A Series of Unfortunate Events
Chapter 22
Suddenly Special Agent Morris of the FBI, Fritz Howard of SOB, the Major Crimes team came out from behind the dividing wall they'd been hiding behind. Special Agent Morris held a folder full of documents that Colleen had put together stating Cora's crimes. She had handed it to him when he walked in the door. Lieutenant Michael Tao held the search warrant. The rest of the team held their hands on their weapons but didn't point them because they didn't want to frighten the patients.
Cora looked from Augustus and Alex to Special Agent Morris. Her eyes narrowed and she lifted her chin. She spoke with brittle precision, "I'm so sorry officers, I'm not sure how you got in here, but you'd better have a warrant!"
"We do," Special Agent Morris said and showed the paperwork. "We're here to find Commander Sharon Raydor."
"We have no one by that name here. I'm sure it's just a misunderstanding, gentlemen. Now we are dealing with a delusional patient that has had a fall. Look she's bleeding, she'll need stitches. Alex, Augustus take her to the infirmary. Now, before she falls again." The goon's started towards Sharon yet again, but she stared them down with her Darth Raydor glare.
The Major Crimes team moved closer to Sharon. After looking from her to the people behind her and at Cora, they backed off with their hands up in the air. "You are wrong, Cora Hartley. The woman you are referring to, your delusional patient isn't delusional at all. She is Commander Sharon Raydor."
Cora's hands fluttered close to her heart. "Gentlemen, I assure you, I had no idea!"
"Don't give us that load of crap. You mean to tell me a Commander of the LAPD wakes up here with someone else's identity tag and claims she's Commander Sharon Raydor, a police officer of the LAPD and you didn't investigate her claims or return her to her family?" Fritz asked incredulously.
Cora shrugged, "She had Isabel Beckett's wristband on, her medical records were on the gurney with her. How was I supposed to know?"
Fritz was appalled. "You could have investigated her claims, for one."
"I'm a nurse, not a police officer!" Cora's tone was condescending.
Special Agent Morris said very deliberately, "you have kept Commander Sharon Raydor a prisoner here, for the last seventy-two hours and acted out a vendetta against her. Taking full advantage of her weakened state of health, by having your henchman or goons, as Colleen Warren puts it, shoot her with sedatives. If that wasn't enough you denied her basic needs like her glasses and her inhaler. Not to mention Her real name! You monitored her denying her basic bodily functions unless she asked permission. You fed her and the rest of the residents of this facility spoiled food and made them watch you eat the good food. All of that I consider reprehensible. It also constitutes kidnapping a police officer, with special circumstances, Cora. You will be put you in federal prison for life. Adding to that, all of those methods, used on mentally ill patients is considered to be cruel and unusual punishment. That adds several years to your prison sentence. You'll be in prison for many lifetimes. Then there is what you and your goons did to a Ronald Warren. Using shock therapy treatment and destroying his mind. Using shock therapy on patients without the proper credentials adds to your sentence as well."
Cora looked from them to Special Agent Morris. Her eyes narrowed and she dropped the charming façade and went for incredulity. "Kidnapping, don't be ridiculous. I never touched her! She was brought to me. She had a wristband with someone else's name on it. This person whose name tag she had, was delusional schizophrenic and was suffering from Alzheimer's disease and her physical description matched those of Isabel. How was I supposed to know she wasn't who the name tag said she was?"
"As I've said before, you could have investigated my claims. Made inquiries! Besides, you know me by sight and now that my head is clearer, I remember you as well. You're Joseph Hartford's widow, Corinne Hartford." She turned her head and addressed her team to explain. Joseph Hartford was a police officer, a beat cop, who was put in jail for extortion and murder twenty years ago. He died in jail." She turned her attention back to Cora. "You were in court when he was sentenced. I remember because of the look you gave me while I was on the stand. I'm a police officer and I've seen a lot of evil in this world, but that look made the hair on the back of my neck stand on end. My guess is that the only reason you were never put in jail yourself, is that until now you were smart enough not to get caught. That's about to change, Cora. It's over for you," Sharon said happily.
Cora's face contorted with rage and she stood up to go after Sharon. She was quick and almost made contact with her fingers which were like talons but in spite of how badly Sharon felt, her sense of preservation kicked in, as did her police training. Sharon blocked Cora's attempt to scratch her face, then grabbed her arm and twisted it behind her. Amy and Julio converged on them and took over.
Sanchez put Cora in handcuffs while Sykes supported Sharon. Andy who was told by Fritz to stand down and let the others handle it. Chief Howard gave him a list of reasons why, he was too personally involved, also he was running on no sleep, taking care of a sick baby, trying to keep Rusty calm, and worrying about the Commander. Andy rushed over to Sharon's side and grabbed a chair for her to sit on. As soon as she was seated, Amy went to assist Julio who was reading Cora the Miranda Rights to her. "You are under arrest for kidnapping a police officer with special circumstances and for cruel and unusual punishment on mental health clients. You have a right to remain silent…"
Special Agent Morris said, "Take her away and take her goons too." Alex and Augustus looked like they were contemplating running.
Nolan cuffed them and said, "I wouldn't do that if I were you. There's nowhere for you to go anyway." Then he pushed them in front of him and held on to each of their arms. "Don't try escaping."
"We were just following orders, it was all her! She told us to do the things we did…" they could be heard saying as they were led out of the ward.
Agent Morris looked over at Sharon and asked, "Do you think that Colleen would be a good choice to leave in charge? At least for now?"
Sharon said, "definitely. She wants to make this place better for the residents." She smiled at Colleen and Colleen smiled back.
"Do you think she's capable?" He asked concerned. They needed someone they could trust here until their investigation was complete.
With assurance Sharon replied, "more than capable and I will be checking up on her, holding her accountable."
Colleen was grateful for her confidence in her. "Thank you for your confidence Commander Raydor and for being willing to hold me accountable."
"You can call me Sharon, Colleen. After all, you saved my life, along with my friends here." Her voice expressed the relief she felt that the nightmare she was living the last few days were over.
As they had led Cora and her goons away, Andy had been in the background and saw Amy was holding Sharon in an upright position. He left his place next to Provenza and came over, bringing her a chair to sit in. He could see that she was barely able to stand even with Amy supporting her. He put the chair behind her and helped her to sit down. As she did she groaned with pain. He noticed then that her knee was bleeding and her ankle was slightly swollen. Once she was seated, Andy bent down to kiss her on the lips. Their lips met and at first, they both got lost in each other, but suddenly they became aware of what was going on around them and they pulled back.
Sharon's hand caressed his cheek as she looked into his eyes. Tears were welling up, in her beautiful green orbs. As she saw his pale face and barely concealed rage at what Cora had been up to. She gave a negative shake to her head to indicate this wasn't the time for the reunion they both wanted. So, Andy stood up as much as he wanted to hold her in his arms, and give her a proper kiss, he knew she was right, this wasn't the time. They would have their reunion in a more private setting.
Agent Morris looked over at Sharon and Andy. "Listen, Commander, I'll let my superiors know about Colleen and how she helped us find you and if she has the proper credentials they'll strongly suggest she be made permanent."
"Oh, I have the credentials alright. I received them in Virginia. I worked in a ward like this back there, but my brother Ronnie disappeared on a motorcycle trip he took with a bunch of his buddies. One of them named Eddie called to let me know he'd been taken from a bar. They'd all been plastered when it happened so, he didn't know where he had been taken to. I went looking for him, I found out he'd been here. He was brought here for observation after he beat up the guy that owned a bar they stopped in, for a drink. He beat him for mistreating some young girl who was the waitress. By the time I got here, I had just missed him. I found him again, at the state hospital. He was a zombie because Cora had Dr. Peter Gentry order shock therapy for him. He didn't even know who I was!" Colleen focused on the ceiling for a moment, while she tried to get her emotions under control.
When she finally started talking again, her voice trembled. "She let her goons do it and they overdid it. I was just figuring all this out when Miss Sharon showed up here. I knew right away something wasn't right, that she wasn't who they thought she was. So, I cooked up my plan. I couldn't really tell anybody at first because I didn't know who was and wasn't in Cora's pocket."
Sadly, Sharon said, "I'm so sorry about your brother, Colleen."
"Thank You, I didn't tell you about him being my brother because I was trying to keep it impersonal so I wouldn't start blubbering. Ronnie and I were close. Until he started hanging out with those biker pals of his, that is. Drinking and acting all tough. Ronnie was a sweet man but he was teased a lot when he was younger because he was so tender. He used to be small and skinny as a kid, but then he hit puberty and he grew really fast. He got real tall like 6'5 and ended up weighing a lot like me, but he was still a gentle giant. Even underneath his tough exterior, he had a soft spot for people that were younger and weaker than him." Feeling herself get emotional again Colleen blinked back tears and changed the subject by asking, "May I get some bandages and some antiseptic wipes, for your knee Miss Sharon?"
Before Sharon could say anything, Andy cleared his throat. "Yes, thank you, Colleen." Sharon looked at him her eyebrows raised as if to say, 'is your name Sharon?' He looked back his own eyebrows raised if to say, 'I wasn't taking any chances you'd say no.' No words were spoken, but their facial expressions communicated volumes.
Colleen got the supplies and knelt before Sharon. She cut the pant leg and revealed an oozing open wound across Sharon's knee. She began cleaning it and then she put a bandage over it as she did so Sharon held tightly to the edge of the chair to keep from crying out. "It's going to need stitches, Miss Sharon, but that should do until you get them."
"Thank you, Colleen," Sharon said through gritted teeth.
The nurse felt bad about what had happened. "I'm really sorry you got hurt. Molly was supposed to pretend to trip you not really trip you."
Sharon patted Colleen's hand. "It's okay. If my getting hurt was the lynchpin to ending Cora's reign here, I'd gladly do it again."
Colleen said, "um I'll be back, I've got to throw this stuff away." Sharon nodded and waved her away.
With that business dispensed with, Provenza walked over to Sharon. "How are you, Commander?" He asked with concern.
Sharon looked up at him. She was happy to see him. "I've been better, Lieutenant. How are you?" She asked back.
He let out a breath of relief. "Better now that my favorite commanding officer is out of danger."
She blushed and smiled affectionately up at him. "Thank you, Lieutenant."
Provenza looked humble as he said, "you know, Commander after meeting Cora Hartley, I believe Flynn and I and the team owe you an apology."
Sharon was surprised because her second-in-command never apologized to anyone. She had to ask, "Oh really, Lieutenant? An apology for what?"
"Back when you were coming around when the Chief was in charge, we nicknamed you the Wicked Witch. You were Never the Wicked Witch. Maybe Glenda the good witch, since we now know that you were trying to help us, but especially compared to that woman you were Never The Wicked Witch and I apologize for ever thinking you were." Provenza coughed before adding, "and some years ago I may have referred to you as Nurse Ratchett and you are definitely not that evil." He looked at the doorway where the team had escorted Cora out of.
"Well, thank you for that Louie." Sharon tries to keep a straight face, "I will say that I knew you called me that, and I saw your little drawings…"
TBC...
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