Murder at St. Mary's
Chapter 03
3.1
Billy Carson entered the room of Carlton Holcomb. The man was sound asleep. He walked over to the man's bedside. Billy watched as Holcomb's chest heaved up and down. He reached into his pocket for the syringe that contained the drug that would end Carlton Holcomb's life.
Could he take the man's life? The thought of killing another human being was deplorable but what choice did he have? He needed money. His son must have the bone marrow transplant. Otherwise he would die. He would not be able to live with himself if he allowed his son to die so that someone that was already dying could live a few more days or weeks. No, his son was only a boy. He had his entire life ahead of him.
Was Morgan Haynes right? Was this nothing more than a mercy killing? Why let the man suffer? After all, society would not let a dying animal suffer. They would put it out of its misery... would they not? Just how was this any different?
Billy fingered the syringe in his pocket as he fought his conscience. He did not have a choice. His son must come first. Billy started to pull the syringe out of his pocket.
"Mr. Carson!" sounded the German voice behind him.
Billy jumped at the sound of Sister Agatha's voice. He allowed the syringe to drop into his pocket and turned to face Sister Agatha. "Yes, Sister."
"What are you doing in Mr. Holcomb's room?"
"I was passing by and heard him moan. I was checking on him, that is all."
"This room is not part of your assignment. I suggest that you stick to your side of the wing. Now go!" she scolded.
Billy left the room with his hands in his pockets. He did not want Sister Agatha to see how bad his hands were shaking.
3.2
"Chief, why don't you invite Katherine to go to the show with us?" Eve encouraged their boss.
"You can always discuss the charity event afterwards," Ed added.
"Come on, Chief. You said it was not a date. We all can get dinner first and then go to the movies. Since we all are going to be working at the charity event, we can discuss it over dinner." Mark knew the chief's mind was already made up but he hoped the three of them ganging up on him might change his mind.
"No, you three go on and enjoy yourselves. I am going to stick to the original plan."
Eve shrugged. She knew that trying to get the chief to change his mind was a waste of time at this point. It was already made up. "Well, I guess we will take off then."
"Good night, Chief," Ed said as he followed Eve up the ramp. Mark grabbed his jacket and left with his colleagues.
Ironside wheeled to the kitchen. He reached in the cupboard and pulled out a bottle of wine. He glanced at the label, DeNureve Vineyards. He pulled two glasses from the cupboard as well. Wheeling back to the table, he set the glasses down and poured the wine into the glasses.
Ironside wheeled back to the kitchen to check the meatloaf. As he opened the stove door, there was a knock on the door. He closed it back up and wheeled up the ramp. Ironside opened the door. Katherine DeNureve smiled and handed him a bottle of wine from her winery.
"Come in, Katherine," Ironside said with a smile.
Katherine followed Ironside down the ramp. "You didn't have to go to such trouble, Robert."
"It is not any trouble all. Please sit down," Ironside said as he pulled out a chair for her. Katherine took the seat he indicated and watched him wheel back to the kitchen where he put a tray on his lap and then opened the stove. Ironside put the meatloaf on the tray and took the vegetables off the stove and added them to the tray. Lastly, he took the salad from the counter and placed it on the tray as well. Ironside wheeled back to the table. After removing everything from the tray and placing it on the table, Ironside took his place at the table. He served Katherine and then himself. "Please, go ahead, we can discuss security for the event after dinner. Right now I would like to hear more about the vineyards."
3.3
Carlton Holcomb rested comfortably after having received his pain medicine. He had become drowsy and was on the verge of falling asleep. The pain was subsiding as his eyelids became heavy. He did not hear the sound of the footsteps of the person who had just entered his hospital room.
He turned out the only light that was on in the room. The lights from the hall would provide all the light that he would need. He pulled a syringe out of his pocket. He reached up and took the tubes that were feeding a solution into his veins. He put his finger on the plastic tubing in one hand and plunged the contents of the needle into the tube, now adding the deadly drug that would end Carlton Holcomb's life.
3.4
Sister Agatha looked directly into the eyes of the chief medical officer who ran the hospital. "I think there should be an investigation of the young man."
Dr. Peter Witt shook his head back and forth. "I think you are making way too much of this. He had a logical reason for having gone into the man's room."
"He had no business being in that section of the hospital. At the very least he should be brought in and questioned," Sister Agatha insisted.
"I appreciate your concern, Sister, but I really don't think it is necessary," Dr. Witt said with finality in his voice.
"Alright, Doctor. It is your decision." Sister Agatha left his office with an uneasy feeling.
3.5
Ironside wheeled to the door with Katherine alongside him. When they reached the door, Katherine stopped and looked at Ironside. "Robert, I just can't thank you enough for the help you have given me."
"It was not much," Ironside insisted.
"Well, I could not have done it without you. And I certainly could not have found people for the security work the day of the event."
Ironside smiled. "I do admit that is easier for me to set up the men and women to handle the security the day of the event. Not one officer said no." He looked up at her and grinned.
Katherine chuckled. "They are all scared of you. It is a good thing they can't see through that rough, tough image of yours. They would see you for what you really are."
"And what is that?"
"A kind and gentle man who is a sucker for helping others."
"Don't you believe that for a minute. I am every bit the rough, tough cop they think I am," Ironside insisted.
When Katherine laughed, he could not help but notice how it lit up her expression. She really was a very beautiful woman. "I will see you on Saturday." He smiled at her.
Katherine bent down and kissed his cheek. "Your secret is safe with me. Thank you for everything."
As Katherine left the office, Mark Sanger walked in. "How was the movie?" his boss asked.
"Chief, this is one time you should have come with us. It was worthwhile seeing. None of that breaking all the rules. This was about a by-the-book cop." He noticed that Ironside was not paying much attention to him. "Something wrong, Chief?"
"Huh? Oh, nothing," he answered.
"I take it the security is all set for the charity event?"
"What? Oh, yes, everything is fine."
"Is there anything I can get you before turning in?"
"No, Mark. I'll see you in the morning." He turned away from Sanger and wheeled over to the window.
Mark hesitated and then went into his room and shut the door.
3. 6
Sister Agatha looked at a chart for one of the residents and then turned toward one of the nurses that had just arrived at the nurses' station. "Is Mr. Woodford's room assigned to you?"
"Yes, Sister. Is there something wrong?"
"He is supposed to have his medicine at nine o'clock. It is not marked on the chart."
"I am sorry, Sister, I simply forgot to mark his chart," the nurse said.
"That is inexcusable," Sister Agatha said sternly. "Someone could give him the medicine again. In his case it would not have harmed him but in others it could be fatal."
"Yes, Sister, I will mark his chart right away. It will not happen again."
"See that it doesn't," Sister Agatha scolded.
Another nurse came rushing to the nurse's station. "Sister Agatha, come quickly! Mr. Holcomb is not breathing!"
Sister Agatha took off toward Holcomb's room. When she arrived, she immediately checked his pulse. He did not have one. "Get Doctor Prentis in here now!" The nurse ran out of the room in search of the doctor.
A few minutes later Dr. Prentis came into the room. "What happened?" he asked as he began checking the man's vital signs.
"I don't know, Doctor," Nurse Amy Sanchez answered. "I was in his room about twenty minutes ago and he was fine. I talked to him. He was pretty sleepy from the pain killer he had received. He asked me for another pillow. I left long enough to get it and looked in on another patient. When I returned, he was like this."
"His heart has stopped! Get the paddles!"
"We can't do that, Doctor," Nurse Sanchez said. "He signed a paper saying that he was not to be resuscitated."
"Are you certain?" the doctor inquired.
"Yes, Doctor. I am certain," Amy told him.
"Well, in that case make note of his time of death. You better call his family."
"This should not have happened," Sister Agatha said, shaking her head. "There was no reason for him to die yet."
"He was terminal. It was expected," Dr. Prentis said.
"No sir, not at this time. He had no history of heart trouble and the cancer was not far enough along to take him yet."
"Well, something killed him, Sister," Prentis said.
"I think there should be an autopsy," Sister Agatha insisted.
"Oh please, there is nothing to indicate that this was anything but a natural death," Prentis said.
"An autopsy will confirm or disprove that," Agatha said.
"There is not going to be an autopsy. It simply is not necessary. The man died of a heart attack."
"You don't know that, Doctor," Agatha argued.
Dr. Peter Witt entered the room. "What is going on in here?" The head of the hospital lowered his voice to encourage his employees to do the same.
"We lost Mr. Holcomb," Sister Agatha announced.
"We have lost patients before. This is no way to behave. What is the problem? "
Agatha explained Holcomb's condition. "I feel an autopsy should be performed."
"That is ridiculous!" argued. "The man died of a heart attack."
Dr. Witt shook his head. "An autopsy would have to be approved by the family but if you really feel that something is fishy about his death, Sister, then go ahead and get the authorization."
Satisfied she had won this one, Sister Agatha left the room.
3.7
Morgan Haynes sat in front of his desk. "Well, was Holcomb taken care of?"
Haynes smiled an evil smile. "Like clockwork."
"Good. And it was done to look like a natural death?"
"It was," Haynes replied.
"No complications then?"
"No... Well, nothing that can't be handled."
"What the hell is that supposed to mean?"
"Sister Agatha demanded an autopsy."
"I knew that old busybody was going to cause problems."
"There is no problem."
"Then the autopsy was denied?"
"I didn't say that. Dr. Witt allowed it."
"What? This is not good."
"Relax. They will find nothing in an autopsy," Morgan said.
"How do you know?"
"The drug used cannot be detected. It causes the heart to stop but leaves no trace of having been used," Morgan told him. "Stop worrying. Everything is under control."
"Under control? That nosy nun must have thought something was wrong or she would not have requested an autopsy. You know who she will run to if she suspects foul play."
"If that is the case, Billy Carson will get the blame. I made sure the money is going to an offshore account. It will not be hard for Ironside to track if she enlisted his help. But there is nothing for her to give Ironside to go on."
"You better be right. I don't want Ironside involved."
"He won't be, so stop worrying."
"Maybe you better start worrying. You may not have lived in this city very long but I have been here all my life. I manage to stay under his radar. It is the only way you can operate in this town. You avoid getting Ironside's attention."
"I may have not lived here very long but only an idiot has never heard of Ironside. I don't want to tangle with him anymore than you do. I am keeping an eye on Sister Agatha. If she gets too close, I will take care of her personally."
"See that you do. I have another one to be taken care of. William Bauer...78 years old. He had been a drag on the insurance company for a long time. The old man is taking his sweet time dying. I would like you and your man to speed up his departure."
Morgan asked, "Do you know what room he is in?"
"No, but I am sure you will find out. Take care of him, Morgan, and do it tonight."
3.8
Sister Agatha walked into the nurses' office behind the station on Billy Carson's floor. "Mr. Carson, I would like to speak with you a moment."
Carson turned to face the woman that was in charge of all the nurses in the hospital. Billy had always liked Sister Agatha. She was a no-nonsense type of woman that was loyal to the people who worked for her...if you did your job and kept your nose clean. "Of course, Sister, what can I do for you?"
"You can start by telling the truth as to why you were on the wrong floor and why you were in Mr. Holcomb's room." The nun stared directly into his eyes.
"I told you the truth, Sister. I simply heard the man moan so I went into his room to see if I could help. It was right at that time that you walked in. There really was nothing else to it."
"What were you doing on the floor?" Agatha asked him.
"Actually, I came to see you."
"You gave no indication of that when I saw you."
"Well, unfortunately I was concerned about your mood. I had upset you. When I talk to you I want you in a better frame of mind," Billy said.
Sister Agatha did not accept that explanation. "Suppose you tell me now what you came to speak with me about."
"My son is going to have surgery shortly and I wanted to make sure I can get the time off." Billy knew he was skating on thin ice. However, he could just not think of an excuse for why he would want to talk to her other than his son.
"This hospital has always been understanding regarding the children of its employees. You should know that."
He could tell from the look on her face that she was skeptical. "It is a very important surgery, Sister."
"All surgeries are important, Mr. Carson. What is your son having surgery for?"
"It is a bone marrow transplant." He knew he had blundered. If she suspected anything about him going into Holcomb's room, he would be her number one suspect when something happened to him.
"You have nothing to be concerned about. You will be given the time off."
"Thank you, Sister."
Sister Agatha turned to go. Suddenly she stopped and turned around. "Have you been in Mr. Holcomb's room since?"
"No, of course not."
She nodded and left the room.
Billy wondered what that was all about. After all he was a hospital employee. A registered nurse going in to see a patient was not unusual in this hospital. Exactly what was she suspicious of?
The door to the office opened and Cindy Viner walked in. "The good sister is certainly on the warpath today, isn't she?"
"She's just doing her job, Cindy."
"Huh! Does her job include harassing all of us? She has been asking everyone who they saw in Holcomb's room. He had a heart attack. She acts like someone deliberately did something to him."
Billy looked up from his paperwork. "She really thinks he didn't die of natural causes?"
"She hasn't come out and said it but she is acting like a detective on a murder investigation."
"Has she found out anything?"
"What's there to find out? The man died of a heart attack."
"Then no one saw anyone go into his room?"
"Oh, for cripes sake! You are beginning to sound like her. I have work to do." She turned and left the room.
What did Sister Agatha know? Billy was worried. She had seen him come out of Holcomb's room. He did not have time to worry about this right now. His son was having surgery in a few days and he had another job to do.
3.9
Chief Ironside wheeled into his office. Ed Brown handed a cup of coffee to his boss. "Chief, Sister Agatha called. She said she needs to talk to right away."
"Eve, get Sister Agatha on the phone for me, will you please?"
"Right away, Chief." Eve stepped to the nearest phone and dialed St. Mary's Hospital.
"Ed, have you taken a look at this report?"
"Yes, I have," Ed answered.
"And?"
"I would say the odds of that many people dying of heart attacks at a hospital is suspicious. What I mean is they all had a common denominator," Ed said.
"Every one of them had a terminal illness, yet everyone of them died of a heart attack before the disease could take them."
"That's right, Chief. Look on page six of that report," Ed said.
Ironside leafed through to page six.
"Nothing showed up in the autopsy of any of the ones that was posted." Ironside frowned. "There are substances someone could have used that would cause a heart attack but nothing shows up in the autopsy."
"But proving it would not be easy," Ed said.
Eve joined them at the table. "Sister Agatha was not available. I left a message for her to call you."
"Ed, I think it warrants looking into it." Ironside turned his attention to Eve. "I wonder what Agatha wants to speak with me about. Is it possible that St. Mary's is having the same problem?"
"I can go over to St. Mary's and talk to her," said Eve.
"No," Ironside replied. "All of you have been seen at St. Mary's quite a bit because of me. If there is a problem, I don't want to alert someone who is involved. We will wait for Sister Agatha's call. In the meantime, Ed, I would like you to go over to San Francisco General and start asking questions."
Ed got up and headed out of the office.
3.10
William Bauer was resting comfortably. He had been sedated for the night. Since the drug had taken hold, he had become completely oblivious to anything around him.
The door to his room opened. The man entered quietly and shut the door behind him. Approaching the patient, he reached into his pocket and pulled out the syringe. He inserted the tip of the needle into the opening of the tubing. Using his thumb, he plunged the fluid into the tubing.
He went to the door and left just as quietly as he had entered. Nobody noticed him.