The Imposter (Alexandra Destephano Book 2)

by Judith Lucci

  Whitset spoke, "Miss Tippett, I assume it's 'Miss’?”

  Whitset drew out the 's' in ‘Miss’ until Alex wanted to throttle him.

  Elizabeth nodded, but said nothing.

  Whitset continued, "I am so delighted to meet you. I am in charge of the Pavilion and very happy to be meeting all of you from the 'other side' of the medical center, particularly those of you who are beautiful." Once again Alex felt mesmerized by the sound of his voice. It was melodious and comforting to her ears. His voice was directly opposed to his appearance, which Alex found repulsive.

  If Elizabeth was surprised or appalled, she didn't show it. She gave a half smile and turned to Alex. She was all business and Alex loved it.

  Whitset looked annoyed that she hadn't responded to his compliment. His eyebrows were arched in disapproval.

  "Commander Françoise was just about to fill us in when you arrived. Would you continue, Commander?" Alex asked.

  Commander Françoise gave Elizabeth a quick smile. He'd become friends with her earlier in the year. The Commander was well acquainted with the administrative players at CCMC. He knew their strengths and weaknesses. Most of them he didn't respect at all. As a matter of fact, he detested them.

  "Hi, Liz. It looks like one of the patients attacked and murdered an elderly woman, Mrs. Smithson, sometime after midnight. The crime scene's a bloody mess."

  Elizabeth nodded. "I understand the patient was stabbed. Is that correct?" She looked around the table and was surprised to find Whitset smiling as Jack described the situation.

  "Yeah, you're right. But this ain't no ordinary stabbing. Mrs. Smithson was stabbed repeatedly with a long, thin, instrument. Probably at least 17 times, as best we can determine."

  Don interrupted rudely. "It was her knitting needle, you idiot. Couldn't you tell?"

  The Commander gave the CEO a dark, murderous look, said nothing, and then continued, "The murder weapon has not been confirmed yet, at least not officially."

  Jack glanced at Elizabeth and Alex staring at him. Both women were speechless. Joanne looked at her hands, and Monique was staring at an imaginary spot on the wall. All seemed to be trying to disassociate themselves from what the Commander was about to say.

  Alex looked out of the corner of her eye.

  Whitset was gazing intently at Françoise. Whitset's countenance was reverent, almost holy. He looked excited, practically orgasmic, as Jack uttered the next few words.

  "Mrs. Smithson was stabbed at least 17 times with what appears to be her blue knitting needle. She was stabbed repeatedly in the eyes, in the ears, and in the nose and mouth areas. I'm sure the medical examiner will tell us that she died as a result of the murder weapon piercing her brain. It's as if the murderer wanted to totally disfigure her – – to wipe out her face." After a pause lasting a few seconds, Jack added, "He did."

  Alex felt the bile rising into her mouth. She was hot, so hot … and flushed all over. She felt ill again. She was afraid this time she'd be sick on the conference table for sure.

  Jack reached toward her, thinking she would faint.

  Elizabeth left the room, apparently to compose herself.

  They could hear retching in the restroom down the hall.

  Monique looked unwell, her pale face covered with a sheen of perspiration.

  The room was so silent you could hear a pin drop, each person caught up in their own thoughts about the brutal murder.

  Alex prayed for composure and felt it gradually returning. Thank God, she thought.

  Whitset looked pleased. Everyone else seemed in shock.

  After several moments, Alex managed to ask, "Did Mrs. Smithson try to fight back? Did she cry for help?" She felt tears in her eyes rise as she imagined the horrible death the little, apple-cheeked lady had endured.

  Jack looked steadily at Alex. "We don't know if she called for help. Most likely she did at first. The M.E. will have to determine what precisely happened. Remember, only Joanne was on the unit. The psych techs were next door."

  Alex thought Jack was being evasive. She asked again, "Did she fight back?" For some reason, this was important to Alex. She didn't know why, but she needed to know if Mrs. Smithson had an opportunity to fight for her life.

  Françoise held Alex's eyes to his and said, "No, Alex. She didn't appear to fight back. She couldn't. Her hands were tied to the bed. She had on wrist restraints. As a matter of fact, she had on four-point wrist restraints. Her hands and her feet were tied down." Jack's voice sounded dead and weary as he told her.

  "But why, why," Alex demanded loudly. Her voice was shrill, almost a screech. "She didn't look like a patient who needed to be restrained. Side rails, a Posey vest, maybe … but four-point restraints!" She looked wildly at Monique. "Why, Monique, would you order four-point restraints for a harmless, little, old lady."

  Dr. Desmonde said softly, "We didn't tie her down, Alex. Her killer did."

  Alex was so devastated by the insanity of the crime she could scarcely think. Her body felt weak, exhausted, and immovable. She felt faint. A look of dread crossed her face as her mind clicked through questions to ask. She was afraid to ask the question. She looked at the people around her. Monique and Jack were gazing steadily at her. Montgomery and Joanne were preoccupied with their own thoughts. Whitset was staring at her as well, his eyes unreadable. His cold eyes bore into her face. His mouth was curled upward in an eager, expectant smile. Her stomach again turned as she looked at him.

  Alex continued to gather the strength to ask the next question. Her hands were pressed on the top of the conference table, the tips of her fingers bloodless due to the pressure she exerted against the table. She looked directly at Dr. Desmonde and Commander Françoise.

  Her voice was low, breathless. It came in small, short gasps. "Was she … Mrs. Smithson …." Alex couldn't say the words.

  Monique looked in Alex's startled blue eyes with her clear gaze. She knew what Alex was trying to say and she replied, "Yes, Alex. We believe Mrs. Smithson was sexually assaulted, that she was raped and beaten. It's horrible, atrocious and horrendous." Monique's voice broke and her eyes filled with tears.

  The room was still, very still. Everyone was gaping at Alex. She finally looked around and said to Commander Françoise, "Jack, could you leave the crime scene undisturbed? I'd like to take a look at it in a little while. First, I need to do a little thinking."

  "Sure, Alex. Sure. The CSI team is in there now. We've got some time. Ain't nobody going to touch nothing in there. Forensics arrived and will be in there for hours. Biggest problem we got, as I see it, is dealing with Mr. and Mrs. Smithson and figuring out who did this. He insists on seeing his mother's body. Nothing good is gonna come out of that." Françoise shook his head in anticipation of the event.

  "I certainly wouldn't recommend that, would you?" This statement came from Whitset. The group stared at him. His voice was high and he was laughing. "You can't even see her face – – it's gone! He probably wouldn't even know that it is his mother. But, on second thought, perhaps it will help him deal with his loss." He looked around the group, gauging their response.

  Monique and Alex glanced at each other, sharing a look that communicated their disgust with the man, as well as their questions about his inappropriate behavior.

  Monique looked at him curiously. "No, Mr. Whitset. We'll discourage the Smithsons from seeing their mother. As a matter of fact, Ms. Destephano and I, hope Mr. Montgomery will see them shortly.”

  Whitset interrupted Monique and said, "I'll be glad to see the family. After all, I am the administrator for psychiatric services here at Crescent City. Besides, Don, you don't need to be involved with this, particularly since you are not comfortable. Right?" Whitset gave Don an old boy, placating look and patted him on the back.

  Montgomery gave a broad smile. "Hell, no. You go, Lester. I hate this kind of stuff. Makes me look bad. This one's going to hurt, too. Where the hell is Elizabeth? Hasn't she had enough time to puke her guts out?" Don glared a
ngrily towards the door.

  Alex spoke, "I'll bring Elizabeth up to date. We'll figure out a media strategy and pass it by you." Her voice was cold, and she stared at Don, disgusted again at his inability to deal with unpleasant situations. Of course, he was always available to claim the praise for everyone else's achievements and awards. What a bastard. She was finding it harder and harder to tolerate him.

  "Okay." Don looked relieved. He looked at his watch. "I'm going home. It's only 5:00 AM. I still have time for some shut eye. Don't bother me until noon. I'll be in sometime around then.”

  Alex and Monique eyed each other with amazement as Donald Montgomery left the room. Joanne asked to be excused as well.

  Jack was incensed by the chicken shit administrator's lack of interest and leadership and uttered a string of profanities under his breath at the CEO’s behavior.

  Monique stepped on his foot to shut him up.

  Whitset had been watching them closely, enjoying their disillusionment with Don. He smiled at them and said in a cold, but smooth voice, "Mr. Montgomery doesn't need to be involved in this. I can handle it myself. No problem. When shall we meet with the family?" His eyes were clear and he was completely composed. He seemed eager to see the Smithson family and he was getting off on splitting staff between Don and his administration team. He rubbed his hands together in anticipation.

  Alex reached across the table and offered the administrator her hand. "Later. Let's see them after lunch. Thank you, Whitset. We'll keep you posted." Alex's voice was low and throaty.

  Monique and Jack met each other's eyes, questioning Alex's strategy as they rose to leave.

  Whitset held on to Alex's hand just a little too long and then returned it to her, his eyes again raking her body. "I'll be waiting to hear from you, Alex," he said softly. He nodded to the others and left the room.

  Alex shivered at his arctic cold touch and watched him leave.

  Françoise spoke first and roared, "Let's get outta here. What the hell was that, Alex? That little pervert incites my killer instinct."

  Monique nodded in agreement.

  Alex didn't respond.

  On their way down the hall, they ran into a pale and wan Elizabeth, who immediately started to apologize even though the three tried to wave her apologies away.

  Alex said roughly, "Save it, Liz. I want to get outta here. Let's go to my office."

  On the way out of the Pavilion, Françoise caught up with Josh Martin and told him to keep an eye on Ms. Tippett.

  The police officer agreed and gave Elizabeth a concerned smile. He asked her, "Are you all right, Ms. Tippett?"

  "Yes, thank you, Josh. It's been a little rough this morning." Elizabeth smiled brightly at the police officer.

  "It's going to be a long day, Ms. Tippett. It's just a little after 5:00 AM," Josh said, gesturing to his watch. "Let me know if there is anything you need."

  "Yes, I know. I'll make it. I've done it before." Elizabeth waved bye to Josh Martin and caught up with the others at the elevator.

  Alex wondered if there was a new romance in the making. She turned to comment on this to Jack and Monique, but they were obviously tied up with each other. Once again Alex felt loneliness engulf her.

  "A little romance in the making? He's good-looking!" Alex joked and poked Liz in the ribs.

  "Sure, Al," Elizabeth quipped. "I'm sure Officer Bennett really thinks I'm really attractive, especially after he heard me throwing my guts up in the ladies room." Elizabeth laughed and shook her head and added, "The irony of it all. He is really cute. I could go for him!"

  "Don't get too excited, Liz. It probably raised the protective instinct in him. I understand policeman have a bad case of it," Monique joked as she looked sideways at Françoise.

  Françoise nodded his head. "Yep, we do. We like to protect all of the good-looking ladies. I am training Josh right," he reminded the three ladies, then said, "I'll meet you all on the first floor. I still don't ride in elevators if there's another way down." He looked sheepishly at Alex and Monique, a little ashamed of his continual elevator phobia.

  They laughed at him, and after a couple of seconds, he joined in. "Laugh all you like -- but remember, if the power goes out, I won't be the one stuck in a tin can or, in this case, an iron albatross!" With that, he turned and headed toward the stairway. Fortunately, the Smithsons had left the foyer of the Pavilion, relieving the stress of the group on the ground floor.

  Chapter 18

  Françoise drove the three women to the main hospital in his prized silver Cadillac. Jack loved the luxury of his wheels. Jack defended the expense by saying he spent days at a time in his car. Besides, when he needed to move, he needed to move, and the car was fast. Fortunately, since he was now the Commander, he got less grief from the higher-ups.

  Alex pressed against the cushions in the back seat and directed the air-conditioning vent towards her. She loved the tinted windows and the comfort of Jack's car. It was already hot and it wasn't yet 6 o'clock in the morning. Damn New Orleans in August, she thought to herself. "Do you think the crime scene in the Pavilion will provoke any further violence," she asked Monique, who was sitting in the front seat next to Jack.

  Monique looked at Alex through the rearview mirror and replied, "I'm not sure. I hope not. But anything can set them off. After the last two days, we could have a riot!" Her tone was light, but her face was dead serious. "We've got to step up security on the unit, at least for the next few days. I guess I'll have to check with Whitset." Monique looked aggravated at the thought. "He is such a slime ball," she added.

  Françoise minced no words when he spoke to the women. "I'm going to tell you gals straight up. He raised red flags for me! I think that bastard's as nuts as most of the patients. Strikes me as a real psycho." He looked at Monique sitting next to him in the car and tried to catch Alex's and Elizabeth's eyes in the rearview mirror.

  Alex was quick to respond. "I agree, Jack. The man gives me the creeps. I despise the way he looks at me. Besides, I think he knows something. He is so sneaky. He looked as though he couldn't wait to talk with the Smithsons. It was almost as if he was looking forward to it. I don't trust him at all.”

  Monique turned around and looked at Alex. "Is that the reason you are playing patsy with him, Al? It's pretty dangerous, even if he is sane. I think the guy’s a lech at the very least." She studied Alex’s face in the back seat. "What’s up with that?"

  "I don't know for sure. I agree with Jack and I think he knows something, too. I'd like to psych him out. There's no way he went to bed last night. His clothes were rumpled and …."

  "He could've put the same clothes back on, Alex. Besides, he never said he went to bed. You just inferred that. There’s no proof." Françoise looked again at her through the rearview mirror.

  "It's proof to me that he's a liar! That's a good beginning. So far he's a lech and a liar. Why is he always at the hospital at night? It just doesn't add up!" Alex stopped for a minute, thinking. She asked suddenly, "When did he see Mrs. Smithson's body?"

  Françoise shrugged his shoulders and looked at her in the rearview mirror. "I don't know. He could have gone in there at some point. I'll check with my men. They were stationed in the room. Why?"

  "Because he came to my house to pick me up this morning a little after 4. He beat the police. He said he knew her face was gone," Alex said with a chill. "There is something about him that just wigs me out."

  Monique cautioned her. "Alex, you seem to hang on to every word he says and you are playing mind games with him. It’s very serious and you shouldn't do it. I frankly don't like the way you are interacting with him. It could be dangerous"

  Alex was silent for several seconds trying to find a way to express her feelings. She was a little piqued with Monique's critique of her behavior. "You know, Monique, you are right. There is something about him that I find powerful and I am at some level fascinated with him. I know it sounds crazy, but I find something about him mesmerizing."

 
; Monique turned around and glared at her. "Alex, you need to get over that. The man is at least sociopathic based on his behavior today. He relished, actually loved, the crime scene and was excited by it. Please, please be careful around him. He may mistake your attention and assume you are 'coming on' to him."

  Alex felt defensive, "Really, Monique. I wasn't born yesterday. I can see through him and am sure I can handle myself around him. Don't worry."

  Elizabeth took all of this in and added, "I agree with Alex, there is something about him that is charming, even if it is in a sick sort of way. But, trust me," she patted Monique's shoulder, "Alex and I can handle ourselves. Not to worry."

  Monique still looked uncertain and said, “O.K., just be careful and don't play any games with him."

  Françoise was thoughtful and said, "You girls listen to Monique. He's a slimy little bastard and I'd like to kill him. I'll check him out today. That being said, I imagine he saw Mrs. Smithson when the nurse, Joanne, found Mrs. Smithson's body.

  Alex was thoughtful and pensive. "You know, you're probably right but the timing is important, Jack. We know he didn't see her after I arrived. There wasn't time."

  "I know. I realize that. I'll check into it, Alex. Don't worry. The man is messed up at best. He even gives me the creeps." Jack turned to Elizabeth. "What do you think, Liz?"

  "Commander, I can't honestly say. I'd never seen the man before this morning and then only briefly, but he is weird. He does seem to like Alex, though." She looked at Alex and laughed. "You lucky girl," she teased.

  "Wow, thanks Liz," Alex responded ruefully.

  Françoise pulled his big, silver Caddy up directly in front of the hospital. "Alex, you think I'll get a ticket if I park my wheels here?"

  "If you do Jack, I'll fix it for you. But you'll have to repay me when I get my next one in the French Quarter!" The group laughed at the idea of a lawyer fixing a ticket for a cop.