Blind Retribution

by K. T. Roberts

  “That would be highly unusual. Regardless, I’ll look for the file and get back to you. Is there anything else I can do for you?”

  “Actually, there is. Do you have an index of patient surgeries and the names of which surgeons performed the transplants?”

  “Yes, but you should have had that index in the year-end box.”

  “Ah, I guess that’s what I missed. I went straight for the gusto instead of looking through the boxes. Where would I have found it?” Max asked.

  “Each year-end box should have a red file folder with a tally sheet for the entire year that lists every surgery with detailed information of what happened at what time, who performed it, the patient’s condition during the surgery, everything you need to know. And it should be initialed by the staff member handling the procedure.”

  “Even the patients who’ve expired?”

  “Absolutely. Hang on while I get you another copy. Excuse me for a minute.”

  Max called Riley, asking him to check the December 2014, box. “Is there a red file folder at the end, or maybe it’s the front, of the year-end 2014 file box?”

  She could hear Riley moving boxes and rifling through the file folders. “Oh, wait a minute,” he said. “Here it is.” There was a pause. “Okay, what do you want me to do with it?”

  “Open it. Does it have a year-end index list of surgeries for 2014?”

  “Yes.”

  “Then tell me what you see for July 2,” she said.

  “One surgery for Arianna Stansbury, but . . . hmm,” Riley said. “Something’s funny here. It looks like this document was created in Excel, but there’s an inconsistency just above the Stansbury kid’s name. That’s not the case with any of the other dates, and there are multiple pages of transplants that took place. Obviously, something was deleted, but the cell itself was not. It’s been left blank. I would have thought with a center that’s supposed to be spot-on with rules and regulations, their printouts would be the same.”

  Max’s heavy lashes flew up in surprise. “Really?”

  “Yes, ma’am.”

  Stephanie walked back into the room, and Max held her finger up. “Hang on a minute, Riley.”

  “Here’s the index, Detective.”

  “Thank you, Stephanie, but my partner did find it. Sorry for making you go through the trouble. If you don’t mind, can I keep this second copy?”

  “Of course.”

  “You know, though,” Max said acting embarrassed, “I am confused about something.”

  “What’s that?”

  “If what we have been told about the primary and secondary candidates both being prepped for the transplant just in case the primary doesn’t meet the requirements for one reason or another, you’d keep that record, wouldn’t you?”

  “Oh God, yes. Melanie would have a coronary if something happened to it.”

  “So then the primary’s name would still appear on the index with details about why that person was rejected?”

  “Absolutely,” she said with certainty.

  Max pointed to the empty cell above the Stansbury’s kid’s name. “So why would there be an empty cell above her name?”

  Stephanie’s eyebrows rose. “I suspect Melanie deleted something and neglected to fix the chart.”

  “Melanie does these reports?” A confused frown cast over Max’s face. “With everything she has to do?” The girl nodded. “I would have thought . . .” Max stopped.

  “Exactly,” Stephanie said with bitterness in her voice. “She said it had nothing to do with me.”

  “Oh, so you maintained these reports?”

  “I did.”

  “But you don’t do it now?” Max jerked her head back with a questionable look.

  “Because Melanie took it over in July.” Stephanie flung her hand in the air with displeasure. “I asked if I’d done something wrong, but she assured me it was nothing that had to do with me, but the proprietary nature of the senator’s daughter’s surgery.” Stephanie’s mouth twisted to the side. “Yeah, like I can’t be trusted.”

  “Then why didn’t she let her secretary do it?”

  “Donna? Who knows.” She looked over her shoulder. “God, I hate this job,” she said, and then a sudden look of worry had her blowing air from her mouth. “I’m so sorry. I never should have said that.”

  “Hey, listen, you don’t need to worry about me. I can see your frustration, and it’s okay. I’m not going to squeal on you,” Max assured.

  “Thank you. I appreciate that.”

  “Is Melanie in her office so I can speak to her about this index and the missing file?”

  “I’m afraid not. She’s gone for the rest of the day.”

  “Oh, crap. She told me she was going to be around all day if I had questions.”

  “Donna probably could answer your question, though.”

  “Hmm, Donna.” Max leaned in a little closer. “She’s a little too stiff for me. I’m not sure I could work under her. Besides, you’re much easier to work with.”

  Stephanie smiled widely. “Thank you!”

  “Okay, so will you search for that file for me?”

  “I will,” Stephanie said. “Hey, do you have any openings for secretaries at the police station?”

  “We’re always looking for clerks. Our office isn’t set up like this, though. We have a typing pool, so you’d be working for anyone who handed you a typing job.”

  “I actually like the sound of that.”

  “If you’re serious, I’ll put in a good word for you.”

  “Would you really?”

  “Absolutely. You’re the only one who’s gone out of your way to help me. That shows me you’re dedicated to your job.” Max meant what she’d said, but showing Stephanie she wasn’t the enemy, she was hoping she’d get more information from her. Max lowered her voice when she saw Donna Gordon walk past them.

  “Is there something I can help you with, Detective?”

  “No, thanks. Stephanie has been extremely helpful.”

  “That’s what we like to hear,” she said, walking back to her office.

  “You know I’m really surprised Melanie isn’t here after she told me she would be. Did something happen?”

  “I don’t know, but she left suddenly. Something to do with her in-laws.” Stephanie shifted from one foot to the other. “That’s all I know.”

  “I’ll have the supervisor of our clerks give you a call. Let me have your phone number. One more thing I should tell you about working at the precinct. It’s a lot busier than what I’ve seen in this office.” Max smiled. “Expect a call from Sabrina Hammond.”

  “Oh wow. That would be wonderful. Thank you so much.”

  “I imagine Melanie isn’t the easiest person to work for either.”

  “She used to be, but something happened, and that’s when everything changed around here.”

  “In what way?”

  “Nervous and jerky, and even more so when Dr. Barrett walks into her office unannounced. But that’s how we all act around him. He’s the big guy on campus here . . . sort of like a god.” She chuckled. “He’s not very nice. He’s demanding, and I’d better shut up. Well, I’ll search for your file first, then I’d better get back to my filing before the Wicked Witch of the East comes back.”

  Max laughed. “Thanks for your help. Call me when you find the file, and I’ll send one of our guys over to pick it up.” She winked at the young girl. “Thanks for your help.”

  “And thanks for yours.”

  As soon as Stephanie walked back into the records room and shut the door, Max returned to her conversation with Riley. “Did you get all that?”

  “I did. What do you make of it?”

  “I think something’s rotten in Denmark!”

  “Melanie?”

  “For sure,” Max said on her way to the elevator. “There’s a cover-up here.”

  “You think it’s Barrett?”

  “It’s beginning to sound that way.�
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  On the drive back, Max called Riley again. “Did the lieutenant manage to pull the rookie off his assignment to help us?”

  “Yeah, he’s in here now.”

  “Oh, good. So let him continue looking through the files, and I’d like you to call Lucio to see if he has any information on where Chambers’ in-laws live. If she is there, I want her picked up for questioning.”

  “Will do.”

  “I think she’s running scared,” Max said.

  “I should hope so, knowing we’re examining the records.”

  “All right. I’m on my way,” Max said.

  Along the way, Max drew a mental picture in her mind of the connections to all the players and how she thought they fit into the equation. When her cell phone rang, she noticed it was Riley and clicked onto the call just as she was pulling into the parking garage.

  “I have good news to share,” he said. “I’ve traced Chambers’ in-laws to Staten Island, so I called the locals, and sure enough, she is there visiting. And she’s being picked up by the police as we speak. They’ve agreed to drive her to the precinct.”

  “Excellent. Okay, I’m here, Riley. Be up in a minute.”

  Max walked into the lieutenant’s office and told him about Melanie and the missing file.

  “I’ve heard. She should be here in the next couple of hours. We don’t have time to waste.”

  “Yes, sir,” she said as she saluted.

  “Listen,” Wallace continued, “you and Riley look like you haven’t slept in a week. Why don’t you take the night off? I’ll have the night shift pick up the slack so you’re ready to rock ‘n’ roll first thing tomorrow morning.”

  “No way,” Max said. “I appreciate your concern, but this is one case I have to work until I get that bastard behind bars.” Her voice was weary even to her own ears. “I’d love the help, though, to save time, because we’re at a pivotal point.” She turned to see Riley at his desk and motioned for him to come over. “The lieutenant has suggested we go home for the night. If you want to go home for some rest, that’s fine, but I’m staying.”

  “Nope,” he said, “if you’re staying, so am I.”

  Wallace knew he was wasting his breath. “Then, get the hell upstairs and take a nap.” Max nodded and headed up the stairs to the second floor, where the department had a room with bunk beds. Inside the room, she looked at Riley and said, “I’ll take the top bunk.”

  Three hours later, Max was barreling down the stairs after some much-needed rest and a shower, ready to get back to work. She was anxious to see the look on Barrett’s face when she charged him. She already had plenty of charges against him but felt whatever Helen had in her safe deposit box was going to clinch the deal and send that pompous ass off to prison. She was feeling very motivated. There was also no doubt in her mind now that the role Melanie Chambers had played was the key evidence to the entire fiasco. She wasn’t so sure how Valerie Morrison fit into the scheme of things, though.

  Riley was already sitting at his desk, talking to Santini and Bensonhurst, when Max walked over. Max glanced at the clock to check the time and it was one-fifteen Saturday morning.

  “Here she is,” Riley said and handed her a container of coffee.

  “You’re pretty awesome, Riley, you know that?” He blushed. She addressed the two detectives. “Thank you so much for helping us out.”

  “It was our pleasure,” Bensonhurst said. “I’m sorry it wasn’t sooner, but we’re also dealing with a heavy workload.”

  “That’s okay. I understand completely. So . . . don’t keep me in suspense. What did you find?”

  “I have a feeling your grin is going to be even brighter when you find out what we’ve got for you.” Just hearing those words had her heart beating faster. “Today, you’re going to get the distinct privilege of charging that asshole Barrett.”

  “Yeah,” she said, encouraged, “tell me.”

  He held out four envelopes. “This is what we found in Helen Barrett’s safe deposit box. One is addressed to the NYPD, one to the OPTN administration, one to the hospital board of directors, and the final one just says ‘Maddie.’ We opened the letter that was addressed to the NYPD.”

  “Ok.” Max blew out a breath. “And?” She gestured with her hand. “C’mon, don’t tease me. What’s in the letter?”

  “That Barrett and Senator Stansbury arranged an illegal transplant for the senator’s daughter, and paid Melanie Chambers to alter the records so it would look official.”

  Max looked skyward. “Thank you, God!” Bensonhurst smiled at Max’s reaction. “Then that’s probably why the file was missing from the box,” Max said, looking at Riley.

  When Max noticed Wallace walking toward them with a big smile on his face, she knew it was more good news.

  “Melanie Chambers has just arrived. They’ll be bringing her upstairs in about ten minutes.”

  “I think I should take naps more often,” Max said.

  “Yeah, a lot can happen.”

  “For sure. Sounds good.” Max watched as the elevator doors opened. Melanie Chambers was being escorted in their direction.

  Strong enthusiasm surged through Max, knowing they were getting close to solving the case. There was more to do, but having Helen’s letters was even better than she’d expected. Max and Riley followed Melanie into the interview room.

  “Good afternoon, Mrs. Chambers,” Max said, noticing the woman’s eyes were swollen from crying. The guard removed her cuffs and she rubbed her wrists, giving the man a dirty look while chastising him.

  “You know,” she said, “you didn’t have to make those cuffs so tight. I’m obviously not going anywhere.” He shrugged and left the room.

  Max gestured toward the chairs. “Have a seat, Mrs. Chambers.” She did as she was told. “Can I get you a cup of coffee?” She simply nodded in agreement. “How are you doing?”

  “I feel degraded and disrespected. I’m an upstanding citizen in this city, and there’s no reason I should be treated any other way.”

  “I’m terribly sorry. I’ll speak to my lieutenant about your complaint.” Max glanced at Riley. She thought this interview was going to be a piece of cake, but it wasn’t looking so good. “Before we start,” Max said, “Detective Riley is going to read you your rights, and I’ll be recording this session so we all remember what was said.”

  “Fine.”

  After Riley finished Mirandizing her, Max asked, “Would you like your attorney present?”

  “No.”

  “Okay. That’s fine. I just wanted to be sure you understood your rights. Do you know why you’re here?”

  “I heard. But I had nothing to do with what Dr. Barrett did or didn’t do.”

  “Then why did you take off after my partner asked for the heart transplant records?” Riley asked.

  “You mean, like going to my in-laws’ house?” She gave an exaggerated eye roll and a disgusted snort. “I didn’t know I needed permission to help my elderly in-laws, whom I fear won’t be around much longer. I’ve already lost two relatives; I don’t need to feel any more guilt than I already do.”

  “Two relatives?” Max inquired.

  “Yes. My daughter and my granddaughter. I’m sure you’ve heard what happened to my daughter.”

  “Yes, I did, and I’m very sorry for your loss.” Max could see the pain in her eyes. “I don’t know what happened to your granddaughter, though.”

  “Her father, the one who never wanted her since she was born, got the custody of her after my daughter was killed.”

  “I’m very sorry to hear that. I had no idea.”

  “Why would you have known? You don’t know me.” The words shot out of her mouth with a vengeance.

  Max cleared her throat. “All right. We’re getting off on the wrong foot here, Mrs. Chambers, and that was not my intent. I understand you feel hostility, but we need some help here regarding an illegal transplant performed on the senator’s daughter, and we know, as the lead co
ordinator, that nothing happens without your approval. Based on that, we believe you are involved in Barrett’s scheme.” Max tilted her head, waiting for a response.

  “I don’t have to agree with what the doctors want, but I work for them, and they pay my salary. It is not for me to decide whether they’re right or wrong. I don’t have the education they do.”

  “So . . . are you saying if they asked you to do something, regardless of whether or not you agreed with it, you’d go along simply because they are your bosses?”

  “Isn’t that what I get paid for?”

  “Even if you knew it was illegal?”

  “Detective, do you even have any idea what I’ve been through?”

  “No, so tell me what went on. Help me to understand why you would take part in something like this.”

  “I was led to believe there was nothing wrong with changing the protocol if in the end it all worked out.”

  “I’m not sure I understand what that means. Are you saying he asked you to put the Stansbury child before another patient?”

  “What I’m saying, Detective, is anything that occurred as a result is on Dr. Barrett’s shoulders. I did what I was told to do, and now I’m in here.”

  Seeing she was getting nowhere fast, Max decided she was wasting valuable time. Taking one last shot before sending the woman to her cell, she continued.

  “What can you tell me about the missing file?”

  “If there is a missing file, you should know, as with any work environment—”

  Max’s hand shot up. “Stop,” she said. “Look, you’ve already implicated yourself, so why are you going to lie about where you’ve hidden the file?”

  Chambers patted her hair, apparent self-consciousness taking over before responding. “The clerk probably made an error and forgot to give you the box.”

  “Okay, then let’s discuss the index of transplants on the sheet for July 2, which shows a single entry, with a blank cell above it. Did you delete an entry and hide the file somewhere so we wouldn’t be able to find it?”

  “I have no idea. It must have been Stephanie’s error.”

  “That’s not what I’m hearing, Mrs. Chambers. I was told you took over the data input in early summer and no longer allowed anyone else to touch it because of proprietary information concerns.”