turned spooky nearer to the good side of town. After a few miles of hollow eyes, Thorazine shuffles, and scary motels, Western Peds’s child-shaped logo and brightly lit Emergency Room arrow signaled a welcome outpost.

  The parking lot was nearly deserted now. Small amber bulbs in grilled cases hung from the concrete ceiling, casting a hard-focus glow on every other parking slot. The remaining spaces were totally dark, creating a zebra-stripe effect. As I walked to the stairs I felt as if someone were watching me. When I looked back, I was alone.

  The lobby was empty, too, the marble floors mirrors of nothing. One woman sat behind the Information window, methodically hand-stamping some papers. The page operator was getting paid for showing up. A clock ticked loudly. The smell of adhesive tape and a faint but definite sweat-spoor lingered, remembrances of stress gone by.

  Something else I’d forgotten: Hospitals are different at night. The place was as spooky as the streets.

  I took the elevator up to Five and walked through the ward, unnoticed. The doors to most of the rooms were closed; handwritten signs provided occasional distraction: Protective Isolation, Infection Watch/No Visitors.… The few doors that were open emitted TV sounds and the cricket-clicks of metered I.V.’s. I passed sleeping children and others entranced by the cathode ray. Parents sat, stiff as plaster. Waiting.

  Chappy Ward’s teak doors vacuum-sucked me into dead silence. No one was at the desk.

  I walked over to 505 and rapped very softly. No answer. I opened the door and looked in.

  Cassie’s side rails were raised. She slept, guarded by stainless steel. Cindy slept, too, on the sofa bed, positioned so that her head was close to Cassie’s feet. One of her hands extended through the bars, touching Cassie’s sheet.

  I closed the door softly.

  A voice behind me said, “They’re sleeping.”

  I turned.

  Vicki Bottomley glared at me, hands on meaty hips.

  “Another double shift?” I said.

  She rolled her eyes and began walking off.

  “Hold on,” I said. The sharpness in my voice surprised both of us.

  She stopped, turned slowly. “What?”

  “What’s the problem, Vicki?”

  “There is no problem.”

  “I think there is.”

  “You’re entitled.” She started to leave again.

  “Hold it.” The empty corridor amplified my voice. Or maybe I really was that angry.

  She said, “I’ve got work to do.”

  “So do I, Vicki. Same patient, as a matter of fact.”

  She stretched one arm toward the chart rack. “Be my guest.”

  I walked up to her. Close enough to crowd. She backed away. I moved forward.

  “I don’t know what your problem with me is, but I suggest we deal with it.”

  “I don’t have any problem with anyone.”

  “Oh? Is what I’ve seen so far your usual level of charm?”

  The pretty blue eyes blinked. Though they were dry, she wiped them quickly.

  “Listen,” I said, retreating a step, “I don’t want to get into anything personal with you. But you’ve been hostile to me from the beginning and I’d like to know why.”

  She stared at me. Opened her mouth. Closed it.

  “It’s nothing,” she said. “I’ll be okay—no problem, I promise. Okay?”

  She held out her hand.

  I reached for it.

  She gave me fingertips. A quick shake and she turned and started to walk away.

  I said, “I’m going down to get some coffee. Care to join me?”

  She stopped but didn’t turn around.

  “Can’t. On duty.”

  “Want me to bring a cup up for you?”

  Now she turned quickly. “What do you want?”

  “Nothing,” I said. “With your double-shifting, I figured you could use some coffee.”

  “I’m fine”

  “I’ve heard you’re terrific.”

  “What does that mean?”

  “Dr. Eves thinks a lot of you. As a nurse. So does Cindy.”

  Her arms clamped across her chest, as if she were holding herself together. “I do my job.”

  “Do you see me getting in the way of that?”

  Her shoulders climbed. She seemed to be phrasing an answer. But all she said was, “No. Everything will be okay. Okay?”

  “Vicki—”

  “I promise,” she said. “Please? Can I go now?”

  “Sure,” I said. “Sorry if I came on too strong.”

  She clamped her lips together, pivoted, and returned to her station.

  I went to the Five East elevators. One lift was stuck on the sixth floor. The other two arrived simultaneously. Chip Jones stepped out of the central door, a cup of coffee in each hand. He had on faded jeans, a white turtleneck, and a denim jacket that matched the pants.

  “Dr. Delaware.”

  “Professor.”

  He laughed and said, “Please,” and stepped out into the hall. “How are my ladies doing?”

  “They’re both sleeping.”

  “Tha
nk God. When I spoke to Cindy this afternoon, she sounded exhausted. I brought this from downstairs”—raising one cup—“to help fuel her. But sleep is what she really needs.”

  He began walking toward the teak doors. I tagged along. “Are we keeping you from hearth and home, Doctor?”

  I shook my head. “Been and returned.”

  “Didn’t know psychologists kept that kind of schedule.”

  “We don’t when we can avoid it.”

  He smiled. “Well, the fact that Cindy’s sleeping this early means Cassie must be getting healthy enough for her to relax. So that’s good.”

  “She told me she never leaves Cassie.”

  “Never.”

  “Must be hard on her.”

  “Unbelievably hard. At first I tried to ease her away from it, but after being here a few times and seeing other mothers, I realized it was normal. Rational, actually. It’s self-defense.”

  “Against what?”

  “Screw-ups.”

  “Cindy talked about that, too,” I said. “Have you seen a lot of medical error around here?”

  “As a parent or as Chuck Jones’s son?”

  “Is there a difference?”

  He gave a small, hard smile. “You bet there is. As Chuck Jones’s son, I think this place is pediatric paradise, and I’ll say so in the next banquet journal if they ask me. As a parent, I’ve seen things—the inevitable human errors. I’ll give you an example—one that really shook me. A couple of months ago, the whole fifth floor was buzzing. Seems there was this little boy being treated for some kind of cancer—getting an experimental drug, so maybe there wasn’t much hope anyway. But that’s not the point. Someone misread a decimal point and he got a massive overdose. Brain damage, coma, the whole bit. All the parents on the floor heard the resuscitation page and saw the emergency team rush in. Heard his mother screaming for help. Including us—I was out in the hall, actually heard his mother scream for help.”