Mystery: The Sam Prichard Series - Books 1-4

by David Archer

  “I know, right? The thing is, if we can prove that these weird episodes are related to that dentist, then it's quite possible that this could be removed from your record. Would you be willing to testify about what happened to you?”

  “I—I guess so, but I can't even remember whether I went to the dentist that morning. How could we prove that?”

  “That's no problem,” Indie said. “I've got the dentist's appointment calendar for the past five years, and it shows that you were there that very morning. Listen, I'm going to have an attorney contact you, okay? She'll be able to explain more about this, and how you can hopefully get your record cleaned up again.”

  “Okay, sure,” Susan said, obviously getting excited about the prospect of clearing her record.

  Indie thanked her, and made a note that she had her first cooperative witness, then she dialed the next number on her list.

  “Hi, is this Donald Miller?” she said as soon as the man answered.

  “Yes, can I help you?”

  “Mr. Miller, my name is Indiana Prichard, and I work for my husband Sam, who's a private investigator. We're looking into a case involving people who have had strange episodes they can't explain after a dental treatment, and your name is on the list, because of what happened last year with your dog. It's very likely, sir, that you were not responsible for that incident, because you had three teeth pulled the evening before, and what happened is almost certainly a side effect of the treatment you received.”

  Miller was quiet for a few seconds, and then asked, “Do you mean you might be able to explain this to me? Tell me why I did this horrible thing?”

  “Mr. Miller,” she said, “a lot of people who went to see Dr. Connors have had bizarre episodes like yours, some of them with a lot worse end consequences. What we're trying to do is show that there is a pattern, here, that people who have gone to his office for treatments tend to then do things that are completely out of character for them. We believe that he's doing something there that is causing this, and that he knows it. One man who went there a few weeks ago is in jail right now for murdering his own family, and he has no idea what happened, just like you didn't know until you were told.”

  “Young lady, if this is true, then I might finally be able to forgive myself,” he said sadly. “How can I be of help to you in this?”

  “Sir, what I'm hoping is that you'll be willing to testify about what you went through. We can show for certain that it happened after the dental appointment, just like all the other people I'm talking to, so if you would...”

  “Of course I will,” he said. “I've gone to Dr. Connors for a long time, but if he's doing something like this—of course I'll help.”

  Indie pumped the air with her fist, and put a check by his name. “That's great, sir. I'm going to have an attorney get in touch, okay, to go over all of this with you. She should be calling soon.”

  “That'll be fine, dear,” he said. Indie thanked him again and moved to the next call.

  “Hello?”

  “Hello, Mr., Sparks? My name is Indiana...” She went through her spiel, but this time she got a resounding “no!” Nathan Sparks only wanted to put the incident behind him, and wasn't interested in any explanations for why he'd done what he'd done. He hadn’t gotten into any serious trouble, and just wanted to forget the whole thing ever happened.

  She called Robert Morgan next, explained who she was and the reason for her call, and he was delighted to learn that there was a probable reason for his behavior that night. He agreed to testify, and wanted to know how soon he could expect to do so. Indie said she didn't know, but that she'd have the attorney call as soon as possible.

  Alan Batts agreed to testify. His wife had left him after the incident with the mice, afraid that he might one night become dangerous. They'd been talking about reconciliation, though, and he hoped that this might be the impetus she needed to bring her back home.

  Kate Milligan also agreed. She'd often wondered if Dr. Connors had somehow manipulated her into what had happened that night, because she always felt that he was ogling her whenever she had to go to his office, even when she was barely in her teens.

  “I'd love to see him nailed for this, if he’s really doing it,” she said. “Listen, can I tell you something?”

  “Sure,” Indie said, suddenly curious. “Anything.”

  “Well, no one knows this, and if it comes out, well, it might upset my folks—but that wasn't the only time something weird happened. When I was only fifteen, I went to bed one night, and when I woke up, I was naked and in a park, and I could tell I'd—well, had sex. I didn't remember anything about it, though, so I just looked around and found my clothes, then went home and never said anything, but I can tell you it was the night after I got a couple of teeth pulled. I remember that because I'm a bit of a bleeder, and I still had some gauze in my mouth when I woke up. If you need me to, I could tell about that, too.”

  “I'll let you talk to the attorney about it, okay? I think she'd be the one to discuss that with.”

  Darren Pickford was happy to help. The incident had gotten him a felony conviction for unlawful use of a firearm, and he'd lost his right to even own a gun. He'd been an avid hunter, and would do anything to get his record expunged and get his second amendment rights restored to him.

  Indie spoke to a woman named Julia Stoner who had gone in for an extraction and ended up that night in jail for prostitution, with two uniformed police officers claiming she offered them sex in exchange for money. Julia was the wife of a pastor at a small church, and the incident had destroyed both the church and her marriage. She was delighted to find out that there might be a reason other than demonic possession for her behavior, and would be more than happy to testify.

  David Lancer had gone to see Dr. Connors for fillings, and had been picked up that night at the zoo, trying to climb into the lion enclosure. He insisted to the officers that the lion had insulted him, and he was planning to kick its butt as a lesson not to talk that way to humans! He had been in a high security job, but after that incident, he had lost his security clearance and his position. He was also glad to help.

  Jillian Butler declined. She had a procedure at the office, but had later been caught breaking into a bakery to steal doughnuts. She had a bag with about eighty of them when police responded to the broken window alarm. She'd managed to avoid jail time and just wanted to live the incident down.

  By noon, Indie had twenty-seven people who were willing to testify that they suffered bizarre behavioral episodes after being seen by Dr. Connors. She sent the list of to Carol Spencer, then called her to let her know she'd sent it. The lawyer was ecstatic that she'd had such success, and said she'd get to work setting up depositions immediately. That would be the first step, she explained in getting the prosecutor to pay attention when they asked to have Connors detained.

  “Detained?” Indie asked. “Don't we have to prove he was doing it deliberately to do that?”

  “Oh, not at all,” Carol said. “All we have to show is that there is a definite connection between his treatments and these episodes. We can't prove that any drugs or alcohol were involved in these older cases, and without being able to show that as part of the pattern, we can't really prove that he had any knowledge of the effects, but that doesn't mean he isn't culpable. We can ask for his detention based on the likelihood that he might flee if he isn't held, in order to avoid the civil liability when all of these people file lawsuits against him. There is a lot of precedent for that type of detention, and I plan to go after it hot and heavy!”

  Sam called at lunchtime, and was delighted when Indie told him how many she'd gotten and what the lawyer had said. “Baby, you're the best,” he said. “We've just had lunch here, and let me tell you that there isn't anyone here who can cook like you can, but it was filling. Carl says hi, and I've gotta say that he's like a new man. He still feels awful about what happened, but if we can show that it wasn't the real him doing it, I think he'll make it th
rough this. I just hope we can get him acquitted.”

  “We will, Sam, and you, too! Connors isn't going to get away with this, I won't stand for it!”

  They chatted a bit more, and Indie told him that she was going to work on finding even more of Connors' victims, by simply calling patients cold and asking if they'd ever had such episodes. He told her she was dynamite, and she laughed.

  “Yeah, and you know about dynamite, right? It comes in small packages!”

  They said their I-love-yous, and hung up. Indie went to the kitchen to make herself something for lunch, decided on leftover pizza from the night before, and was just putting it into the microwave when her cell phone rang. It was Sam's mother's number, and she cringed as she answered.

  “Hello, Grace,” she said, and that was as far as she got.

  “Indie! Oh, my God, you've got to talk to your mother, I don't know what to do! Beauregard has her convinced she's a superwoman, and she won't listen to me, here, I'm putting her on the phone!” Indie heard a rustling, and her mother's voice saying, “Now, you know it's just going to upset her,” and then her mom came on the line.

  “Hi, Sweetie,” she said cheerfully.

  “Mom,” Indie said, “what in the world are you up to?”

  “Oh, it's really not that big a deal,” her mother, whose name was Kim, said. “I told Grace she shouldn't call you, but you know how she is, always worrying.”

  “Mom, just cut the crap and tell me what's going on, now.”

  Kim sighed. “Well, I was talking this whole mess over with Beauregard, and he suggested I go and see that dentist, you know, get a treatment. If he's really using this thing of his to get women, well, I'm still an attractive little tart, everyone says so, and I thought maybe he'd try it on me.”

  Indie had to admit that she was right about that; at forty-three, Kim was often mistaken for a girl in her early to mid twenties, but that didn't mean this idea wasn't insane.

  “Mom, are you crazy?” Indie demanded. “This man is dangerous, Mom, just look what he did to Sam!”

  “I know, I know, but Beauregard says we can handle this, that he can keep me from doing anything stupid or weird, and what we'd do, you see, is go right after I left and get my blood tested, see if he used any of his drugs on me. That's all it would take, you know, and then you'd have proof that he uses it on people.”

  “Mom...”

  “Beauregard says it's perfectly safe, since he can stop me from doing anything even if that man tells me to,” Kim went on, “and if we did find those drugs in my blood, then we'd have something you and your lawyer can use, right?”

  Indie hated to admit it, but that part at least sounded like it could be sensible. As for Beauregard being able to keep Kim from acting stupid, Indie wasn't so sure; her mother could act pretty strange even without any mind altering substances in her system! “Mom, I really don't think...”

  “Indiana, my mind is made up. I already called and made an appointment, and I really do have a tooth that needs filling. I've been putting it off for a while, so if he does nothing else, maybe I can at least get it filled and it'll stop keeping me awake at night, and Beauregard says we can even come over tonight and let you keep me handcuffed to something, so I can't go out and do anything, although he says that won't happen anyway, because he can keep me from doing anything like that.”

  Indie sighed. She knew there was no way she could stop her mother when she—and Beauregard—decided to do something. “Okay, fine, you can go, but I'm going with you. What time is your appointment?”

  “It's at three,” Kim said. “I can meet you there, or do you want me to come to your house?”

  “Come to the house,” Indie said firmly. “I'm not having you out driving around with God knows what in your system, so I'll drive!”

  “Okay, honey, I'll be there in a bit.” She hung up, and Indie sat down and kicked herself for agreeing to this mad plan.

  Still, her mother was right about one thing; if she came away from the appointment with zolpidem, or any other drugs, in her blood, then it was more evidence that Connors was guilty. She thought about it for a moment, and then slapped her forehead.

  The presence of drugs in her mother's blood after the visit wouldn't necessarily prove that they could only have gotten there at the dental office. For that, they'd need a control test. She grabbed her phone and called Carol Spencer, explaining what her mother wanted to do.

  “I think it's brilliant,” the lawyer said, “but you’re right, we need a blood sample from before, as well. Can you run her by a lab, if I get it set up, so they can get a control sample of her blood before the appointment?”

  “Yes, just tell me where and let them know that we'll probably be in a hurry!”

  “I'll call you back in five minutes,” Carol said, and hung up.

  She actually called back in two. “Okay, the lab is only a half mile from Connors' office, so you can go straight to the appointment afterward. I told them to draw a control sample and start the analysis as soon as they do, so that we can get the results quickly. Then, take her right back afterward, and they'll get the comparison sample. This could actually be the break we need, Indie, and you tell your mother I applaud her courage!”

  Indie sighed. “It isn't courage,” she said, “it's Beauregard. And no, I won't explain that right now, but we'll get the blood samples.”

  Her mother showed up at two, and Indie explained about the need for a control blood sample. Kim smiled and agreed, and they got into the truck and headed out. It was about a twenty-minute drive to the lab, and they got there at just before two-thirty. The phlebotomist was ready and waiting when they arrived, and took them right into the back to draw the sample. They took a full vial of blood, and put a drop of Dermabond—also known as medical superglue—on it to stop the bleeding when they were done.

  Kim said, “Well, look at that, they don't even use Band-Aids anymore,” and Indie hurried her out the door. They drove to the dental clinic, and walked in ten minutes before Kim's appointment.

  The blonde receptionist looked up as they entered. “Hi, and welcome to Connors Dental. How can we help you today?”

  Kim smiled, and Indie grinned. If there was one thing Indie knew her mom could do, it was act!

  “Hello,” Kim said. “I've got an appointment to have a cavity looked at. Kim Perkins is my name.”

  The receptionist smiled. “Oh, yes, I remember. You were lucky we had an opening, but we had a cancellation this morning, so I was able to get you in.” She handed Kim a clipboard and a pen. “If you'll just fill this out, please,” she said, and Kim took it and went to a chair near the outer wall to do so, with Indie right behind her.

  Indie sat quietly while her mom filled out the questionnaire, providing accurate information about allergies, previous procedures and such, but avoiding the truth on her age (she put down twenty-seven) and address. When she was done, she handed it back to the receptionist and sat down again to wait.

  They didn't wait long. Another patient came out, and then a hygienist called for Kim. She patted Indie's hand and told her to just wait there, then smiled and followed the girl into the back.

  Indie waited, and then waited some more. She was just about to ask the receptionist how much longer it would be when Kim came out. She looked at Indie and said, her words slightly slurred, “All done. My tongue is a li'l bit numb, so if I sound funny, dat's why.” Her eyes seemed okay, though, so Indie smiled and they went out to the truck.

  “So,” Indie asked when they got inside. “Anything weird happen?”

  “Well,” Kim said, her speech still a bit slurred, “I don't think so, but I was hypnotized, so I don't really remember anything. He said he still uses Novocaine because it stops pain afterward, but when I was under the hypnosis, I didn't feel a thing. I don't remember anything at all.”

  “Okay, well, let's go get your blood drawn again. The sooner we know if you got anything extra in there, the better I'll feel!”

  They went
right back to the lab, and the same phlebotomist drew a second vial of blood. This time she used a Band-Aid to staunch the bleeding, one with purple and pink hearts on it. Kim smiled, and said, “Oh, look how cute!” Indie hustled her out the door again, and they went back to the house.

  Kim wanted to go home, but Indie wasn't having it. “Oh, no, you're staying right here ‘til I know you're okay! Some of the people who were affected didn't show any sign of it until the next day, so you’re not getting out of my sight until tomorrow night!”

  “But, honey, Beauregard says...”

  “I don't give a hoot what Beauregard says, this time it's what I say! You're staying right here, and I'm not taking my eyes off you till I know you’re okay!”

  * * * * *

  At four o'clock, Sam heard his name called and looked up to see the jailer, Marilee, at the cellblock door. He went to her, and she held out a pair of cuffs. “You've got a visit, your lawyer,” she said, and Sam turned his back obediently.

  She led him down the hallways to the interview room, where Carol was waiting. The look on her face didn't make Sam happy, but he waited until Marilee was gone before he looked at her and said, “Well?”

  “I got the blood report back, Sam,” she said sadly. “There was no zolpidem in your system, and no alcohol. They did find, however,” and her face suddenly brightened, “that you had recently had a fairly high anesthetic dose of ketamine! If you don't know, ketamine is normally used in anesthesia, and works very quickly. If you were given an injection of it, you'd be out of it pretty quickly, and wouldn't remember the injection or any struggle that may have occurred before you went under. Got any sore spots where a needle might have gotten you?”

  Sam stared. “Not that I've noticed. What about hypnotic effects? Could it have been used to make me kill someone?”

  “Doubtful,” Carol said excitedly, and Sam stared even harder. “On the dosage they found in your system, buddy, I don't think you could have even walked out of that place! You probably would have had to have been carried out, and if I'm right, then there's no way you could have killed Juliette Connors! Someone else would have had to carry you there, and that means someone else would have had to fire the fatal shot. If I can get that through a few prosecutorial heads, then by this time tomorrow, I'll have you out of here, and all charges dismissed!”