Chapter 7

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The elevator doors opened and Sam walked out into the lobby. Charlie was talking to a uniformed police officer. She squared her shoulders and walked directly towards the doorman. The officer nodded at her and walked away.

"Ms. Spade, I can't believe this is happening." Charlie had a worried look on his face and was wringing his hands.

Sam gave him a sympathetic look but knew that she needed to get down to business. Time was of the essence so she said, "This is difficult for all of us but I need to ask you some questions."

"Sure, I'll do anything I can to help."

She pulled out her notepad and asked, "Have you noticed anyone suspicious hanging around the building in the last few weeks?"

"No, not at all."

"When was the last time you saw Martin?"

Charlie thoughtfully replied, "It was the day before yesterday."

Charlie was standing in the foyer when he spotted Martin walking up the sidewalk. He opened the door and as Martin was walking in he started coughing.

"Mr. Fitzgerald, you don't sound so good if you don't mind me saying."

"Yeah, I think I'm coming down with something." Martin coughed and Charlie noticed that he was pale.

"I suggest that you go right upstairs and get right to bed." Charlie had been the doorman here for over twenty-five years and felt comfortable chatting with the tenants. "If you're feeling a bit nauseous I recommend ginger tea."

Martin held a fist up to his mouth as he coughed again. When he was done he quietly replied, "Thanks Charlie. I'll do that."

Charlie watched as Martin moved into the elevator and the doors slid closed.

"And that was it. He went upstairs and that was the last time I saw him." Charlie looked at the elevator.

"There was some prescription medicine in his apartment. You didn't see him go out to see a doctor?" Sam clicked her pen nervously. She had hoped Charlie could provide her with more information.

Charlie shook his head before replying, "That might have been from Dr. Barkhurst. He lives in 1516. I told him about Mr. Fitzgerald and he said he would check in on him."

"That's pretty generous." Sam said.

"Well, I know Mr. Fitzgerald feeds his fish when he's out of town so I think he was just being neighborly."

"Is Dr. Barkhurst home?"

"No, he generally gets home around eight o'clock. He has his own practice but I can give you the address and number if you'd like."

"That'd be great. I'll need the information for the other two doormen as well."

"Sure, I'll be right back." Charlie walked to the counter where the doormen often lingered and began flipping through a rolodex.

Sam heard the elevator doors open and Jack emerged.

"Good, you're still here." Jack commented as he walked towards her. He nodded over to Charlie and asked, "Find out anything?"

Sam quickly debriefed him on what little information she learned from Charlie. He confirmed that the name on the prescription was indeed Dr. Barkhurst.

Jack processed what she had told him when he explained the real reason for coming downstairs. "You forgot to tell me what you learned while you were upstairs."

Sam mentally cursed herself for getting so uncharacteristically distracted. "Oh, damn it. Whoever did this stole quite a few things; all of his watches are gone along with several very expensive sets of cufflinks. And someone went through his climbing gear. My guess would be they used the cords to tie him up."

"Great. I'll call the CSI's to process those things." Jack pulled out his cell phone and studied Sam carefully. "How are you doing?"

"I'm fine Jack." Sam met his gaze daring him to try and argue with her.

He nodded his head and curtly replied, "Good." Then he started relaying the information to the CSI's upstairs.

"Here you are Ms. Spade." Charlie said as he walked over and handed Sam a sheet of paper. "Is there anything else I can do to help?"

Jack finished his call and interrupted, "According to the police there is a video camera where the stairwell exits to the loading dock. How can I get a copy of the tape?"

"It's just here." Charlie pointed to behind the counter. "Do you just want last night?"

"I'll take it for the last week if you have them."

"Sure." Charlie walked back over to the counter and pulled a box of videotapes out form under the counter. He tossed all the tapes inside and slid the box across the counter to Jack who took them.

Jack turned to Sam and said, "I'm heading back to the office to meet up with Victor."

"I'll head over to talk to Dr. Barkhurst. He might have been the last one to see him." Sam replied.

"Okay, good." Jack studied her carefully before commenting. "I'll see you back at the office."

Jack walked past her and out the door. Sam looked over at Charlie who was watching her with sad eyes. She tilted her head at him and went off in search of the good doctor.