"Dr. Hook." Detective Ryan said as he spotted the doctor. "We're through down here for the moment although I would like to have that lab sealed until forensics has a chance to go through it."
"That shouldn't be a problem." Hook said with a nod. "Lona's the main one who uses it and with her missing, Dr, James was wanting to close it for now anyway. I'll make a call and get Otto down here to close it off for you for as long as necessary. You'll be wanting to interview the staff now?"
"Yes. Who in particular would have had contact with Dr. Massingale within the last days leading up to her disappearance?" Detective Rogers asked as the three walked down the hallway.
"Elmer, of course. He's down in the lab a lot letting Lona run
tests on him. His father. Dr. Draper and I. Dr. Havens was of course the
last person to report seeing her. At least three of our nurses, Liz
Hinton, Nurse Bannerman and Carrie Von Trier." Hook shook his head
slightly as he thought of the detectives trying to question Carrie.
Perhaps he should offer them some smelling salts before they tried to carry
out that particular talk. Being questioned by the police was sure to
totally freak the nervous nurse. "Dr. Stegman and Dr. Abelson see her at
staff meetings but Dr. Stegman doesn't get along very well with anyone and
Brenda's practically his shadow so I doubt that they would know anything
useful." He stopped for a moment, walking in silence. The patients. Were
there any particular patients that Lona had worked on lately that they
would need to talk to? All he could think of was the seismologist and he
definitely wasn't going to send the detectives up there to interview him.
"What's your impression of Dr. Massingale?" Detective Rogers asked, closely watching Hook to see how he responded. He could tell that this doctor was clever, very clever, as well as a good observer.
"She's a good doctor, a good researcher. There's no way she would
leave her research like this." Hook paused, thinking of how best to
describe Lona for them. Honestly, now that he thought about it, how well
did he really know her? "She.... Lona tends to be a bit isolated at
times, gets too focused on her research. Honestly, we didn't really know a
whole lot about her life outside of the hospital until this happened." And
then of course the learned that Lona didn't really have a life outside the
hospital. Who was he to criticize, though? He lived in the basement,
after all, and he really couldn't argue anymore that he did it just because
the place was rent free. "Elmer and Louis are probably the two that could
tell you the most about her. Elmer, I think he knows more about her
volunteering for her experiments than most of us do working with her for
years. We've been thinking over everything, trying to figure out something
that could explain this and none of us have a clue."
"Is there anyone who has had a disagreement with Dr. Massingale recently, anyone that might wish her ill?" Detective Ryan asked.
"No one that we can think of. Lona's focused on her research and she isn't the most aggressive doctor. She tends to let the other doctors take the lead on most things. That's not the kind of thing that leads to making enemies."
"You mentioned her research and Dr. Traff did as well. Are there funds tied to that?" Detective Rogers asked.
Hook had to fight to keep from showing discomfort. He had been
really hoping they wouldn't ask the money question for a bit. Since they
had, though.... "Lona's good and getting funds, most definitely. A grant
came in just today for the sleep lab that was rerouted to Dr. Draper." He
might have to be honest with these men but at the same time, Hook wasn't
going to let them get the wrong idea. "Needless to say, Chris felt more
than a bit bad about it, especially since no one has any idea where Lona is
or what happened. Right now Elmer's going to be holding onto the money.
Chris was going to turn it down but if she did, it would go to Dr. Stegman
instead and Lona would never get it back from him. From the looks that he
and Brenda were giving Chris after the staff meeting, I think they probably
expected that money to go their way to begin with." Okay, Hook honestly
didn't seen Steg having anything to do with Lona's disappearance but.
He shook his head knowing what he did was wrong but after all the trouble
the doctor had caused, he wanted to steer at least a bit of annoyance
Stegman's way. And surely it wouldn't take the detectives too long to
realize that Stegman was too much of an idiot to have actually done
something to Lona.
"We'll definitely need to talk to him. We'll be wanting a list of Dr. Massingale's movements over the last few days as well, any patients she might have seen, possible problems on that front. Will you be allowed to release that?" Detective Rogers asked.
"I can't see a problem with it given the circumstances. Everyone just wants Lona found." Hook told them. They had to find her somehow and as soon as possible.