A/N- - I realize that it has been a whole month since I updated and I seriously apologize. I totally recognize that I'm a jerk for doing that. Blame it on personal chaotic crisis that no one wants to hear about. I'm hoping to finish this up in the next few weeks. It's all outlined and everything. Does anyone else have a hard time writing multiple chapter stories? Feedback really helps my muse though. I LOVE IT!
A/N2- Also, while I am quite intelligent in my chosen field of study, I am a spelling/grammar idiot. IDIOT. I'm sure that if you've read anything of mine, you've already picked up on that. Please don't hate me if there are some glaring errors. I suck.
A trip to Dr. Charleston's apartment revealed nothing of consequence. It was tidy and organized. There were no dishes in the sink or dishwasher. The bathroom was spotless.
"She didn't spend a lot of time here," Bobby observed. Alex looked up from collecting the victim's date book and her laptop.
"I'm going to have Deakins contact her bank," Alex said as she pulled out her cell phone and continued, "Let's see if she stopped by our favorite piano bar."
Goren stepped into the bedroom and poked around in the closet but in the end, both partners agreed that there was nothing of significance to be found.
Next stop was the Mount Sinai hospital. Alex and Bobby were directed to the lobby, where they waited for the head of surgery to finish a consultation he was tied up with. They discussed aspects of both cases, hoping that something connected the two victims. After a few moments, the partners fell into silence and Alex suddenly wondered when Bobby had become so awkward around her.
She thought back to when his behavior had changed. It seemed that before the baby was born, they were still comfortable around one another. After she had been placed on desk duty, Bobby had stopped by her apartment at least three times a week, always bringing dinner and books to keep her mind occupied. And his visit to the hospital hadn't been awkward, she didn't think. She had been pretty doped up but she remembered him holding her hand and setting her at ease with his presence. No, she decided, it had been after the baby that he begun acting differently. Their work since she had returned had been stellar as usual. The cases they had caught were all solved, all except one with plea bargains, in fact. Maybe it was something else, she decided. Maybe his mother wasn't well or he had broken up with a girlfriend. No, Bobby didn't have a girlfriend. She would know if he did. Alex let out a sigh in frustration. Bobby looked over at her just as Dr. Magelby, head of surgery approached.
Both partners stood and shock the doctor's hand. He led them into his office where they all sat.
"I feel terrible about Beth. Not only do I consider her a close friend, but she was the best in her field. She was a great teacher. The medical profession will suffer from this loss." Bobby looked to Alex and then stood, striding to the bookshelf. Alex understood; he wanted her to lead on this questioning.
"Dr. Magelby, what can you tell us about Dr. Charleston's personal life?"
"Well, she was dedicated to the field. She spent a lot of time in the hospital."
Alex nodded and reposed her question, "Do you know if she was seeing anyone?"
The doctor paused uneasily before saying, "We urge our staff to be discrete, especially if their relationships are with each other. I don't know anything for certain but I believe she was seeing a neurosurgeon, Dr. Fredricks."
Alex's eyes got big and she nodded. 'Odd for director of surgery to be aware of his staff's love life', she thought.
Bobby seemed to be thinking the same thing. From his corner by the bookcase, Goren asked quietly, "Was it Dr. Charleston or the neurosurgeon who told you about the relationship?"
Dr. Magelby sat up in his chair and thought about his answer. Bobby and Alex exchanged nervous glances.
"Dr. Charleston," finally came the doctor's answer. He took a deep breath and continued, "Like I said before, Beth and I were close friends."
Alex nodded thoughtfully, "Could you point us in the direction of neurosurgery?"
Dr. Magelby nodded but added, "Dr. Fredricks is at a medical conference in San Fransisco this week."
After concluding the interview, Bobby and Alex headed down to the nurse's station.
"Did you notice how he kept referring to her as 'Beth'?" Alex asked. Bobby nodded.
They quickly decided speak to a few of the nurses who operated with the victim. One nurse in particular seemed to know a lot about Dr. Charleston.
In a hushed voice, Nurse O'Malley confirmed the relationship between Dr. Fredricks and Dr. Charleston.
"I think they were really happy together. Once I walked into the on-call room and he was tickling her. She was laughing really hard," the nurse recalled with amusement in her voice, "Everyone knew they were together. They weren't really trying to hide it."
"How long had they been seeing each other?" Alex wondered aloud.
"Gee," the nurse shrugged a little, "Uhm… I would say a year. I know she was basically living with him."
Alex looked up at Bobby. 'That explains the un-lived in apartment,' she thought to herself. Bobby nodded at her, as if he had heard her unspoken observation.
"Did anyone have a problem with either of them?"
Nurse O'Malley shook her head but then paused, "Actually, I heard a rumor once. Someone told me that Dr. Magelby and Dr. Charleston performed their residencies together in Chicago. A nurse who used to work with them there transferred here. Apparently, they were a hot item way back when. Anyway, Dr. Magelby isn't a real big fan of Dr. Fredricks. Rumor has it Dr. Fredricks isn't being asked to stay here next year."
Bobby thanked the nurse for the information and they headed back to 1PP. Deakins was waiting for an update. They gave him the rundown of what they knew about their victim and then sat down to look through Dr. Charleston's financial statements.
"She visited our piano bar," Alex declared triumphantly a few minutes later.
Bobby looked up, obviously pleased. "Excellent. On the same night?"
"No. Ten days later. The night after Julianne was murdered," Eames looked up puzzled.
"Our guy is escalating. He's not taking as much time," Bobby stood, "to learn about his victims. He only met Dr. Charleston two days ago." He pinned up a picture of both victims and sat back down.
Softly, Alex wondered out loud, "He's already stalking his next victim."
Bobby nodded and looked back at the photos.
Alex went back to her list of names. Absently, she started scrolling through the names of the credit card holders who had been been in the piano bar the same night Julianne had. She was half way down the list when one name stuck out at her. A slow smile crept onto her face.
"Guess who else likes the piano player at that bar?"
Bobby's head shot up. Alex smile now took over her whole face triumphantly.
"Dr. Owen Magelby."