Robert, charming as always, clasped Jack's hand tightly and bent to kiss Alex and Monique on the cheek.
Alex could not help but notice how handsome Robert looked. His sandy blond hair gleamed in the light of the chandeliers. His light tan suit and pale yellow shirt and tie were perfect for the sultry New Orleans evening. His sensitive, warm brown eyes quickly alerted Alex that he had discovered Monique and Jack's secret. They exchanged knowing nods. Alex felt it amazing that they still communicated so well emotionally even though their marriage had been over for years. They were often on the same emotional plane. For some reason, that pleased her. Plus, she had to admit to herself that her former husband was a hunk and very, very sexy. Her heart quickened with memories of their times together.
Robert smiled at Monique and Jack and said in his cultured Creole accent, "I've been spying on you all. I think I've been invited to a celebration. It seems there is love in the air!" Again, Robert smiled broadly at the threesome, showing his perfect white teeth. Monique blushed again and Robert couldn't stand it. He laughed at her and put his arm around her.
Alex felt her heart quicken again at the sight of her former husband. He was so charming, so handsome, and they had been so perfect.
"Good Lord, Monique. You look like a sixteen-year-old girl on her first date! What in heaven's name is happening! Fill me in, Commander," Robert demanded, "You've never been at a loss for words!"
The huge commander looked a bit sheepish, as well as a bit embarrassed. "Yo, Robert. What can I say? Dr. Desmonde told me she has a crush on me. Me! Can you believe it? Big, ugly, uncouth, gnarly me?”
Robert looked at Monique, his eyes twinkling. "Nope, Jack. Actually, I can't. Tell me, Monique. This just couldn't be true. You could like this big, old, ill-bred, uncouth ox?"
Monique was laughing so hard she had tears in her eyes. "Yes, yes, yes. I totally love the uncouth man. Every bit of him! Perhaps I need a shrink," she joked.
Robert and Jack both nodded in agreement.
Alex's heart warmed and she felt tears springing into her eyes as the commander bent down and kissed Monique. She didn't know if she'd ever seen such a beautiful declaration of love.
Robert was enjoying every minute. "Well, I'm glad I'm here to see this. It's pretty special and, boy, what a surprise it is! This is a reason for celebration! I vote for another bottle of wine." Robert motioned the hovering waiter.
Robert sat down next to Alex and touched her hand. "What do you make of this turn of events?"
"I'm astonished, to be truthful. But, I think it's wonderful. I'm happy for them both," Alex replied, enjoying the touch of Robert’s hand and then wishing she didn't. What is wrong with me? she asked herself. He is a hunk and he wants me...
Robert proposed a toast to the happy couple and the four friends talked animatedly throughout dinner. Over coffee and dessert, Monique asked, “Robert, do you know how Angela Richlieu is doing? Did you oversee her surgery?"
Jack took Monique's hand in his. "Are you sure we want to talk about this tonight? This is our night. Let's wait until tomorrow," Jack pleaded.
Monique was quick to reply. "I do, if you don't mind. It won't put a pall on my happiness. What about the two of you?" Monique looked across the table, eyeing Alex and Robert. No one objected so she continued, "Well, let's just talk for several minutes, get an update from Robert. After all, we have the best and brightest minds at CCMC, right here, right?" Monique asked, rolling her eyes.
Jack smiled at Robert. "Dr. Bonnet, you know we don't have a chance against Dr. Desmonde and the lawyer, two of the most perceptive ladies in New Orleans, if not in the world. I guess I'll have to tell you what I know, although it's just a theory at this point." Jack noted the attentiveness of the group. “Alex, are you okay about discussing this?”
“It's okay with me. I'd like an update," Alex said, turning towards Robert.
Robert cleared his throat, but didn't look particularly happy. "Post surgery, she's okay, stable, but she's been through a lot. Dr. Goshette sutured up multiple lacerations, mostly stab wounds and most of those were superficial. We called in Neurosurgery and they had to do a craniotomy with bur holes for her head injury. She had elevated intracranial pressure and her coma had deepened. We put in a temporary VJ shunt hoping to keep the pressure out of her head. She did have a great deal of internal bleeding simply from trauma."
Jack looked impatient, "VJ what?"
Alex ignored his question. "Do you think she will wake up?" Alex asked.
"I hope so. Our main fear is that she was so hypovolemic from blood loss that we had to transfuse her repeatedly with blood. Hopefully, she doesn't have brain damage from the extensive loss of blood.”
"I would imagine she lost a lot of blood at the scene. Maybe she bled out," Alex surmised. "I knew she was anemic in the E.D. Sandy thought she was bleeding internally."
"So did we. And, she was. Her blood values are stabilizing somewhat."
"Okay, dammit, okay. Enough medical talk. What is a VJ shunt and what is the H thing?" Jack was piqued and impatient. He always was when he didn't understand.
Alex smiled at the memory.
Monique laughed at Jack. "So sorry, Jack. We do talk doctorease don't we? A ventricular jugular shunt will pump the blood and fluids from her brain through a tube into her heart and then to the rest of her body, which will keep fluids from filling up in her head compressing her brain and causing brain damage. The H & H is the hemoglobin and hematocrit, blood tests that screen out such things as anemia and how your blood clots or doesn't, among other things."
Robert smiled at Monique. "Hey, that's pretty good for a shrink. I thought you all forgot everything about real medicine," he teased.
"Listen, Dr. Bonnet. I could save your life anytime. Don't you forget it," Monique smirked at him. "Remember, I'm double board certified in medicine and psychiatry!" She then turned her attention to Alex and Robert. "We have to get her through the attack trauma and rape. That is going to be hard work."
"Do you think so, Monique? She's pretty levelheaded and feisty. I hope she will be okay," Jack opined.
Alex shrugged her shoulders. "Monique, how do you think Angie will deal with this? What's been your experience in cases like this?" Alex questioned.
Monique shook her head. She looked incredibly tired and dispirited. The warm glow of the evening had burned off. "I don't know. A lot depends on her physical condition and the support her husband will give her. It's hard to predict how a woman will recover from rape and this is supposing that she does wake up."
Alex and Robert mulled this over, but didn't respond.
"Robert, what about the slice wound around her face? Did you call in plastics?"
“Yep, Alex. They sutured it. They think there will only be minimal scarring. And she's got the kind of skin that heals well. This whole thing is horrible. Malicious. It looked as though the rapist was trying to deliberately disfigure her or wipe out her face. The guy is clearly a wacko, a real sicko. Those bite marks were harrowing!" Robert's outrage at the crime was clear in his voice.
Alex could see the flush of anger under his tanned skin. I bet he's been on his sailboat over at Gulf Shores. He looks really good.
Alex refocused and felt herself shudder as she remembered Angie's injuries. The psychotic activity she'd seen in the Pavilion freaked her out and gave her chills. As she glanced at Monique, she could tell she was fighting with herself about revealing any possible suspects among her patients.
"Let's just hope she doesn't remember everything." Robert interrupted. "Let's be sure she wakes up first. That is still an if.”
"Yeah, really. Do you think she will, Robert? What's the prognosis?"
"It's guarded, Alex. There are clear concerns based on the blood loss and head trauma. We are hopeful, though," Robert added, remembering that he had just said this earlier.
Alex felt depressed. "Let's hope she wakes up soon. The sooner, the better."
Robert and Monique nodded in agreement.
Jack looked annoyed. He obviously felt left out of the conversation. "Does anyone want to hear about my theory?"
"Absolutely. We all do," Alex answered for all of them.
"Okay, it's about time. I am pretty done with the medical talk. I guess I'll have to tell you what I know, although it's just a theory at this point." Jack noted and appreciated the attentiveness of the group. He continued, "Monique, two of your patients in the Pavilion are possible suspects…." He was immediately silenced by the look on Monique's face. She was enraged.
"Jack, how could you suspect two of my patients when you haven't even talked to me? That's outlandish speculation on your part!" Monique's voice was cutting and derisive.
Alex had never heard Monique speak in that tone of voice.
"Now, Monique," Jack chided her, "I told you. This is purely speculation on my part. You asked and I'm only telling you what I think. Besides, do you think I need you to develop a theory on what happened during a crime?"
Monique looked contrite, but Alex knew she was still seething. In fact, Monique was irked.
Jack nodded and continued, "Nothing's official. Do you want to hear, or do you want to change the subject?" Jack looked at her darkly, his voice impatient.
Monique looked apologetic. "I'm sorry. You're right. I guess I spend so much time defending my patients and fighting for them that my response was purely instinct. Go ahead…." Her face was flushed with either anger or embarrassment.
Alex couldn't tell for sure.
"Okay. Remember, it's a theory, not a reality. I talked to one of the psych techs who told me it'd been reported on the 7:00 a.m. shift that the side stairwell door had been left open during the night. Consequently, it's plausible to think that…"
"What? The door was open! That's impossible! The whole building is secured at 11 o'clock at night by CCMC security. Besides, that door is attached to a fire alarm so if anyone had exited through it, the alarm would've gone off. It's inconceivable that…" Monique was even more angry now.
Robert and Alex caught each other's eye. Robert was looking strained, his deep-set brown eyes displaying his anxiety.
Commander Françoise threw up his hands. "Okay, that's it! No more," he said to Monique in a loud voice. "Change the subject."
There was a heavy silence. Finally, a waiter came over to offer after-dinner drinks. They all ordered Irish coffee. They needed something to fortify themselves against the uncomfortable silence. Monique excused herself to go to the ladies room, and Alex immediately began to explain Monique's position to Jack, who waved her justification aside.
His voice was impatient. "Stop it, Alex. I don't need to hear this. Monique and I have to talk about this sooner or later – either officially or unofficially. She has to open herself up to reason, for God's sake! Angie was brutally raped. The SOB may as well have killed her. She'll carry scars, inside and out, for the rest of her life ... if she lives or wakes up ... and, dammit, I'm gonna catch the pervert that did it! I don't give a flying shit if it is one of her patients or the president!" Jack stopped for a moment, as if to contemplate his next thoughts. He shook his head and continued in a calm voice, "Besides, we've got to learn to communicate about unpleasant things, don't we?" Françoise was so disgusted that he pushed away from the table and went outside to smoke.
Robert and Alex looked at each other across the table. He said gently, "You know, he is right, Al. They've got to talk sooner or later. It's all part of building a relationship."
Alex knew Robert was projecting their own trouble in communicating with the difficulty Jack and Monique were having. She sighed and said, "I know, Robert. I just wished we had gotten through dinner and we hadn't started in with this stuff. The day's been emotional enough."
Robert touched her hand and said, "Monique will be okay. You can bet she's pulling herself together right this minute, and she'll be back to continue this. She's not one to let feelings of any sort hang around. Tricks of her trade, I guess. Do you think we should stay or leave?"
Monique interrupted him from behind.
She was cool and collected, but Alex could detect the fake gaiety.
"You'll stay, of course! You're right, Robert. I'm gonna get this thing sorted out now, once and for all. Where's Jack?" Monique looked around.
"Outside smoking, I guess," Robert said as he gestured with his finger out the window.
Monique looked impatient. "He's trying hard to quit. He has taken your advice to heart and cut down."
"Good, he'd better. He has ten times more reasons to live now that he has you. Now, go get the big guy and tell him to get his tail back in here so we can get this over with. I'm paying the bill," Robert said as he motioned for the waiter.
Monique started to protest, but Robert waved her protests away and demanded again that she get the commander.
Alex smiled. Robert really was good with people. Maybe I will learn to love him again, she thought. I guess anything's possible. Maybe once I work through the hurt of losing Mitch, I'll be able to love Robert like I loved him once. The idea seemed settling to her. She continued to think positively as she said, "Good job, Bonnet. I've never seen you push both a shrink and a policeman around in less than five minutes. I'm proud of you!"
Robert looked at her with a smile on his face and said, "Not just a policeman, Alex. A police commander." He grinned. "Seriously, these people are like family to me. Even though I have a big family here in town, Monique, you, and Jack are my best friends."
"How are your parents, Robert?" Alex was fond of the elder Bonnets, one of the first families of New Orleans. The Bonnets were of Creole extraction and had lived in the Crescent City since it was settled. His mother was a gracious lady who had kept in contact with Alex even after the couple had divorced. In fact, Elisha Bonnet was one of the main reasons Alex had decided to accept the legal counsel position at CCMC. In many respects, the two women were soul mates. Alex had done exactly what Elisha had always wanted to do. She had moved away from the traditional bounds of matrimony into a profession. Elisha had never been brave enough to do so and had lived a very traditional life.
Robert’s family lived in the family mansion on St. Charles Street in the garden district, where they lead an active social life. The older Bonnets were young for their sixty plus years and were very wealthy. They had extensive property holdings in the French Quarter and on the riverfront. They also owned several of the finest hotels in New Orleans.
Alex had lunch with Elisha often and knew the elder Mrs. Bonnet hoped, although she would never say it, that Alex and Robert would reunite. It was ironic. Her grandmother, Kathryn Rosseau Lee of Virginia, had also encouraged Alex to reconsider reconciliation with Robert. Alex had great respect and love for her maternal grandmother and Robert's mother, but she knew the choice was hers and hers alone. Alex had been raised by her grandparents, Congressman Adam Patrick Lee and Kathryn Rosseau Lee, on their farm in Virginia. For all intents and purposes, Kathryn was Alex's mother.
Robert responded to her question. "My folks are fine. Dad said he hadn't seen you lately. They want us to come for dinner on Sunday. What do you think?"
"Sure, Robert. I love your parents. I'd love to come," she said, as she looked across the dining room and saw Jack and Monique. "Uh oh, here they come. Let's hope all goes well."
Jack and Monique were laughing and holding hands as they returned to the table. Patrons at nearby tables eyed the couple curiously.
Alex figured that several of the diners recognized either Jack or Monique.
After profuse apologies from the two lovers, all of which Alex and Robert waved aside impatiently, Monique said, "I've assured Jack … actually, I've given him my ironclad word, that I won't interrupt him or misbehave in any way until he is finished with his theory."
The commander looked at Monique sideways. "Does that mean you're gonna misbehave when I'm done? If so—”
"No, no. I promise!" Monique was so emphatic that the entire group laughed.
"This, thi
s, I've got to see," Robert said. “Monique could never stay quiet, you know that Jack! She was always in trouble when we were little. I'm holding her to her word!" Robert was serious, but his eyes were laughing. "Go on, Jack. Do your thing."
Françoise took a deep breath and continued, "Supposing the door was left unlocked. It's highly possible that a patient could have easily escaped from the Pavilion and committed the crime. Nadine and I reviewed three medical records and two of them stuck out conspicuously. The records of Jim McMurdie and Anthony Gavette are the most suggestive. Their medical histories both report psychoses and dangerous behavior. Anthony even has a rap sheet with a number of arrests for A & B. He's been arrested several times for malicious assaults on strangers. The shrinks think he was psychotic when he committed the acts."
"Yes," Monique agreed. "Anthony is schizophrenic. He has delusions and paranoia. He's even talked in group about having sexual fantasies involving several of the staff. I believe, I'm not absolutely sure, but I think he was arrested in Alabama for attempted rape. Was that in the chart, Jack?"
"Nope, but we will run a check with Alabama and Florida. Is Anthony prone to violence on the unit?"
Monique laughed. "Why don't you ask Alex? Anthony put on quite a show for her today! Tell them, Alex."
Alex didn't think Anthony's behavior was quite as humorous as Monique did, but she smiled to be agreeable and replied, "I'd say he got pretty violent this afternoon with another patient named Rose. She was just talking. Then she started crying, and he went after her in a rage."
"Why? What precipitated the attack?" Robert asked.
Alex looked to Monique for guidance, but she didn't offer any. "I don't know for sure. I had interrupted the community meeting. The group was trying to decide if I could stay and finally agreed that I could, except for Anthony. He wasn't too keen on it. Then, Monique was having them express their feelings about what happened to Angela. Rose was talking about her feelings when Anthony got mad, called her a slut, and went after her. Fortunately, the staff acted quickly and no one was hurt." Alex finished breathlessly, her heart racing a little at the memory.
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