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Chapter 19
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James attempted to open his eyes, cautiously he opened one keeping the other one closed. He closed the eye quickly because the offensive bright light caused his head to throb more, if that was possible. "AGGHH," he moaned painfully as he threw his arm over his head to block out the light.
Slowly he finally realize he was able to move his arms and legs. James turned his aching body onto his right side causing even more pain. Whatever held him down earlier was now gone. He was free to move around.
Pushing past the pain he rolled onto his hands and knees. "AGGGHH!" James screamed in pain. He tossed aside something sharp he held in his hand. James sat down on the cold dirty floor to examine his lacerated hand.
At last he was able to open his eyes without his head exploding. James looked at his hand, but his eyes would not focus. He blinked several times, but his sight stayed fuzzy. However, he could see something resembling blood on his hands. He felt the stickiness of blood on his hands. Horrified, he looked at the rest of his body and he could see what he thought was blood on both his hands, his bare chest, bare legs and bare-feet.
"No! No! What...? What have I done?" he screamed. He climbed to his unsteady weak legs. James felt light headed and nauseous. The out of focus room before him began to spin, he put his bloody hands to his head to stop the spinning. He fell hard to his knees and placed his forehead on the cool floor.
"Oh no, no! Please forgive me, please," Jame begged. He rocked back and forth pleading for forgiveness. He collapsed back onto the floor horrified at what he saw.
"Oh no, no, no...," he screamed loud in terror. He started to crawl backwards on his feet and hands pushing away from the body he saw laying before him. "NOOOOO!" James crawled fast screaming.
He never looked where he was going he never saw what he hit. His body slammed hard against an opened metal locker causing an avalanche of old rusty debris to fall. His muffled screams ceased.
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The early morning traffic pulled to the side of the road letting the speeding car with flashing emergency lights pass. Dr. Hobson, Lewis and PC Bell sat in the backseat of Innocent's loaner car. MacGim's broad shoulders would have crowded the others if he sat in the backseat. So, he automatically sat up front with Innocent driving. He wished he sat in the back, her driving was scaring him.
"Shouldn't you slow down, Ma'am." MacGim advised. "We do want to arrive in one piece."
Chief Innocent glared at him. "MacGim," she warned.
Laura leaned over to Lewis and whispered, "And you thought I drove fast?" She teased.
Before Lewis could respond two mobiles began to ring. Laura fumbled in her pocket for her's and Chief Innocent handed her mobile for MacGim to answer.
"Chief Superintendent Innocent's mobile. DI Wyndham MacGim speaking," MacGim sounding so boisterous and serious. He listened to the caller. "Chief, it's PC Russell from High Wycombe. There's been a murder at Wycombe Hills Sanatorium," He reported.
Sighing deeply, "I'm sorry, we need to head over to High Wycombe." Disappointed Innocent slowed the car to change lanes for the next turn off. She silently cursed the timing of the call.
"Jean," Laura reported. "I got the same call. Can we ride together?"
"We'll all go. I'll need an inspector to open the case," Innocent decided. "That will be you, MacGim."
The M40 was packed with going to work traffic. Many drivers did not see or ignored the flashing emergency lights on Innocent's car. Fuming Jean turned on the loud siren causing the drivers to instantly slow and move out of their way. They arrived at Wycombe Hills Sanatorium in record time. MacGim silently thanked Chief Innocent's fast driving.
The sanatorium car park was crowded with press, police, ambulances and fire brigade. Innocent pulled their car upon the curb to park leaving the hazard lights flashing.
Dr. Hobson walked to the forensic van, her team had all ready unloaded most of the necessary equipment. A High Wycombe PC handed the newly arrived Chief and her team each crime scene coveralls. PC Bell followed the others closely, he did what they did taking mental note on everything.
PC Russell started to update Innocent on the crime as they dressed into the disposable coveralls. He told her about the witnesses, about the murder a doctor and about the injured nurse. He showed her a photograph of the suspect seen leaving the sanatorium with a bloody knife, a patient name Mr. Smith.
Innocent did not hear anything else Russell said. She studied the photograph disbelieving. "How long has this man been a patient here?" Innocent demanded.
"I don't know. Nurse Swan knows," bewildered at the abruptness of Chief Innocent, Russell could only point to a gray haired nurse sitting in the back of an ambulance.
Innocent pulled Lewis to one side, "Robbie, look." Was all she could say.
She shoved the photograph into Lewis' hand.
"James?" questioned Lewis. "Looks like him, a little. But I..."
"They say this man was the one with the knife," Jean confided taping on the picture. "I'm not completely convinced this is Hathaway, Robbie."
Lewis and Innocent walk toward Nurse Swan. Neither one knew where to begin. If indeed the patient in the photograph was James, then they could not handle this case. They could only hope the patient was a lookalike and not their missing friend.
Taking the lead Innocent questioned the traumatized nurse. "Tell me about this man," Innocent held the photograph to the nurse.
"Who are you?" angrily the nurse snapped defensively at the woman demanding answers.
"I'm Chief Superintendent Jean Innocent and this is DI Lewis," Innocent calmly introduced themselves. "Can you please tell me about this man?"
"I'm Nurse Sarah Swan. I'm … I was Dr. Erik Wills private nurse. Was his nurse for ten years," she explained with a shaking voice. "This man arrived early yesterday morning. He didn't know his name. He had no ID. All he was wearing was a pair of men undergarments. We gave his a patient name of Mr. Smith."
Sarah shuttered and took a deep breath to continue. Tears soaked her face. "He was violent. He attacked Erik yesterday, sending two orderlies to the hospital." She continued to tell the officers all she knew about Mr. Smith.
"Did he say anything?" Lewis asked.
"He ranted about being some famous American writer. I can't remember the name," Sarah tried to be specific. She was trying to keep her emotions under control, but was failing. "We sedated and restrained Mr. Smith to a bed in the room where...," she stopped and tried to suppress her cry.
"It's all right," Innocent soothed. "We can continue this when you are feeling better."
"No, I'm all right. Just give me a couple," she took a drink of water Lewis offered. Clearing her through Sarah continued. "A couple times I heard Mr. Smith calling out a name in his sleep."
"Who's name did he call?" Lewis pressed for more answers. Hoping for the one clue that would prove this murderer was not his partner.
"I don't remembering, but it should be on the recording," Sarah started to stand but she felt too weak to move. "In the security office.."
"You mean to tell us there are video and audio recordings of the patients in their rooms?" Hoping for a yes, Lewis leaned closer pressing for a quick answer.
"Of course. We record to learn about our patients," Sarah defended. "Dr. Wills had cameras placed in every room," She did not finish because Lewis and Innocent left racing toward the entrance of the sanatorium.
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