The Diagnosis is Murder (A Dr. Valorian Mystery Book 1)

by Steven Gossington

  “Hello again,” Laura said. Alec stopped a few feet behind Laura.

  Blake and Tina whirled around. Blake threw up his hands in disgust. “Oh, shit, not you again. You’re becoming a real pain in the ass. I’m calling the cops on you two for harassment.”

  “Well, sure, you can do that, but your problems are nothing like mine, Dr. Sutcliff. Someone tried to kill me today.”

  Tina looked down. Blake had his hands on his hips, glaring at Laura.

  “Can you talk to us, just for a few minutes?” Laura said.

  “No.” Blake shook his finger at Laura. “No.”

  Tina touched his arm. “It’s okay. We’ve nothing to hide.”

  Blake paused, probably thinking about Tina’s advice.

  Alec and Laura didn’t move.

  Blake stepped toward Laura. “Then you’ll leave us alone, right?” He jabbed a finger at the stairs. “You’ll get the hell out of here and not come back?”

  “Yes.”

  Blake crossed his arms and tapped his foot. For several seconds, he looked back and forth at Laura and Alec. Then he snorted and said, “Make it quick.”

  “Where were you two this afternoon about 12:45?” Laura said.

  Tina spoke. “12:45? We were here. We had an early lunch and came back here by 12:30 or so.”

  “Where did you eat lunch?”

  “At the Air and Space Museum food court.”

  “Do you know basic CPR well?” Laura said.

  “Depends on what you mean by well. I passed the tests, but I may be a bit rusty. I don’t do it as often as some people.”

  “What kind of nursing do you specialize in?”

  “I’m a pediatric nurse.”

  “Then I guess you don’t do CPR very often. Kids don’t have many heart attacks. For your information, the nurse that helped you with Dr. Preswick said your airway management was often inadequate.”

  Tina crossed her arms. “Oh, that’s bull. It was almost dark. I was doing my best. She was just on my case for some stupid reason. Like she was a know-it-all. She’s wrong.”

  Sutcliff looked at Tina. “I can’t believe this. We don’t have to answer their asinine questions.” He pointed at Laura. “If I’d wanted to kill you—believe me—you’d be dead.”

  Alec stepped toward Blake. “Before your medical days, you were a boxer, and you beat a man to death, isn’t that right?”

  Blake Sutcliff’s muscular body seemed to expand even more, and his fists were clenched with blanched knuckles. Laura envisioned steam shooting from his ears.

  Alec spurred him on. “Yes, you do get angry enough to kill, don’t you? Angry enough to kill Dr. Preswick, who dared to fire you. Angry enough to try to kill Dr. Valorian, who’s about to expose you.”

  Tina’s earlier expression was one of irritation toward Alec and Laura. During Alec’s inquisition, however, she stared at Sutcliff. At first she looked puzzled, then she shrank back from him into her doorway.

  Sutcliff raised his fists at Alec and assumed a boxing stance. He couldn’t speak. Instead, he emitted a sputtering sound, and Laura saw bubbles of spittle popping on his lips. Alec backed away a few steps.

  Sutcliff sensed Tina’s surprised stare and turned to her. His body tension eased, and he wiped his mouth with his hand. “Tina, baby. That was a long time ago. It was an accident. Can’t you see? They’re just trying to rattle us.” He glared back at Alec. “I haven’t tried to kill anybody. This is ridiculous.”

  “Ms. Landry, have you ever used drugs?” Laura said.

  Tina hesitated for a split second and then said, “No.”

  “You learned about drugs like opiates in nursing school, right?”

  “Sure.”

  “You’ve administered narcotic or opiate drugs to patients for therapeutic reasons, right?”

  “Occasionally. So what?”

  “Do you keep any drugs in your apartment? You know, for emergency situations?”

  Tina shook her head. “No, not really.”

  “Can I see what medications you do have here?”

  Tina snorted and her face stiffened. “No. I think you’d better leave—and don’t come back.”

  Laura turned to Blake. “A man identified you from a photo as someone who tried to sell him drugs. If you’re selling drugs, we’ll find out.”

  “That’s it. You are done.” Sutcliff pointed over Laura’s shoulder. “Get out of here, now, and leave us alone.” He and Tina stepped into the apartment, glaring at their persecutors as the door slammed shut.

  Alec and Laura returned to their car. “One thing’s true enough in detective novels,” Laura said. “A lot of folks do have skeletons in their closets.”

  “Everyone has one, or more. The trick is to find out if those skeletons are rattling around the crime you’re investigating.”

  Laura smiled. “You say everyone has skeletons? How about you?”

  “No comment.”

  Alec headed southeast down the Leesburg Pike toward Laura’s home in Alexandria. Laura’s body was wilting, and she was ready for a good night’s rest.

  She removed the plastic bag with the syringe from the glove compartment of Alec’s car. “I’ll take this to the hospital laboratory. We can register it under a code name. They can test the liquid for common drugs. At least, I hope there’s enough liquid there to test.”

  “They’ll do that for you?”

  “Sure. I know them, and I’m nice to them. They’ll do me a favor, and I’ll pay for the testing anyway. So, there shouldn’t be a problem.”

  “It may have to be sent to that special lab, right? To test for designer drugs?”

  “Maybe.”

  Alec pulled up to Laura’s house and turned to her. “Remember what I mentioned to you earlier. I know about your ability to pick up on small physical details with your patients—and with victims of homicide. We need a clue, a lead. Think on that. Think about the person who fell against you today. Think about the killer.”

  Laura nodded.

  “Things are getting more dangerous now. I’m glad I’m staying with you.”

  As Laura opened her front door, her cell phone chimed. She answered it. “Hello?”

  “Detective Judkins here. I got in touch with the ME today, actually the assistant ME. I guess the main guy has been ill and off duty for a while. Anyway, he called that specialized lab. The tests have been completed and they faxed the results to the assistant ME. They found the designer drug in Dr. Preswick.”

  “Yes.” Laura hopped up and down and thrust her fist straight up over her head. “Then there’s no doubt, Detective. Dr. Preswick was murdered. Is that evidence enough for your case?”

  “I discussed that issue with the assistant ME. It could be suicide, an accidental overdose, or murder. We need something that points to foul play. But the attempt on your life along with the designer drug in Dr. Preswick’s body is enough circumstantial evidence to start an investigation.”

  “Good. Thanks for calling.”

  “Do you want police protection?”

  “No. I’m all right. Alec’s here with me.”

  Chapter 27

  Laura sat on the couch in her living room, Cosmo resting at her feet—watching her. She wore socks and a long cotton nightshirt. Alec had settled in the guest bedroom upstairs. He left his door open. After a while, she heard his soft snoring.

  She played a game in her mind, visualizing the scene at the Newseum food court and trying to remember as many people as she could: people sitting, some eating food, folks walking by, laughing, holding hands, occasionally arguing, scolding a child. Then, the bump to her head, and the blur of a frayed coat and ski cap dissolving into the crowd. Over and over again, she played the game, like rewinding and watching a movie scene over and over again—until she drifted off to sleep.

  Laura awoke with a start and sat up, still on her living room couch. Her breathing was rapid, although she didn’t feel short of breath. Light from the end table lamp illuminated the room,
and the wall clock showed 3:30 a.m. Cosmo, lying near her on some floor cushions, opened his eyes and yawned. She walked over and checked her house alarm system. It hadn’t been triggered, and the house was quiet, except for Alec’s snoring and the ticking of the wall clock in the living room. She wiped her forehead and neck with a tissue.

  What woke me up?

  It couldn’t have been a strange noise, because Cosmo wasn’t barking. Was it a dream? Not likely—she almost always remembered her nightmares. She sat down on the couch again and ran her fingers through her hair. Ten minutes trickled by, and she still didn’t have a clue. Her eyelids drooped again, and she drifted over to lie down. Her head touched a soft cushion.

  Then she saw it. There, before her eyes, like staring at a photograph from a medical textbook. She jumped up and screamed. “Yes.” She danced and twirled around, her arms in the air. Cosmo jerked to attention, stood and barked, thinking that his master was in trouble.

  Alec tore out of the bedroom and crouched near the top of the stairs, his handgun drawn. He was in his underwear—boxer shorts covered with smoking revolvers. Swatches of his hair pointed randomly into space.

  Laura held up her hands and laughed. “It’s okay, Alec. Everything’s okay.”

  Alec stood and looked down at his boxer shorts. His chin scar brightened to crimson, and he tiptoed back into the bedroom. He reappeared after a short time in shirt and pants, his hair combed. “Sorry for my rude entrance,” he said, grinning as he came down the stairs.

  “Don’t worry about it. You look kind of cute in your smoking shorts.” They both chuckled.

  “I assume I’m about to hear good news?”

  “Yes. I remembered a clue that just might catch a murderer.”

  Alec stood close to her and waited.

  “A skin lesion, on the back of the neck. I caught a glimpse of it after he fell against me. At first, I thought it was an insect. It’s not—it’s a lesion—and it should still be there.”

  Alec put his hands on her shoulders. “Good. Let’s notify Judkins.”

  Laura nodded. “Sure, but it wouldn’t hurt to get a few more hours of shuteye.”

  “You’re right. It’s too early now. We need to be rested for the showdown.” At the stairs, Alec hesitated and smiled back at Laura. “I knew you could do it.”

  Later that Sunday morning, Alec contacted Detective Judkins and told him of Laura’s new clue.

  “It might work,” Judkins said. “If the person in the coat is one of the six suspects.”

  “I think Laura’s onto something. We should pursue this.”

  “Okay. First, I’ll get search warrants. We’ll look for anything at their places that might connect someone to these crimes. I’ll round up the suspects after the searches.”

  “Thanks. Laura will be available when you need her.” Alec ended the phone call and informed Laura of the plan.

  “Can we go with the detectives?” Laura said. “I can examine the suspects again and pick out the killer.”

  “To seal the case against the killer, Judkins could use some additional evidence, especially if your clue turns out to be inconclusive. Getting search warrants and doing the searches will take a while, and we’d just be in the way. You can launch your bombshell later.”

  “I haven’t been to Union Station in a while,” Laura said. “Why don’t we get lunch there?”

  “Great idea. Let’s take my car.”

  They stepped out under a bright Sunday morning sky. Some people wore sweaters, and a gusty breeze kept the walkers moving along. Alec drove north on the George Washington Memorial Parkway, crossed the Potomac River at the Arlington Memorial Bridge, and eased past the Lincoln Memorial. It was a perfect day for sightseeing. He continued east on Constitution Avenue, then north on Louisiana Avenue and into the Union Station parking garage, which was part of a magnificent structure with a barrel-vaulted ceiling that shielded restaurants, shops, and train tracks.

  “Just think. This was once the largest train station in the world,” Alec said.

  At the food court, Alec chose barbecued chicken and Laura a large chicken salad. After coffee, they meandered among shops in the Main Hall and the East Hall.

  “When will they complete the searches?” Laura said.

  “Not much longer. I’ll call in a little while for an update.”

  “I pray we get an answer soon.”

  “We have a free afternoon. Want to continue being tourists?”

  “Sure, that’s a great idea. Where else do you want to go?”

  “I haven’t been to the Mall lately,” Alec said.

  “Let’s go.”

  “We can take the Metro from here.”

  They rode the escalator down to the Union Station subway stop and, after one transfer, disembarked at the Archives Metro Station. Alec led her on a short walk under a warming afternoon sun to the West Building of the National Gallery of Art.

  “I didn’t know you were a connoisseur,” Laura said as they strolled through the entrance.

  “I’m not. I just come here to relax.”

  Laura picked up a guide map to the vast collection of art.

  “I don’t need one,” Alec said.

  Laura glanced at him. “I would never have guessed this museum was a favorite of yours.” She blushed. “I mean . . . I didn’t mean to imply that you weren’t artistic or anything.”

  “It’s okay.” He put a finger to his lips. “You’re the only one who knows my secret.”

  Laura smiled. “Why don’t you show me around?”

  She followed Alec through small rooms lined with famous paintings. He stopped before some of his favorite works, by artists such as Leonardo da Vinci, Raphael, Rembrandt, and Monet. Alec didn’t speak for over an hour. Laura wondered about the people in the beautiful artwork. What had they thought and dreamed about? How had they spent their days?

  After a while, Alec turned to her. “Interested in art history?”

  “I’m not against learning some history. Why do you ask?”

  “Sometimes there’s a lecture in the auditorium in the afternoon.”

  “I’d like that. Let’s check the schedule.”

  Laura listened to a talk on impressionist art and noted afterwards that the discussion had held her interest. Her mind hadn’t wandered.

  As they walked out of the auditorium, Laura touched his arm. “Thanks for the tour.”

  “Anytime.”

  Laura sighed. “It’s nice to appreciate these things again. You tend to forget about special places if they’re in your own backyard.”

  “And we’ve got a big backyard.”

  “Were you interested in art when you were younger?”

  “That was my main interest in high school. All I wanted to do was paint.”

  “You didn’t keep it up?”

  “My father—a policeman—wouldn’t hear of it. So, here I am, an art-loving PI.” He sighed. “Maybe in another life.”

  Alec held her hand as they left the shadows of the museum and rode the Metro train back to his car at Union Station. Alec drove to his apartment to retrieve more necessities. Back at Laura’s house, Alec called the police station and was told that the searches were still in progress.

  “They’re doing thorough searches, even going through the trash in each place,” Alec said.

  “I’ll bet some of our suspects are fit to be tied.”

  “We might as well eat something. What do you want for food tonight?”

  “How about ordering pizza?”

  “That’s fine. Got any beer to go with it?”

  “Sure. Check the fridge.”

  Alec with a cold beer and Laura with a fizzy diet Coke settled on her living room couch and watched TV news. A few minutes before 6:00 p.m., the front doorbell chimed. Laura jumped up and walked to the door with the pizza money. She licked her lips in anticipation of a warm, cheesy meal.

  She opened the door and stopped in her tracks. Confronting her wasn’t a pizza delivery person
but a tall woman with dark hair and a long black evening dress. Laura’s eyes widened. It was the woman she’d seen across the street in Alexandria several days before.

  “Oh, hello. Can I help you?” Laura said. Cosmo barked at the stranger.

  The woman looked past Laura. “I need to talk to Alec. Can I come in?”

  Laura hesitated. Her front door opened into a hall, which led back to the kitchen. Since the living room was directly off the hall, Laura could see Alec sitting on the couch from her position at the door.

  “Anything wrong, Laura?” Alec said. “Is it the wrong pizza order?”

  “There’s a woman here who wants to see you.”

  Alec walked over to the door. Laura heard him hiss behind her and blurt out, “Monica. What’re you doing here?”

  “I need to talk to you, Alec.” She barged through the doorway, forcing Laura to move aside.

  Alec stepped back. “Can’t this wait ‘til later?”

  “No, it can’t wait.”

  Alec sighed. “There’s nothing for us to talk about, and this is not a good time.” He pointed out the door. “Please leave.”

  “No, I’ll only leave if you come with me. This woman’s confusing you. You belong with me.” Monica moved past Laura and Alec, pulled something from her purse and wheeled around. A pistol was in her hand.

  Laura gasped and lurched backward, slamming the front door shut. Monica pointed the gun back and forth between Laura and Alec.

  Alec held his palms up. “Monica, calm down. Don’t do anything foolish.” He moved between Monica and Laura.

  “You’re the foolish one, Alec, dear. I’ve been following you and this woman. You’ve been a very bad boy. Laura Valorian is not the best woman for you.”

  Laura started to speak.

  Her eyes glinted at Laura. “That’s right, Dr. Valorian. I know all about you, where you work and shop and jog. You can’t have Alec. He needs me.” She looked back at Alec and her voice softened. “I know you want me. I can tell when we’re together in bed. So, come with me—now—”