by Ronnie Allen
“And you will prove this how?”
“I need to re-interview everyone at the hospital, to start.”
The lieutenant nodded. “All right. Now that everyone in the Larcon case is in custody or at the morgue, I’ll let you out of my sight. But only with your partner, here. So, Nick, go ahead and humor her. Talk to everyone you can get your hands on, even if they aren’t in the records, already.”
“Ready to go to Brooklyn, Nick?”
“‘I’ll drive, then bring you back for your car.”
“Thank you, Lieutenant.” Sam exuded confidence as she closed the door behind her. In the car she didn’t waste time opening up to Nick. “Didn’t Loo tell us something different from what Withers did at last Sunday’s meeting?”
He pulled out of the parking lot. “Exactly the opposite.”
“And yesterday, when I said that I’d now have time to work on this case, everyone nodded in approval, except for him. What’s up with that?”
“I noticed that, too.”
“Tell me about him. So when I do ask him questions, I’ll know how to approach him. I mean, I don’t care about stroking his ego, and I don’t care if I make him out to be a jerk, but what’s his history?”
“We were together in the academy, so we go way back. He’s had his share of tragedy in his life.”
Sam had a sympathetic thought, for a moment. “Like what?”
“His first wife died from ovarian cancer when they were rather young. Mid-twenties. Left two young girls. One and three.”
“Oh, that is sad.”
“He met his current wife, Lisa, about five years after Lynne passed. She had two young boys. The family blended really well. Four years ago, when his oldest daughter, Melinda, was twenty-six, she was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. She worked as a hairstylist and had very poor insurance that she had to pay for herself. She had aged out of his insurance. On a cop’s salary, he couldn’t afford very thorough coverage, even though Lisa had helped pay for it. They lost their house. In a small apartment now. But it’s just the two of them. The kids are on their own.”
“What happened to his daughter?”
“She’s okay, thank God, but they’re in debt up to the moon from her medical expenses. So he grabs whatever overtime he can. And believe me, Sam, he did work day and night on Jen’s case. He didn’t go home to sleep for days at a time. He slept at the Brooklyn precinct, so he could be close. No one could fault him on how he conducted the investigation. He knew exactly what it felt like to lose a young wife and be left with, not one, but two, small children. He could identify with Frank all the way.”
“Oh God. I had no idea. I’m glad you told me. And he doesn’t seem to carry the weight of it on him. I thought his gruffness and irritability was just impatience. No people skills or he was just mean-spirited.”
“No he doesn’t engage in self-pity, and he won’t tolerate a pity party from anyone he works with.”
Sam exhaled a deep breath. “Wow.”
“I thought he just didn’t approve of you wanting to reopen the case because he felt it was stepping on his toes. Now, anything else?”
“Not about Dingo, no. That was more than enough. But Frank doesn’t seem to give a shit about that. He faults him.”
“Yeah. He and Jen were inseparable. That started in Iraq. He shut down. Hasn’t opened himself up, until he met you.”
Sam smiled.
“Who are we seeing now?”
Sam pulled the folder out of her tote. “Okay, Jen worked in the ER. I want to speak with Melody Johnson who shared the same shift as her for two years. The reports said they were good friends. If she’s not there, we’ll grab anyone who worked there at the same time. I didn’t call ahead. I like surprising people.”
***
Sam and Nick entered the ER, through the sliding doors, and approached the guard at the sign in desk in the lobby. Clean, with just a few upholstered arm chairs in a small waiting room off to the side, this was a community hospital that had a reputation for having a friendly and competent staff. People were coming and going, visitors, and staff as they were close to the shift change. Sam flashed her badge, as did Nick. After explaining what she wanted, the guard pointed her in the direction of the nurses’ administration office. They walked down the hallway, on scuffed tiles. Reaching the door, she saw a sign that read, Doctor Penelope Casting. Sam knocked on the door.
“Come in, Detectives,” the gentle voice responded.
Sam opened the door and she and Nick entered. In the car, Nick had told Sam that she should conduct the interrogation.
Doctor Casting’s warm brown eyes were mellow and sincere. “Have a seat, please. My guard called to let me know you were coming. What can I do for you?”
Sam looked around at the corporately furnished office. Huge wood colonial-style desk, matching wall units. This woman must have been in charge of something important. “Doctor Casting, we’re continuing our investigation of the Jennifer Khaos murder, two years and one month ago. Were you here at that time?”
She smoothed out her hair that came to a bun at the nape of her neck. “No. I wasn’t. I came on board right after that, actually. Moved here from Albany.”
Sam read her body language. Nervous, to say the least. Her hair had already been in place. “Do you know what happened to the doctor that had your position previously?”
“No. I wasn’t told. I wanted a position in hospital administration, did my research, and submitted an application.”
“What’s your background, if I may ask?”
“Of course, you can. I have a Ph.D. in Nursing and an MBA The mix is quite helpful in admin. Didn’t the police do any investigation here earlier?”
“Minimally, since they felt the origin of the shooting came from another area. But I want to start anew. We need a list of Mrs. Khaos’s colleagues and time to interview them. And she had admin duties here as well, is that correct?”
“Yes, very much so. She was the supervising nurse in the ER.”
“We need to speak to the person who took over her position.”
“That would be Melody Johnson. They were very close friends, from what I was told, but I don’t know if they got together socially out of work, as well.”
“From the police reports, Mrs. Khaos also put through orders for the department. Is that right?”
“Yes.”
“What would she order?”
“Everything from paper clips, to bedding, cleaning supplies, pharmaceuticals, anything that was needed in order to keep our cabinets in the ER fully stocked.”
Nick put his lips together. Sam thought he had something to ask but didn’t want to step on her toes. “Go ahead, Detective Valatutti.”
He jumped in. “Doctor Casting, for those orders, did Mrs. Khaos have her own computer?”
“Yes. For her own reports. The other nurses use the one at the nurses’ station.”
“So no one else used hers?”
“No. What are you getting at?”
“Do you still have that computer here?” Nick definitely seemed to have something in mind.
“Yes. Mrs. Johnson has it. She needed to continue the work and have the previous records.”
Sam looked in her files. “There’s no record of the police requesting the computer or doing any search. We need that now.”
“Detective. That’s not possible. There’s highly sensitive information on it.”
Sam hiked her eyebrows. “Highly sensitive?”
“Personal. Nurses evaluations, financial data.”
Nick took out his smartphone.
Doctor Casting sat up straight in her chair, her eyes widened.
“Who are you calling, Detective?”
“A judge for a warrant. Technology is too important to forget to check. That raises a big red flag to me regarding this investigation. Is Mrs. Johnson here now?”
“No. Her shift ended for the day.”
“Does she take the computer home with her?”
“No. It’s not allowed to leave the building,” Doctor Casting informed them.
“I’m going to get what we need for this investigation, so why don’t you turn that computer over to us now?” Nick’s flat tone reeked of suspicion.
“I can’t do that. The police didn’t request it before, as you said, and I will not tolerate this intrusion.”
Nick walked to the far corner of the room to make the call.
“Intrusion?” Sam asked. “That gives me the impression you and the hospital have something to hide. What kind of situation did you find yourself involved in, Doctor Casting?”
The doctor hesitated. “No situation. I didn’t know the woman.”
“Oh, so just because you didn’t know her, you don’t care that one of your most respected nurses was murdered? Guess your Ph.D. made you a cold human being.”
“Detective! How dare you?”
“Well then, prove to me you’re not.”
Doctor Casting quivered. “I don’t have the authority to just hand the computer over to you.”
“Call someone in your legal department.”
“It’s after five. They’re closed for today.” She looked relieved, as if she’d found a way out.
Fat chance.
“Doctor Casting, if we do find a clue or substantial information to conclude that Mrs. Khaos’s murder did indeed stem from the hospital, and you do not help us, you will be arrested for impeding a murder investigation. That’s prison time and I’m sure the correctional facilities in upstate New York could use someone with your medical knowledge in their infirmary.”
“But I wasn’t here, Detective.” The Doctor’s tone pleaded for mercy.
“All the more reason for you to be willing to help us--unless you have been warned.”
“Warned? W--warned about what?” she stammered.
“What were you told about the doctor who had this position before you?”
“Everyone here welcomed me. I get along with my staff, and they all do a great job.”
“That’s not what I asked. So, if they’re all warm and fuzzy, they must have let things slip about their previous admin. So?”
“A sudden departure. The day after Mrs. Khaos’s murder. That’s it. No one was every told why. This is a moderately sized hospital with a lot of turnover in staff. People come and go. No one questions it.”
Nick returned to the two women. “I caught Judge Martinson. A courier is bringing a warrant for the computer within the hour.”
Sam grinned. “Wonderful! Now, Doctor Casting, speaking of fast departures, did any other personnel leave from this department, the ER, right after the murder?”
“I wouldn’t know offhand.”
“How about doing a search on your computer, right there?”
“Does your warrant include personnel?”
Nick tossed her a snide smile. “The warrant includes complete hospital business records and personnel. I overheard what you told Detective Wright and included that. We’ll add patient records if our investigation deems it necessary. So while we’re waiting, Detective Wright and I would like to interview some nurses who were here when Mrs. Khaos was.”
The doctor logged in, typed in codes that Sam and Nick didn’t see, pulled up a list of nurses, printed it, and handed it to Sam. She promptly logged out.
“There’s only eight names here. Where are the names of people who left?”
“These are current employees, nurses who worked in the ER the same time as Mrs. Khaos. To access personnel who left, I’d need the warrant.”
“This is a mid-sized hospital, only eight?”
“There’s been attrition. Retirements, relocations, not everyone loves Brooklyn. A few transferred to Manhattan or out of state. That’s the best I can do until I receive the warrant.”
“Okay, of the eight, who’s in the building now?”
“Let me see the sheet.” Sam handed it to her. Dr. Casting studied it a moment. “The only ones here now are Virginia Carter and Stephanie Maxe.”
“Call them please and then give us a private area where we can talk.”
***
Sam and Nick split up the two women. Sam and the mid-thirties woman, Virginia Carter, sat is a small lounge attached to the nurses’ kitchen area. Carter wore a light blue uniform with a lollipop design throughout.
“Mrs. Carter, what can you tell me about Jennifer?”
“We loved her but she was tough. She was my training nurse right when I got out of school. She was fabulous at developing rapport with the patients. I was an intern at the time and under her supervision. But heaven help us if we made a mistake. She said her toughness came from the military. No doubt in my mind.”
“When would she become tough?”
“In our reviews. She didn’t hold back. If we made a mistake during rounds, she’d tell us, even within the group. But not in front of patients, though. She wouldn’t hesitate to write a negative report. The only person who’d see them was the person it was written about. We had to sign them and it went into our files.”
“Um, were there any nurses she gave a negative review to that lost their job because of it?”
“A few.”
“Hold on a sec, please. I saw something like that in my file.” Sam pulled up a list. “Tell me if these were the same people. Mark Stratton.”
“Yes.”
“Louise Mullray.”
“Yes.”
“Delores Winter.”
“Yes.”
“Okay, thank you. These people have been interviewed at length. All cleared. Anyone else leave right after the murder?”
“Not that I know of, and I don’t know all hospital personnel.”
Sam nodded. “Mrs. Carter, were you interviewed?”
“Just for a few minutes. I was in a patient’s room at the time of the murder and I think the police eliminated all of us as suspects on the spot.”
“What makes you say that?”
“I got the feeling they didn’t believe it stemmed from here from the beginning. They looked around minimally, didn’t ask too many questions. I felt they were just here to fill up a file. Like they knew where it came from and it wasn’t here. They brushed us off, sort of.”
“How long did they spend here?”
“Not long at all. Maybe two hours, tops.”
“Um, brushed you off? Was there something you or the other nurses wanted to say, that you didn’t have a chance to?”
“Yes and no. The past couple of days prior to her murder, Jennifer had been more edgy. She seemed to have less energy and stayed in her office area more than usual. We thought it was her pregnancy.”
“Pregnancy? I didn’t see that in the photos.”
“She was only two months along. The beginning nausea and all. They were hoping it was a little girl.”
Oh my God! Why didn’t Frank tell me?
***
On the car ride back to the precinct, with Jennifer Khaos’s computer on the back seat, Nick told Sam about his interview with Stephanie Maxe. “The same lax attitude of the police came through to her as well. Maxe, too, noticed Jen was nervous, keeping to herself the previous day or two, not speaking to her friend Melody Johnson. Maxe thought Jen and Melody had a spat, but when she had asked Melody, there was no such thing.
“She did say, when something bothered Jen, she kept it to herself and refrained from talking about it. Her colleagues knew not to pressure her. I was surprised to hear about the pregnancy, as well. The staff felt something may have been wrong with this one because Jen had miscarried once a few months earlier. Frank didn’t tell anyone about this one. He had been so excited the last time and then she miscarried. He and Jen must have made the decision not to tell anyone until she was farther along.”
Sam grimaced. Well, that explains why Frank didn’t tell me.
CHAPTER 35
First stop, the New York City crime lab to see her friend, Tom Taeo. Sam had met him when she worked in juvie. Tom had h
elped her crack a case involving an adoption ring, which turned out to be a major case under her belt. If this guy ever wanted to cross over, he’d make a hell of a hacker. He had the skills to take down corporate America, if he was so inclined. In his jeans and T-shirt, he looked like an average graduate student with his long straight black hair and wire-rimmed glasses. Well, looks were certainly deceiving. This guy had a double doctorate, one in computer science and the other in digital forensics.
He put the computer on a table in the lab and inserted USB cords, connecting the laptop to other computers that Sam couldn’t begin to comprehend, nor care to, as he gave her his undivided attention. “What are you looking for, Sam?”
“Okay. I’m just going to run off at my mouth. At this moment, I have no idea why I’m asking for this stuff, but just bear with me.”
“Go ahead.”
She paused to think for a moment and closed her eyes in concentration. Doctor Trenton’s voice came into her mind again. ‘Trust your intuition.’
Sam rattled her list off. “I’m looking for reasons why Jen could have been so edgy and withdrawn from her colleagues a couple days prior to her murder. Why the nursing administrator suddenly left the day after. Need to know everything about her. Name was Alicia Freed. Next, any personnel who left the hospital’s employment, after or soon after the murder, no matter their department. Any invoices or bills she sent, invoices she approved, who made out the checks to the vendors, and look for a match for orders and products actually received. Who put the products on the shelves. I doubt if she played stock girl. Personnel reports of anyone she gave a negative review, with their contact info. And if anyone has a police record. And if anyone is related to a cop. Just out of curiosity.” She took time for a breath. “Actually, all that came from our interviews today, except the last one.”