Nutcase

by Hughes, Charlotte

  I gave him a benign smile. “He turns his phone off on the golf course because he’s afraid it will ring while he’s teeing off.”

  Hudson said nothing. He seemed to look through me as if I had no real importance in the world.

  “I’m sure Dr. Glazer will get back to you soon,” I said.

  “I don’t have time to wait until he finishes eighteen holes of golf. I’m deeply concerned about my patient.”

  “I’m sure I don’t have to remind you of confidentiality laws, Dr. Hudson,” I said stiffly.

  His smile was condescending. “I came prepared,” he said, pulling an envelope from a pocket inside his jacket. “I retained legal counsel in this state shortly after my arrival yesterday. You’ll note we’ve already been before a judge. I have a court order releasing Mrs. Larkin into my custody.”

  I looked through the paperwork. He had not overlooked anything. “I’m impressed,” I said. “Imagine being able to accomplish all this without first consulting with Dr. Glazer or myself.”

  He gave an impatient wave of his hand. “I’m a busy man, and this is a highly sensitive matter, Dr. Holly.”

  “What if Mrs. Larkin doesn’t wish to go back with you?”

  “She has not been well for some time now,” he said, “which is why the judge agreed to hand her over to me.”

  “That, and the fact that she’s married to somebody important,” I said. Again, no response, but I could tell he didn’t like it. We were not bonding. “How did you know where to find her?”

  “We’ve had people looking for her since her disappearance more than a week ago.”

  I wondered what her important husband would make of his wife’s new country western outfits. I handed Dr. Hudson his sheath of legal forms. “You obviously have all you need to take her back. Why are you here?”

  “I don’t know her present state of mind,” he said. “I was hoping you could enlighten me. It’s in everyone’s best interest if we avoid a scene.” He paused. “I don’t know if you or Dr. Glazer picked up on it, but Mrs. Larkin is bipolar.”

  He acted as though he expected me to be surprised. “Oh yes,” I said. “Dr. Glazer and I pretty much figured it out when we went coon hunting the other night.”

  “Why the sarcasm, Dr. Holly? Surely you know I have my patient’s best interests at heart.”

  I leaned back in my chair. “Frankly, I don’t appreciate your going behind my back so you can yank a seriously depressed woman out of the hospital,” I said. “Where is her husband, by the way? Why did he not personally come for his wife?”

  “Again, it’s a sensitive matter. He does not want his wife’s picture plastered on the front page of every newspaper in the country. As for her emotional health, I think I would be the better judge. You’ve been treating her for what, three days?”

  Again, that condescending smile. I decided to try and wipe it off his face. “Then you’re aware that her husband was physically abusing her.”

  “That’s preposterous!”

  “She carries the bruises, Dr. Hudson.”

  “Did she say she’d been abused?”

  “She was experiencing a manic break when I first saw her, so she wasn’t able to give us much information. A good beating could have caused a break.”

  “You’re out of line, doctor,” he said, his face turning dark. “Elizabeth stopped taking her medication. That would easily have caused her to cycle into mania.”

  I buzzed Mona, and she picked up. “Would you please call Dr. Glazer and ask him to get back to me as soon as possible. Try to reach him on his cell phone.”

  “I’m on it,” Mona said.

  I sat back in my chair. “Dr. Glazer ordered extensive blood work once Mrs. Larkin was admitted to the hospital,” I said. “She had enough drugs in her system to bring a hippopotamus to its knees.”

  “I resent that remark,” he said. “Not only is it wrong, it’s unprofessional.” He scooted forward in his chair. “I don’t know how you all do things down here, but—”

  “We’re simple people, Dr. Hudson,” I interrupted. I was so pissed that I wished I could throw something at him, but everything was packed. “If we have a difference of professional opinion, we usually get liquored up and arm wrestle. If we can’t settle it the civilized way, we have a spitting contest.”

  His face turned red, and the anger in his eyes was scalding. I wondered if Elizabeth had seen that look and been afraid not to follow his instructions. Bad enough that her husband had been abusive; her doctor was equally so but in a different way.

  “The law is clearly on my side,” he said. “I have the legal right to take her back with me, with or without your cooperation.”

  Mona buzzed me. “Thad’s on the line,” she said when I answered.

  I picked up. “I have a situation, Dr. Glazer,” I said formally and went on to explain what was happening.

  Thad wasted no time. “Dr. Hudson has a legal right to take his patient back with him.”

  “It’s a bad idea,” I said, remembering my promise to Elizabeth that I would protect her.

  “As I see it you have two choices, Kate,” he said. “You can adhere to the judge’s orders or be held in contempt. Not only could you be fined, you might spend a few days in jail.”

  “You and I need to discuss this further, Thad.”

  “There is nothing to discuss,” he said. “The bottom line is, I don’t want to get caught up in a messy situation. You need to cooperate with Mrs. Larkin’s doctor.”

  I hung up on him. I grabbed my purse from the bottom drawer of my desk and smiled at Dr. Hudson. “If you’re ready, I’ll drive you to the hospital.”

  He returned my smile. “I’m glad Dr. Glazer was able to talk some sense into you.”

  I felt like punching him. He followed me out. “By the way, do you like chili dogs?” I asked. “This hospital has the best chili dogs in the world.”

  “Dr. Holly—”

  “You probably don’t eat many chili dogs where you come from. Just syrup.”

  Edith Wright greeted us. She took one look at my face, and I saw her body go stiff, meaning she knew something was up. Edith could be quick like that. “I received the faxes from the attorney’s office, Dr. Hudson,” she said, showing no emotion.

  “How is her depression?” I asked and noted that my question drew a frown from Dr. Hudson.

  “We didn’t have to put her on suicide watch after all,” she said.

  “Suicide watch?” Hudson gave a grunt of disgust. “I assure you, my patient is not suicidal. This is precisely how nasty rumors get started. This is how hospitals find themselves in the midst of a lawsuit.”

  Edith rewarded him with a dark look. “Go ahead and make my day,” she said.

  I wanted to applaud her.

  “I’d like to see my patient now, if you don’t mind,” he said stiffly.

  Edith smiled at me. “How about I have Big Debra escort you to the dayroom in case the patient gets out of hand.”

  I returned her smile. “How awfully nice of you, Nurse Wright,” I said, as she sauntered behind the nurses’ station and picked up the phone.

  Debra appeared wearing her most menacing frown. Dr. Hudson did a double take. She towered over him and was twice his width. “This way,” she ordered.

  I leaned close to Hudson. “Do what she says,” I told him. “You don’t want to make her angry.”

  He dutifully followed her with me on his heels.

  Elizabeth was sitting alone near the window in the dayroom. Debra stopped just inside the door and crossed her arms.

  Elizabeth looked up. She was clearly not pleased to see her doctor. That in itself convinced me she was on the mend. “What are you doing here?”

  “Did you not think we would look for you, dear?” Hudson said. “Your husband is distraught.” He winced. “What on earth have you done to your hair?”

  Elizabeth patted both sides. “You don’t like it?” she asked, looking upset. “Oh my, you must think I’m c
razy!” She covered her mouth, and her eyes rolled about like marbles gone haywire.

  I had to look away. Even Debra seemed amused. I would now be able to tell people I was present the day Debra smiled.

  “We’ll have you all fixed up before John returns from Washington,” Hudson said, showing frown lines. He was not having fun. “Your private jet is waiting to take you home.”

  I touched Elizabeth’s shoulder. Our gazes met. “Are you feeling less confused than you were this morning?” I asked.

  “Well, I—” She paused. “I still sometimes think I can fly.”

  Hudson appeared shocked. “Fly?”

  Debra gave a grunt. “She would have flown right out of these windows if they didn’t have bars on them.”

  Elizabeth nodded. “And I get so scared in the hallway. I keep seeing lions and tigers and bears.”

  I gasped. “Lions and tigers and bears? Oh my!”

  Hudson looked bewildered.

  “Do you need anything from your room before you go?” I asked.

  “I don’t know which room is mine.”

  “Would you like me to help you get your things together?” I asked. “I know you’re anxious to be on your way.”

  “That’s very kind of you, Dr. Holly,” she said.

  I looked at Hudson. He was about to burst out of his skin with impatience. “It won’t take long.”

  “I’ll keep him company,” Debra said, in a voice that sounded as though she’d prefer cleaning toilets.

  We left the room. “I’m going to try and get you out of here,” I said in a low voice, “but we don’t have much time. What do you need from your room?”

  “Just my purse.”

  I waited outside her door while she hurried in and grabbed it. “This way,” I said, nodding toward the hall. “Now, I need you to listen carefully.”

  “I’m all ears.”

  “As soon as I get back to my office, I’m going to call a friend of mine who is a psychiatrist. I’m sure I can get you in tomorrow morning, which is when you’re due to take the next dose of your medication. You can’t stop taking your medication, Elizabeth. You could start cycling again.”

  She nodded. “Okay.”

  “Do you have your friend’s address and phone number?”

  “In my pocketbook,” she said. “I also have the key to her house in case she’s not home.”

  “I want you to call me as soon as you get there so I can give you this doctor’s name and the time of your appointment.” I reached inside my purse for a business card. “Can you remember to do that?”

  “Yes.”

  “I need to know that you’re okay, Elizabeth,” I said sternly. “Do not forget to call me.”

  “I promise.”

  I smiled and nodded calmly at the hospital staff as I led Elizabeth toward the back of the unit. To most people it would appear as if we were simply taking a stroll.

  We had reached our destination; the freight elevator was only a few feet away. The short hall was clear. I used my key to access the elevator and punched the “down” button. We waited.

  “I hope you made your husband sign a prenup,” I said.

  “Of course I did. I may be crazy, but I’m not stupid.”

  “Will he try to come after you?”

  “Once he realizes I’m in my right frame of mind, he and Dr. Hudson will most likely tuck their tails and run. As soon as I’m back to my old self I’ll call a lawyer.”

  “Make certain that your friend gets pictures of your bruises.”

  “Of course.”

  The elevator door slid open. Noting that the hallway was still clear, I held the door in place with my foot and motioned Elizabeth inside.

  She reached for my hand. “I’ll never forget you for helping me,” she said.

  I squeezed her hand gently. “Okay, you’re going to take this elevator to the basement where the morgue is located.”

  She swallowed. “The morgue?”

  “It’s the only way I can get you out of here without being seen. Once you get off the elevator, ask for Skeeter.”

  “Skeeter,” she repeated.

  “Tell him I sent you and that he is to drive you to your friend’s house. You can trust him.”

  She nibbled her bottom lip. “Will I see dead bodies down there?”

  “Not if you don’t look. But Skeeter may have to smuggle you out in a hearse.” I let go of her hand and stepped back. The elevator door closed.

  I turned and my heart almost leapt from my chest as I found a woman with unruly hair and a dazed look standing in the hall, watching. “Did you see anything?” I asked.

  “I’m waiting for my bus,” she said. “Do you know if it stops here?”

  I found Edith at the nurses’ station. “I can’t find my patient,” I said. “I’ve searched the entire unit, but there is no sign of her.”

  Edith didn’t look up from the form she was filling out. “Don’t share.”

  “It’s likely to get ugly.”

  She looked at me. “You know I don’t like ugly,” she said. “Especially from snobby psychiatrists.”

  “If he makes trouble, threaten to call the police. Trust me, he does not want them involved.”

  “Don’t you have someplace you need to be, doctor?” she asked. Edith hit the buzzer, and I walked through the metal doors and out of the unit.

  chapter 11

  I made my way straight to the elevators and punched the button. Despite the adrenaline flooding through my veins and making me shaky all over, I was relieved that I’d managed to help Elizabeth Larkin escape what must’ve been a dismal and frightening existence. Although I felt guilty for leaving Edith to contend with Hudson, I knew she could handle him. I almost pitied the man.

  The elevator came to a stop, and the doors slid open. Carter Atkins stood inside.

  “Going down, Kate?” he asked.

  Of all times to run into him, I thought. I was glad to see two businessmen standing at the back, briefcases in hand, chatting quietly. I don’t know why I felt uneasy around Carter. It wasn’t like I didn’t deal with weird people on a daily basis.

  “Hello, Carter,” I said, stepping inside the elevator. The doors closed and we started down.

  “I see you’re visiting the folks on the third floor,” he said, his voice barely above a whisper. “I try to avoid that floor.”

  “It’s not so bad,” I said, even though I had no desire to be there at the moment.

  “Hey, did you hear Jay got rid of the sex kitten at work?” he asked.

  I figured it was best to play dumb. “What happened?”

  “Let me see if I can put this kindly,” he said.

  “Don’t bother on my account.”

  “She didn’t fit in. She wanted, um, preferential treatment.” He leaned closer. “You ask me, she’s got problems. I figure that’s why her old man asked Jay to help her get the job.”

  I nodded. It explained why Mandy’s call had come from West Virginia, but it didn’t explain why she had been trying to reach Jay.

  “How is the new guy doing? Ronnie Sumner,” I added.

  “Everybody thinks he’s the best thing since inside plumbing,” he said. “He can do no wrong. You ask me, he’s too good to be true, you know?”

  “What do you mean?”

  Carter cut his eyes toward the businessmen and said nothing until the elevator stopped and we stepped outside. “Don’t you think it’s a little suspicious that the arsons started about the same time Sumner came to work?” he asked.

  I glanced around; no sign of Hudson. “What are you saying?”

  “Who would know better than another firefighter how to booby trap a building so that other firefighters would get hurt or killed?”

  “Carter, what the hell are you talking about?”

  “Don’t you know?” he asked. “The arsonist is targeting firefighters.”

  I felt my head spin. Carter took my arm and pulled me aside. “Why do you think so many firefight
ers are landing in the hospital?” he said. “The arsonist plans what building he’s going to torch; then, he does things like cut holes in the floors and covers them with vinyl or carpet, and the firefighters fall through. Last week several guys were trying to get a hose up a flight of stairs and it gave out because the person setting the fires had gone in ahead of time and sawed off some of the boards underneath.”

  I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. Why hadn’t Jay told me? I suddenly remembered there was probably a bad-ass psychiatrist looking for me. “I have to go,” I said, starting for the double glass doors leading out.

  Carter followed. “And get this,” he said. “Sumner told everyone he was divorced. He lied. His wife died in a house fire. Their house,” he added. “Why would he lie about something like that?”

  “How do you know all this?” I said once we cleared the building.

  “I asked a friend to do some checking on the Inter-net once it became obvious that the arsonist was so knowledgeable.”

  “But the news media—”

  “It’s all hush-hush right now.”

  I glanced over my shoulder.

  “Are you trying to avoid someone?” Carter asked.

  “It’s a long story.” I spotted my car a short distance away. Carter followed me to it. I fumbled in my purse for my keys. “How many suspicious fires have there been?” I asked.

  “Not that many. I guess it takes him time to find a building and rig it. He uses an accelerant that doesn’t burn black smoke or leave an odor, which would indicate that something wasn’t right. A firefighter would know that sort of thing. But when a building is blazing out of control, you can barely see your hand in front of your face, so nobody knows the place is booby-trapped until it’s too late.”

  I was shaken by the news. I felt sick to my stomach. “Did you tell Jay your suspicions about Sumner?”

  Carter looked embarrassed. “I’ve been banned,” he said. “I got caught going through Sumner’s locker. I was looking for evidence.”

  “What!”

  “Yeah,” he said, looking sad and disappointed. “Jay said he would press charges if I ever set foot near the place again,” he added.

  “I have to go, Carter,” I said, afraid my luck was about to run out where Hudson was concerned. I slid into the front seat of my car and reached for the door handle.