Murder at St. Mary's
Chapter 06
6.1
Eve completed her search of her section of the hall and came up empty handed. The man that they were looking for was nowhere in sight. He seemed to disappear into thin air.
She decided to go see if Ed had any better luck. As she headed down the hall toward the section he had been searching, she got a bad feeling. Either the chase led him in another direction or something was wrong. She did not see him coming in and out of any of the rooms.
With her service revolver still drawn, she headed cautiously to the only open door she could find. Pushing the door open with her gun, Eve slowly entered the darkened room. She checked behind the door to make sure no one was lurking there. The young detective felt along the wall looking for a light switch. She heard someone groan. "Ed?"
"Over here," Ed said in a shaky voice.
Eve hurried to his side. "Are you alright? Let me call for help." She started to rise.
Ed grabbed her arm. "No, I'll be alright."
"What happened?"
"I followed him in here. The next thing I know everything went black." Ed struggled to his feet with assistance from Eve.
"Did you get a look at him?"
Ed shook his head. "Only from the back."
"Why don't we check the exits closest to this wing?" Eve suggested.
Brown rubbed the back of his head. "He's long gone."
"Probably but do you want to be the one to tell the chief we did not check?"
Ed half smiled at Eve. "Let's go check them." The two detectives left the room and headed for the exits.
6.2
"Chief Ironside, you stated in your remarks that you were told by the doctors that you would never walk again. But you did not tell us what you were thinking at the time and how you felt."
Ironside had not been in favor of this question and answer set up. Sister Agatha had insisted upon it. Just how in the flaming hell did this woman think he felt? How would she feel if she was told she would live in a wheelchair for the remainder of her life? He could feel Katherine's hand on his wrist. His temper that had been threatening to flare calmed immediately. Behind a clenched jaw he said, "I suppose I had mixed emotions. It certainly is not something anyone wants to hear. However, being who I am, I didn't believe it. But as you can see, they were right."
Ironside looked around the room at the raised hands. If he had to answer every person in this room that had a question, they would be here all night. Why did he allow himself to be talked into this? Again, he felt the calming touch of the woman sitting beside him. She reminded him of Eve, his pretty policewoman who was always trying to make sure his temper was kept in check.
The detective looked around the room. This time he would choose a man. Perhaps he could count on the question not being so emotionally personal. He decided on one about two table rows back.
"I attended the charity event because I believe in what St Mary's is doing. You, sir, are a living testament to the talent of the staff here at this hospital. My question really does not have to do with anything regarding the hospital. At least not anymore. My question to you is how can the public be expected to believe that you as a detective can possibly be anywhere near as efficient as you were before the sniper shot you? No disrespect intended but shouldn't you have been forced to retire so the city not carry the wages of a Chief of Detectives?"
Commissioner Randall braced himself for the explosion that he thought might come. However, he was surprised at Ironside's reaction.
"Why don't we trade places for the moment?" Ironside asked the man. "Put yourself in my place... at least mentally. Do you honestly believe that if you became a paraplegic, your mind would be any less efficient?" Before the man had a chance to answer the chief, he continued. "Despite what you see in the movies most crimes are not solved with shootouts and car chases. They are solved by detecting, deducing, and deciding. In other words they are solved in the minds of detectives."
"Chief you did not answer the questions about your wages," the man shouted back.
Ironside snorted. "The city would not save a dime if I was forced to retire." So much for the idea of calling on a man. Ironside did not give him a chance to ask another question.
6.3
Sister Agatha hurried into the city councilman's room. She took one look at him, with his eyes staring straight ahead she knew that he was dead. She moved quickly to Jody Dent's bedside. Checking his pulse, she verified his death. Medical personnel poured into the room. "Get Dr. Prentis in here immediately." She instructed one of the nurses. The nurse ran back out of the room.
Moments later Dr. Todd Prentis came in. "What is the problem this time, Sister?"
"Councilman Dent, he's dead." Sister Agatha stared at Dr. Prentis. "I suppose we are going to chalk this up to another heart attack." Her voice was carrying a sarcastic tone.
"Doctor, do you want me to check to see if this patient is to be resuscitated?" One of the nurses asked him.
Before he got a chance to answer, Sister Agatha said, "Don't bother. He signed a document not to be resuscitated." Then she added, "Just like all the others. Rather convenient, don't you think?"
Dr. Prentis looked toward Sister Agatha and gave her a sharp look. He then addressed the other medical personnel in the room. "All of you please leave." As Sister Agatha turned to go, Prentis grabbed her arm. "Not you."
Agatha stared into the doctor's eyes in defiance. "You cannot possibly believe that this was a natural death."
"Unlike you, sister, I do not see a boogeyman around every corner. These are terminal patients. When are you going to get it through that thick German skull of yours that people die?"
"I am well aware that people die, Dr Prentis. It is been happening around here quite often lately. This time you're not going to be able to excuse this as a simple heart attack."
"Stop being ridiculous!" Prentis said, raising his voice. "If you keep this up, I am going to recommend to Dr. Witt that you be removed from your position." His voice was barely below a shout.
"Huh... good luck with that. I have been at this hospital far longer than you have and I will be here long after you are gone. This time there will be an investigation." Agatha insisted.
"There will be no investigation unless I recommend it. You do not have anything to say about it. I am the attending physician on duty, not you."
"Chief Ironside is here tonight. I was with his Sergeant Brown. A man ran out of the councilman's room. Sergeant Brown went after him. The man ran, Doctor. He had no business in that room. Now the councilman is dead. I am going to speak with Chief Ironside." Agatha turned her back on him and started to leave the room.
Prentis grabbed her by the arm and swung her back toward him. "This is a hospital not a police precinct. We will not involve the police in a hospital matter." Prentis calmed down. Smiling, he said, "there is no reason for us to fight over this. Look, Sister, if you really think something is wrong, I'll tell you what. We will do an autopsy."
"It is not enough," Agatha said. "There needs to be a full investigation of all of these murders."
"Murders? Have you lost your mind? There has been absolutely nothing to indicate that this has been anything but natural causes."
"Chief Ironside will be the judge of that." Agatha pulled her arm from Dr. Prentis' grip and stormed out of the room.
6.4
Dr Peter Witt stood at the back of the room listening to Robert Ironside. He was the gift that kept on giving. How many times had the hospital used this man as an example of what they could do here? He often wondered whether it was the skills of his medical staff or the stubbornness of Ironside that had kept him alive. Either way the money flowed when the detective showed up at these charity events.
Witt felt someone tap him on the shoulder. When he turned, Todd Prentis whispered, "We have a problem."
Witt sighed. "Now what?"
"It is that damn nosey nun. She is causing problems again."
"Not here. Out in the hall." Prentis followed Witt out the door. When they were out of earshot of the charity event crowd, Witt demanded, "What is it? And, please watch your language. This is a Catholic hospital."
Todd Prentis could have cared less about his language. He did not understand the Catholic religion and he was a non-believer. He was a doctor not a priest. "Councilman Dent has died."
Dr Witt raised an eyebrow. "How could that be? He had cancer but there is no way it was far enough along to kill him."
"He died of a heart attack," Prentis said.
Witt frowned. "Are you certain?"
"Yes, I examined him myself."
"Then I do not understand. What does Sister Agatha have to do with this?"
"She is insisting that it was murder."
"Murder? What in the world would make her think that?"
"She saw a man come out of his room. When she tried to stop him, he ran. Now she is trying to get Ironside involved."
Witt closed his eyes and pinched the bridge of his nose. "This is all I need. Just exactly what is she insisting upon? Does she want another autopsy done?"
Prentis pursed his lips, shook his head and said, "No sir. She wants Ironside involved."
"The last thing I want is Ironside nosing around the hospital. There is nothing for him to investigate."
"Yes sir that is why I came to you."
"Alright. I will talk to her. You go inside and take my place as the host."
6.5
Ironside wondered where Sister Agatha was. She was supposed to cut off the questions and wrap up the event. He had been answering questions for almost an hour. He looked around the room and could not spot either Eve or Ed. An inventory of the hospital drugs could not possibly take this long. They had started just after the event had begun.
Another question… Ironside answered it while his eyes roamed around the room. Todd Prentis had just walked into the room and was talking to Dr. Peter Witt. He looked frantic. Could it have anything to do with Agatha? Ironside watched as both men went out the back door of the room.
He continued to answer questions waiting for Agatha to come back. Eve had just entered the side door. She was heading his way. As another question was asked, Ironside whispered to Katherine to end the charity event as it had become clear that Agatha was not returning and he had to find out why?
Katherine immediately took over and cut off the questions and ended the event. Eve bent down and whispered in Ironside's ear. "Councilman Dent is dead. There is a very good possibility he has been murdered." She told him of the events that had taken place in the hospital.
"Where's Ed?" Ironside asked.
"He is with Sister Agatha. She is insisting that Dent's death be investigated. She is convinced it is murder and she is arguing with Dr. Prentis over what course to take. Ed is trying to get her to back off until you decide what you want done."
"Alright, Eve. Stay here until the guests leave. Make excuses for my absence." Ironside wheeled away from his policewoman.
"Robert." Katherine stepped in front of him. "I want to thank you for helping to make this a very successful event. Other than a couple of nasty questions, which by the way you handled extremely well, I thought it was an interesting give and take."
Ironside smiled. "I am happy I was able to help you out, Katherine. But, if you will excuse me, something has come up that I must attend to. If you would like to wait, I will see you home."
"Thank you, Robert. I would really like that." She smiled at him and watched as he wheeled away.
6.6
Morgan Haynes hung up the phone. Why did he not listen to him? Now they had done exactly what they all wanted to prevent… they had put themselves on Ironside's radar. The events at the hospital had been disastrous. Their operation was now seriously in danger of being discovered. That damn nosy nun would bring Ironside into this.
Haynes picked up the phone and dialed. "It's me. We have a problem."
"What do you mean we have a problem? What happened? Is Dent dead?"
"Yes, Dent is dead but our man was seen leaving his room." Haynes tapped his fingers on the desk as he spoke.
"Seen by whom?"
"The nun, Agatha. That is not the worst of it. Ironside's sergeant was with her and so was his policewoman." Haynes listened but there was only silence on the other end of the phone.
"Why were they with her?"
"I think that is obvious, don't you? That damn nun has alerted Ironside."
"The nun must be eliminated. She knows too much. We must stop her from telling Ironside anything else."
Haynes rubbed his eyes. "That would not be advisable. Ironside is fond of the nun. If we kill her, then he will be relentless in finding out what happened to her."
"Make it look like an accident and make sure it sticks. Make sure Ironside has to accept it as such."
Morgan Haynes hung up the phone as the line went dead. He did not like this. He had warned him against killing Jody Dent with the charity event going on. If they had waited a few days, it could have been done quietly like the others. Now, he wanted that nun taken out. How could it be done without attracting Ironside's attention?
Haynes picked up the phone and dialed again. He waited for the person he wanted to talk to."
"Hello."
"We have one more tonight to eliminate."
"No way in hell. I was almost caught in Dent's room. I am not doing anything more tonight. In fact, I want out completely. Ironside's man chased me. Fortunately, I got away from him."
"Shut up and listen. Ironside's man is not our biggest problem now. That nun knows too much. He wants her silenced. Make it look like an accident. Remember, if Ironside figures it out, you will be the one to take the fall. So I suggest you make sure he is convinced her death is an accident." Morgan waited for what he knew was going to be an argument.
"I can't hang around here any longer. I have been here all evening. Everyone else has gone home. I will be noticed by someone and not even your threats could get me to do this."
Oh, why do I have to deal with this idiot? No wonder Ironside is now on to us. "Okay, fine. I will send our man to eliminate you tonight. Goodbye." Morgan tried to hang up the phone.
"Wait! All right, I will do it. I'll make it look like an accident."
Morgan smiled as he put the phone in the cradle.
6.7
Ironside wheeled into Sister Agatha's office. She was arguing with Dr. Peter Witt. When he entered the room, the argument came to an abrupt halt. "What are you doing in here? This area of the hospital is off limits to anyone except medical staff," Whitt barked at Ironside.
"Sister?" Ironside looked at her.
"I would like him to stay," she told Dr. Witt.
"Hospital business doesn't concern Chief Ironside," Witt insisted.
"No, but murder does."
"Murder?" Ironside repeated.
"Oh for God's sake, Sister. There is no evidence of murder. Why do you persist?"
"Suppose you tell me what is going on and let me be the judge of it," Ironside said raising his voice.
"Councilman Dent was murdered tonight and you should not be taking the Lord's name in vain, Doctor," Sister scolded. She repeated what had happened while the chief was speaking at the event.
"Where is Ed now?" Ironside asked.
"He is still checking the grounds for the man that came out of the councilman's room."
"Dr. Prentis has declared the death a heart attack." Witt reminded both of them.
"Every one of them?" Ironside questioned. "I want you to order an autopsy on the councilman."
Dr. Witt sighed. "Alright, you will have your autopsy but if there is nothing in it then this stops. Is that clear?"
Ironside's jaw clinched. "Are you telling me how to do my job?"
"Why not? You are telling me how to do mine," the doctor complained.
"This is now an official police investigation," Ironside growled. "I suggest you cooperate, Doctor."
"I told you we would do an autopsy, didn't I?"
There was a knock on the door. Sister Agatha walked over and opened it. Ed and Eve walked in along with Mark. "You didn't find him?" Ironside asked but already knew the answer to his question.
"He clobbered me, Chief," Ed said rubbing his head. "And before you ask, we did not get a look at him, except from the back."
"What about you, Sister?"
"I am sorry, Robert. I did not see him either."
"I want a list of everyone that was at the charity event tonight, Sister. Also, a list of everyone on duty."
"I will see to it that you get it in the morning."
Eve stepped closer to her boss. "We talked to everyone that was on the floor at the time. None of them could give us a description of the man."
"We checked the entire hospital, Chief. He got away," Ed said.
"Get a fingerprint team in here. I want Dent's room guarded. No one goes in there until we have checked the room." He turned his chair to Peter Witt. "Will you excuse us, Doctor? I will speak with you later."
Witt looked from Ironside to Sister Agatha and then left her office.
"Sister, what was the result of the inventory?" Ironside asked. Sister Agatha told him what she had discovered. "That is not much help," the chief said. "That drug would show up in an autopsy."
"I am sorry, Robert."
Mark joined the conversation. "What about the possibility that the killer brought the drug in with him?"
"Are you saying that the killer could not be a member of the staff here at the hospital?" Eve asked.
"It is at least a possibility," Mark answered. "Isn't it?" He looked over at Ironside who seemed not to be paying attention. "Chief?"
"I don't think a drug is involved," Ed countered.
"How could that be? Something killed him." Mark sat down on the edge of Sister Agatha's desk. "It had to be a drug of some kind. One that can't be detected."
Ironside shook his head. "Not necessarily. An air embolism. Air injected into his IV in the wrist."
Agatha nodded. "It would be very hard to prove it."
"Sister, have you checked to see if there are any syringes missing?"
"No. I did not check that."
"Can you do it now?" Ironside asked. "Lock yourself in the room and don't let anyone in."
"Yes, Robert, right away." Sister Agatha left her office.
"Ed, you and Eve call in that fingerprint team and go over that room for anything that might help us. Mark, Katherine is waiting in the conference room. I will need you to drive her home." Ironside looked at his staff. "Well, what are you all waiting for?" Ed & Eve left together.
"I am going to say goodbye to Katherine and then you can take her home." Ironside wheeled out of the office. Mark stepped in behind his chair and began pushing.
6.8
Sister Agatha stepped into the pharmacy and locked the door. She reached into the drawer where the syringes were kept. It was empty. Standing there a bit perplexed, Sister Agatha could not understand where they could be. The head pharmacist had the authorization to move anything but she knew that Barney Moller was not the type who liked change. He would not have moved them. Barney had been quite a change from Louise Prescott whom Barney had replaced. She had been charged with the attempted murder of Chief Ironside when he came into St Mary's for exploratory surgery to see if he would walk again. Louise, who was now serving a prison term, was always changing things around.
Agatha looked around the pharmacy. Where could those syringes be? She started checking every place she could think of. After a twenty minute search, Agatha was about to give up when she spotted them up high on a shelf. Now, how was she supposed to reach them? She looked around for something she might stand on that would give her the height she would need in order to reach them. She could find nothing.
Agatha sat down in a chair. She had worked a double shift and attended the charity event. Her feet hurt. She needed to sit down and rest them. The nun sat there for a moment and then stood back up. She had to get those syringes. Robert was counting on her to find out if any of them were missing. She looked at the chair and chuckled. She was so overworked and tired that she had not even realized that the chair was the answer to her problem.
The nun pushed the chair over to the shelves. She slowly got up on it and stood up. Stretching as far as she could, she reached for the syringes. They were still out of her reach. She had no choice but to step on the shelves themselves. Sister Agatha climbed up three of the shelves and pulled the syringes down. She dropped the large box to the floor and began climbing back down when she felt someone grab her right ankle from the other side of the shelves. She struggled to free her herself when the person's hand lifted her ankle, throwing her weight to her left side and causing her to try to balance on one foot. The person then lifted her off her feet and shoved her backwards. Sister Agatha screamed as she fell to the floor.