Witchmoor Edge
Page 21
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Dr Leverett had just finished her evening surgery when Millicent arrived. The receptionist was about to say that she was too late, but a quick flash of her warrant and ID were enough to change her mind.
"The doctor has had a long day," the woman said defensively. "You shouldn't be bothering her now."
"I'm investigating a murder," Millicent said. "And I've had a long day too - and I'm still working. I could ask her to come into the station, but I thought I'd make life easier for her."
"I really don't know ..."
"Look. Either you phone Doctor Leverett now or I have her picked up for questioning."
If looks could kill, Millie would have dropped dead, as the receptionist reluctantly picked up the phone. "Doctor Leverett? There is a police woman asking for you. Shall I let her through?"
Millicent snatched the phone and said smoothly, "Doctor Leverett? This is Detective Inspector Hampshire from Witchmoor Edge CID investigating the murder of Simon Hunter. I'm sorry to bother you at work, but we may be able to save you a lot of time this way."
She passed the phone back to the receptionist and waited. The woman said, "Very well doctor," and hung up.
"The Doctor will see you now," she said primly. "Second door on the left."
Doctor Gwen Leverett appeared rather severe: her spectacle frames were too heavy and her hair was cut short. She was rising forty and wore a white coat, hospital style and smiled pleasantly at Millicent when she walked in.
"Sorry to bother you, Doctor Leverett," Millicent said. "I'll try and be as quick as I can, but I'm investigating the murder of Simon Hunter."
"So I gathered, inspector. I'm not sure how much help I can be - he wasn't my patient you know, although I did see him occasionally."
Millicent was caught off guard. "I didn't realise he was a patient of this group, as a matter of fact," she said.
"Mrs Hunter is registered with me. Mr. Hunter was registered with someone else in the practice - Doctor Wells, I think."
"I was going to ask you some questions about another of your patients, but the new information raises some interesting possibilities."
"I'm not sure how much I could tell you about a live patient," Doctor Leverett said. "Probably very little without breaking confidentiality. However, about a dead one I may be able to be a little less scrupulous. What did you want to know?"
Millicent rearranged her thoughts. "You said you saw Mr. Hunter occasionally," she said. "When did you last see him?"
"Wednesday of last week, to give the results of some tests taken at hospital ten days before that."
"Do you know, or had you any reason to suppose, he was a regular drug user?"
"Recreational drugs you mean. Not that I'm aware of. I do have a reputation for work in the field," Doctor Leverett said. "I think I would have heard."
"What, as a matter of interest," Millicent asked hopefully, but not really expecting an answer, "were the hospital tests about."
The doctor paused. She took of her glasses and tapped the end of the frames on her mouse mat thoughtfully. "I suppose there's no harm in telling you since he's dead," she said at last, "Though I certainly couldn't tell you if he was alive unless he gave permission. He had advanced prostate cancer which had already spread to various organs and was terminal."
Millicent was stunned. Whether it made any difference to her investigation depended on who else knew. Prostate cancer is a big killer amongst men; though early forties are definitely on the young side to be a victim. "I see," she said and continued, "More confidentially, do you know whether Mr. Hunter was violent towards his wife?"
"I won't go into any details without my patient's consent," the doctor said, "but yes He had offered physical violence on a number of occasions."
"And finally," Millicent said, "Are you currently prescribing methadone to Rosie O'Connor?"
"Yes," Doctor Leverett said. "And I certainly will not say anything more than that without her consent."
"I'm simply confirming something she already told me," Millicent said. "Her statement was to the effect that she became a heroin addict, dried out in a clinic and was using methadone to ease a final withdrawal."
"I can confirm the statement in general terms," the doctor said.
"You've been helpful to me," Millicent said, and got to her feet.
"There is one thing more," Doctor Leverett said. "I am aware that my husband and Sheldon Shields saw Mr. Hunter dead, up on the edge of the moors. I am aware that both the man and his car disappeared after they saw him. I read my papers. As Hunter lay dead but uninjured he must have been poisoned with something and I do not have to be Sherlock Holmes to realise that, with me as a doctor, my husband cannot fail to be a suspect" She smiled ruefully. "I can only say that I didn't help him and I don't believe that he did it anyway."
Millicent smiled back. "You've been frank as well helpful," she said. She held out a hand. "Thank you for your time."
They shook hands and Millicent left to meet Tobias N'Dibe.
Chapter 9: Wednesday 15th August (Evening)