Murder at St Mary's
Chapter 10
10.1
Sgt. Ed Brown looked down at the speedometer. The needle was approaching ninety miles an hour. The area was deserted and Ed could see clearly down the road. No other vehicle was in sight. The young man was in grave danger and it was his fault. He never should have allowed him to leave the chief's office. Even though the chief did not reprimand him for his lack of judgment, he knew that Ironside had been upset with him. Ed shook his head. He had to keep a clear mind. Thinking about disappointing the chief could result in disappointing him further by being distracted from the job at hand.
Ed sped down the road when he noticed a long streak of black that could only be tire marks that led off the road to the right. Brown stepped on the brakes slowing his speeding car. It took a minute to bring the vehicle to a stop with the speed he had been traveling. He put the Ford in reverse, turned his head towards the back of the car and stepped on the gas. Picking up speed, he drove the vehicle backwards. When he reached the tire marks, he slammed on the brakes and stopped the car.
The sergeant jumped out of the car, followed the tire marks off the road, and ran in the direction they led. Down in the ravine, he spotted a vehicle turned over and resting on the roof. Ed stepped in the water and got down on his knees. He could see Billy Carson but could not make out his condition. Ed drew back his elbow and slammed it into the glass as it shattered. Carson's head was turned away from him. He grabbed his wrist and placed his fingers over his pulse. His heart sank when he could not detect one. Ed reached forward and turned Billy's head toward him. When he drew his hand back, it was covered in blood. Carson's head was bleeding at the temple. His eyes were staring straight ahead.
Brown withdrew from the vehicle. He slammed his fist on the car in frustration. He went back to his car to call the chief. He was not looking forward to breaking the news to him.
10.2
Mark pulled the van to a stop. As he got out of the vehicle, the familiar whine of the lift sounded, indicating the chief was already lowering his chair to the ground. He surveyed the scene while three police cruisers pulled in beside them. Mark could see Ed was heading in their direction.
"I am sorry, Chief. Billy Carson is dead. He was shot in the head. It looks like someone pulled alongside of him and shot him in the left temple. He would have died instantly."
"DAMN IT!" Ironside shouted. "I want the ballistic report rushed. See if it can be matched up with anything on file. What about witnesses?"
"As you can see this road is deserted. There are no houses on it… "
"That is not what I asked you, Sergeant!" Ironside snarled. "Did you bother to check to see if anyone saw it?"
Brown recoiled from his boss. He knew he deserved it but it was still hard for him to take. Robert Ironside's approval was a valuable commodity to Ed. He had always strived to live up to the trust he placed in him and this time he had let the chief down. "Yes, sir, I did. The road is deserted. We could not find anyone that had been traveling on it."
"In other words, Sergeant, we have nothing."
"Yes, sir," Ed said quietly.
"Did Carson have anything on him that could help us?" Ironside asked.
"No. Just his wallet which contained his driver's license, four credit cards, a debit card and twenty-five dollars in cash."
"Alright, let the boys handle this. Let's get back to the office."
"Chief…"
"Not now, Sergeant," was all Ironside said. He turned and wheeled away from Brown as he stood there watching him. Ed got into his Ford and drove away.
Once back in the van, the chief remained silent. Mark glanced in the rear-view mirror at his boss. "Don't you think you were a little rough on Ed, Chief?"
"Not now, Mark."
"When then? Ed did not mean for that to happen."
"That young man is dead because we, as a police force, did not protect him when we could have," Ironside growled. "Do you want to be the one to tell his wife and son?"
Eve cringed as she listened to the exchange between Ironside and Mark. She knew that Mark was concerned about Ed but she understood her boss' moods better than either Ed or Mark. The best thing to do when he got like this was to leave him alone.
Mark realized, if a bit late, that Ironside was in no mood for this conversation so he remained silent for the rest of the trip back to the office. Eve breathed a sigh of relief, as she was afraid that the conversation would escalate into an argument between the two.
10.3
Ed Brown arrived at police headquarters at the same time as Mark, Eve and Ironside. They rode the elevator to Ironside's office in complete silence. Waiting for them at the table sat Commissioner Randall. "Bob, I heard what happened."
"Then you know, Dennis, that I am in no mood for a lecture," Ironside snarled as he wheeled down the ramp.
"Who in blue blazes let the man walk out of the building?" Randall demanded. Both Mark and Eve glanced over at Ed who was looking down at the floor.
Regardless of how he felt about the situation, Ironside became immediately defensive of his team. "There was nothing to hold him on," he said, raising his voice.
"Oh come on, Bob! Since when has that ever stopped you before?" Randall stood up and started pacing. "You just allowed the killer to walk out of this office!"
"Billy Carson was not the killer," Ironside snapped.
"Is that a deduction based on evidence or one of your famous hunches?"
"Dennis, they made a mistake killing Carson. They confirmed that he only knew too much. They had to silence him to keep him from talking to me."
"And now we will never know what he was going to tell you. What leads do you have?"
"Dr. Todd Prentis. He is mixed up in this to his ears and unless I miss my guess... the killer's next target."
"What are you doing about it?" Randall demanded.
"I intend to have him watched until the killer makes his move. When he does we will arrest him."
"I can do that, Chief," Ed offered. Brown started to head for the door.
"No, Ed!" Ironside shouted. Ed stopped. He looked at Ironside. Nothing hurt more than his boss not trusting him with protecting Prentis did. He walked slowly back to the table, avoiding what he was sure were sympathetic looks from Mark and Eve.
Randall looked at his top detective and then at Ed. He sensed a strain between the two men. He wondered if Ed was the one that allowed Billy Carson to leave Ironside's office. He decided to allow Bob Ironside to handle his own interoffice problems. "Keep me informed." Randall got up and left the office.
Ironside turned to Eve. "Get Carl Reese up here."
Eve glanced at Ed and went to a phone. Ed was still standing beside the table. Neither he nor Ironside said anything as they waited for Lt. Reese to report to the former chief of detectives.
The door opened and Carl walked in. "I was told to report to you, Chief." Carl sat down beside Ironside.
"Are you familiar with the murders going on at St. Mary's Hospital?"
"Sure. What do you want me to do?" Carl asked.
"There is a doctor there I want you to arrange around-the-clock protection for... Dr. Todd Prentis. You will be responsible for keeping him alive."
Carl glanced at Ed who did not meet his eyes. "Okay, Chief. On my way."
"Eve, you are coming with me. Ed, I want you to go to St. Mary's and pin down exactly where Billy Carson was at the time of each murder. Check his bank accounts and his personal life. I want him eliminated as a suspect."
"Yes, sir," Ed responded. Instead of heading for the assignment Ironside had given him, he lingered at the table.
"Mark, Eve, go down to the van. I will meet you there in a minute." They left immediately leaving the chief and Ed alone.
Ironside sat silently while he waited for Ed to speak. "Chief... I..."
Ironside blew out a breath. "You knew better than that. You should have held him. The reason you are in this office is partly your judgment. Ed..."
"I am sorry, Chief." Ed avoided his boss' eyes. He would not be able to stand the disappointment he would see there. "I will resign or transfer out if you think that best."
"I don't want you to resign or transfer but I don't want any more mistakes. Is that clear?"
"Yes, sir."
"Alright then. Find out everything you can on Carson. And Ed, we have to know whom he has been associating with. There has to be some connection between Carson and who is doing the killing."
"I'll find it," Ed said.
As Sgt. Brown turned to leave, Ironside called out, "I did not assign Carl to protect Prentis because I don't trust you to do it."
Ed stopped and looked back at Ironside. "Thanks, Chief, even if I don't deserve it." Brown turned and left the office.
10.4
Morgan Haynes placed his hospital badge on his medical shirt and headed down the hall. He could not believe the security in this hospital. One little badge and he had total access to nearly the entire building.
He stood at the door of the elevator and pressed the button to return it to his floor. Moments later, the doors opened. A hospital employee with a cart full of food trays smiled at him as he got into the elevator.
"Early rounds, Doctor?" she asked.
"What? Oh, no. I am just actually here to see a friend," Haynes told her.
"You know that never occurred to me. You just never think of doctors coming to the hospital except to see patients. Who are you here to visit?"
"Sister Agatha. We are old friends. Maybe you can help me. I checked with the desk and they would not tell me where she is. They told me I would have to see a police officer... Officer Duffy."
"Yes, he is the officer that Chief Ironside put in charge of her security," she told him.
"And where can I find this... Officer Duffy?"
"I don't think he is in the hospital right now. He comes on duty at night. Apparently, Chief Ironside thinks if the killer is going to try anything, he will do it at night."
"How would I get in touch with Officer Duffy?"
"He comes on duty at eight o'clock. You could see him then or you could contact Chief Ironside. He could authorize you to see her. Officer Duffy has to check with him anyway. He makes all the decisions that have to do with Sister Agatha."
"Wow, I did not realize that it would be that difficult to see her."
"According to Chief Ironside, she is in danger and is under police protection."
"Police protection! I am surprised to hear that. I have not seen any police in the hospital," Haynes pointed out.
"That is because she is in the security wing."
"I see. Couldn't I just go up there and see the man in charge to get in to see her?"
"Oh no. You have to have one of these security badges," she said, pointing to the badge on her uniform.
"Then you are authorized to go on that wing? Do you have to turn your badge in at the end of your shift?"
"Normally yes but I only have six hours off and I have to be back on duty so the doctor in charge told me to hold on to it." She smiled at Morgan.
"And you are off duty now?"
"Just as soon as I deliver this cart to the kitchen."
The door to the elevator opened and she began to wheel it out when Haynes stepped in front of her. "Listen, I have a couple hours before I can see Officer Duffy. I don't suppose you would like to have a short dinner with me?"
"I really should go home and get some sleep."
"Then how about just one drink? That will not take that long."
She smiled at him. "I don't even know your name."
He put out his hand. "Doctor Morgan Haynes."
"Janice Lipton." She shook his hand.
"So what do you say?"
"Well, one drink won't take that long. Okay. However, if it is all right with you, I would like to stop by my house and change. It is not far from here."
"Absolutely. Let's drop off this cart and go to your place."
10.5
"Robert, I don't understand why you need a search warrant to San Francisco General when the alleged murders took place at St. Mary's," Judge Thatcher said.
"Herman, I would not ask without cause. These same mysterious deaths took place at General and Todd Prentis worked there as well. They stopped when he moved to St. Mary's and now the murders with the same M.O. are going on. I want a look at all those records, Herman." Ironside stared at the judge and friend of many years.
"I am going to give it to you but with reservation. You could face lawsuits from those families if this doesn't pan out." Thatcher signed the search warrants and handed them to Ironside.
"Thank you, Herman." With search warrants in hand, Robert Ironside wheeled out of the judge's chambers.
10.6
Sgt. Ed Brown walked into the employee lounge at St. Mary's. He had been told he could find a particular nurse there. Brown looked around the room. Both doctors and nurses were in various conversations with one another. Ed searched the faces of each one until he came upon the one he was looking for. Brown walked over to Nurse Kaitlin Duncan. He interrupted the nurse who was talking to a doctor. "Nurse Duncan?"
Kaitlin Duncan turned to see the tall handsome police detective. "Yes, that's right." She admired the good-looking man and then realized who he was. "You work for Chief Ironside." The doctor excused himself and left them alone.
Ed smiled. "That is correct. I would like to talk to you about Billy Carson."
Tears welled up in her eyes. "It is such a tragedy what happened to Billy. What can I do to help?"
"You knew him quite well, didn't you?"
"Yes, we have worked together for years. He was such a pleasure to work with."
"Did he ever talk about the people he hung out with?"
"No. He talked mostly of his wife and son. He did have one visitor that had started visiting him on a regular basis here at the hospital."
"What was his name?"
"I don't know. He was a doctor though. He wore a doctor's badge. So, he must work somewhere in the hospital."
"Had you seen him before?"
"Come to think of it, no, just within the last few weeks."
"What did he look like?"
"Tall, very handsome. He had black hair and blue eyes."
"Miss Duncan, would you be willing to describe him to our police artist?" Ed asked.
"I guess so."
"What time do you get off work?" Brown inquired.
"Well, if there are no major emergencies… about eleven o'clock."
"I will pick you up then." Ed smiled and left the young lady in the employee lounge.
10.7
Morgan Haynes helped Janice Lipton into his car and pulled out of the hospital parking lot. "Where to?"
"I live just inside the city limits in San Francisco." She gave him the address.
Haynes drove toward Janice's apartment careful to follow all speed limits and obey all traffic signals. He would soon have his ticket into the security unit. He did not want to blow it by being pulled over by a cop.
When they arrived at her apartment, Janice said, "I will only be a minute." When Haynes started to get out of the vehicle, she said, "I would prefer you wait here."
"Yes, of course." He shut the door and waited until she was out of sight. Haynes got out of the vehicle and went to the side door. He tried the door and smiled. She had not locked it. Haynes slowly turned the handle and stepped inside. The apartment was dark with the exception of a room in the back. He reached in his pocket and pulled out his keys that contained a small flashlight. It was so small that it barely lit a path in front of him. That did not bother Haynes. He did not want to draw her attention.
Slowly he made his way through the living room and shut the flashlight off when he reached the hall. There was enough light illuminating from the bedroom to light his way. Haynes stopped just before he reached the bedroom door. He peaked in and saw that Janice was completely naked. What a waste. He would rather have his way with her than kill her but he could not take the time to get her into bed. That would require a few dinners and a flash of money. Neither of which he was willing to do right now. He needed that security pass.
Haynes slipped around the doorway and waited. Minutes later the bedroom light went off and he could hear footsteps coming towards the door. He waited patiently for her to come out of the bedroom. The door opened inward and Janice stepped into the hall.
Haynes grabbed her from behind. He put both hands around her neck and squeezed with all of his strength. She struggled for what seemed forever; then her body went limp.
He lowered her body to the floor and checked her pulse. He smiled. She would not be telling Ironside or his people about him. Haynes reached around the doorframe into the bedroom and turned on the light. Pushing the door open, he allowed more light to enter the hallway. He reached down and emptied her purse onto the floor. Picking up the security badge, Morgan Haynes shut off the bedroom light and left the apartment the same way he entered.
The drive back to St. Mary's was uneventful, as he had planned. He knew that Janice was not due to report for duty for several hours so there was no reason to hurry. She would not be missed until then. He pulled the stolen car into the same parking spot he had taken it from earlier.
Haynes walked casually into the hospital. He got into the elevator and pushed the button for the security floor. As soon as the doors opened, a police officer stopped him. Haynes pointed to his badge and the officer backed off.
He continued down the hall checking both sides of the hall. These dummies even put the patients' names on the door. It certainly made it easier for him. He found the room that read Agatha Gunther. He glanced into the room to make sure no one was in there. When he did not see anyone, he entered the room. There she was! Ironside's favorite nurse. She would not wake up to tell the crippled cop anything. More importantly, he would beat Ironside at his own game.
Morgan Haynes picked up a nearby pillow and covered Sister Agatha's face with it.