Chaos at Crescent City Medical Center (24 page)

"Who're these staff members?"  Francois
aske
d
as he broke off a piece of jelly doughnut
.

"One
nurse and several operating room techs.  I haven't talked with them yet.  That complaint is fairly new.  After I interview them, I'll get back to you.  That's all."  Alex finished speaking.

Francois turned to Robert
as he chewed the doughnut
.  "Is this l
ady with the bad boob
job pissed enough to kill your patients?"

Robert looked bewildered at the thought.  "I don't think so, alt
hough she's mentally unstable,"
he added.

"She may be unstable, but she's well-connected and not someone we want to alienate.  Especially not now," Alex
added
.

"Who is she?" Francois
aske
d. 

"Elaine Logan.  Her family's been treated at CCMC for years, and are heavy contributors to the hospital's foundation," Alex said.

Francois laughed
and his dark eyes sparkled
.  "I don't think she
’
s smart enough to be responsible for this.  Dr. Bonnet, is there anything else you want to tell me?"  Francois looked carefully at Robert.

"No, not really,"
he hesitated, and eyed Dr. Ashley and Elizabeth. 

Apparently taking the cue, Dr. Ashley said, "I need to make rounds.  Let me know if you need me f
urther, C
aptain."  Formal, as always, Dr. Ashley shook hands with the captain and left. 
Elizabeth also made her excuses
and left the Cafe.

Francois, Alex, and Robert were left in the private dining room.
Francois looked at Robert.  "Dr. Bonnet, you seemed to hesitate earlier.  Is there something you th
ink may be associated with all of this stuff
?"

Robert threw up his hands.  "For God's sake, Jack
!
  Call me by my first name.  We've
known each other for years.
Quit the formal stuff
!"

“You got it,” the captain replied.

“
There is something else.  I mentioned this to Alex earl
ier this week.
I've gotten a lot of pressure, and some threats, about selling a piece of land I own jointly with my father.  The caller insists that I sell. 
Each phone call becomes more and more threatening.  They have even gotten hold of my cell phone and are calling that as well. 
Even if I wanted to sell, my father would never agree.  He h
as other plans
for the property
.
”

"Where's the land?"
Francois asked as he finished the doughnut.

"On the riverfront, near the Hilton Queen Riverboat Casino and the Riverwalk.
"

"
That’s some big money property.  Prime real estate.
Makes you wonder wh
o wants it so bad.  Any ideas?"
  Francois had a probing look on his face
. 

"No, not really, I don’t.  I really don’t.”
Robert hesitated, an uncertain look on his handsome face.  “
A woman I was dating, a real estate agent, said she had a
buyer for the property and suggested I consider selling
.  Told her to forget it, my father'd never sell. 
She really wasn’t too happy to hear this.” 

“
I can only imag
ine,”
Jack rolled his eyes.  I b
et it cost
her
a
big commission.”

Robert continued, “
Yeah, huge.  She was pissed.
  Soon after, t
he calls started coming, at all hours, day and night. 
‘
They
,’ whoever ‘they’ are,
even called me over at my house at Gulf Shores.
  They’ve been very persistent to say the least.
" 

Robert
paused for a moment and then continued, “
I don't know enough about these internal complaints to even address them.  Alex won't tell me who made them.  Makes it hard for me to defend myself
, wouldn’t you say?
"  Robert
said angrily as he
shot Alex a rueful look.

"Robert, after I interview them, we'll talk.  I'll tell you then.  You know that."  Alex responded, nonplussed.

Jac
k intervened.  "Thanks, for telling
me this stuff
. 
I'll put a trace on your phone
in case you get any more calls.
My guess is that somebody, probably the mob, wants that land to build more casinos or hotels.
Stay close and let me know if anything develops," Francois told him.

"Thanks, Jack.  There's one more thing.  I've gotten two other phone calls from a man.  Sounds young and says he knows somebody's out to get me.  Said he's warning me because I helped him once."

"
Who?
Any ideas?"

"No.  His voice is vaguely familiar but I don't recognize it.  Could be anybody.  A
patient, student, family-member…..who knows?
"

"It's som
ebody who thinks enough of you
to take a risk and call,"
Francois
replied
, his face serious
.

"Yeah.  Good point. I need your help, all of us do."  Robert checked his watch. "Got to make rounds.  Call me if you need anything else." 

Francois and Alex were alone.
Captain Francois broke the silence.  "What do you think's coming down here?"

"Don't know.  It seems like a conspiracy.  Let me draw a picture of what we know, I think better that way." 

Alex pulled out a piece
of paper and made three columns.  One
column was labeled 'CCMC', the second 'Dr. Bonnet', and the third 'Events'.  All of the items in the 'events' column related back to CCMC and Robert Bonnet.
It was clear that most of the events involved Robert as a central focus.
Except for Robert's land, there was a clear and distinct relationship.

"I guess," Alex mused, "that there're a number of questions.  First of all, who'd want to destroy CCMC?  Who'd benefit?  Finally, who's powerful enough to destroy us?"

Alex and Jack, each caught up in their own thoughts,
wer
e silent for a few minutes
. 
Seeing the events in black and white convinced Alex and Jack there was a plot against the hospital.  The Voodoo curses were appearing and reappearing in the ED shootout and the burn injury.

Then Alex c
ontinued, "Another question
is who has a big enough grudge against Robert to want to destroy him?  Are the events at CCMC related to someone wanting to buy his land?"

"Yep", said Captain Francois.  "Good question.  Another is whether they want to destroy Dr. Bonnet and CCMC toge
ther.  Are they the same people
and are the events related?"

Alex thought for a few seconds.  "Can't imagine
why they're together
unless
they
are
related in some
way.  There’s just too much happening too quickly.
  Maybe someone's just interested in destroying Robert and the fallout on CCMC is just that, a fallout.
  But then, Robert wasn’t directly targeted in the ED shootout…
"

"I doubt it.  And, I think there's a
nother
rotten egg at the top."  Francois glanced up in the air and looked even more disgusted.

"
Montgomery?  No way.  That
self-serving
bastard would never sabotage his own
hospital,” Alex was adamant.  Then noting Jack’s face, she said, “
What aren't you telling me?" 

"I don't know.  This is in confidence, of course.  I got called into the chief's office late yesterday, and was told to play the CCMC thing down.  You know, the spiel to lay low. Just go slow on the investigation."

"
Huh?  What?   That's unbelievable!
  Why would anyone want
to
stop us from finding out what is going
on here
?   People are getting killed and injured every day, and th
e whole city's reeling from this
bogus voodoo scare.  I'd think the chief would want these crimes solved.  Could you have misunde
rstood?"  Alex's voice was loud, her eyebro
ws raised and her face revealed
the incredibility of the Captain
’s confide
nce.

"Be quiet, for G
od's sake, Alex.  I shouldn't have told you.  No, I'm not wrong
,
and I got a clear read on this stuff from the brass
,
and the word was to ba
ck off.
I think this thing's rotten to the core.
There must be some really heavy hitters involved, corruption at the top.
That's all I'm saying.  Well, almost all.  I have a couple of questions for you." 

Alex nodded
, s
till smarting from the news
that someone high up
in the NOPD
wanted to ‘sit’ on the problems at CCNC.

Captain Francois continued
.
"Don said no one was interested in buying the hospital and that the trustees had voted to stay independent.  Right?"

Alex nodded
affirmatively
.  "To the best of my knowledge that's correct." 

"Have there been any changes in the trustees recently?"

"Well, no, not really." 

Suddenly she remember
ed the new member at the board
meeting this week, the man with the ordinary face.  "Wait a minute, yes,
we do.  T
here's a new member.  I'd never seen him until this week. I haven't been introduce
d to him, and I can’t remember
his name."

Then it dawned on Alex, "B
ut you know what, C
aptain?  He hates Robert.  You should've seen the look of hatred cross his face when Robert appeared at the meeting.  It gave me the shivers.  I'll call Latetia
, Don’s secretary,
for his name and address."  

Alex grabbed her cell to phone
Don's secretary.  

Francois was still staring at
the piece of paper they'd composed
when Alex clicked off
.  "She's at lunch.  I'll track her down later and call you."

"Okay.  Here are my numb
ers.  The first one is a beeper, then cell and home.  The cell is the best number. I’m never in my office.
  I'll call you right
back."  Francois prepared to go
but
looked as if he had something else to say.  His face was concerned.

Alex pressed him.  "What?  Is there something else?"

Jack was silent.

"Ask me.  We're on a roll. 
I’m actually beginning to like you.
"  Alex gave him a playful smile.

"It's a little harder, Alex.  Hope you won't take this wrong."   He hesitated.  There was an uncomfortable pause and Francoise stared at the floor and played with his car keys.

"S
top staring at the floor.  Tell me
Francois, let me have it."  Alex couldn't imagine what could be so difficult.

Francois began slowly.  "Understand you've been seeing Mitchell Landry.  How well do you know him?"

Alex felt a knot in her stomach.  "I've been seeing him about three months. Why?
What does Mitch have to do with anything?
" 

Francois ignored her question.  "Sorry to question you like this, but I have a good reason.  How well d' you know Landry?"

"Mitch and I see each other socially. It's a perf
ectly respectful relationship, C
aptain.  Why'd you ask?"
Alex could feel increasing stress
and tension in her neck, headed towards her temple
.

Francois seemed distinctly uncomfortable with Alex's anger, but wasn't going to give up. "You kn
o
w anything about his habits?"

"What habits?  I know all about his passion for art and nineteenth century literature.  I know he loves opera and theater.  Is that what you mean?"  Alex's voice was caustic
and she was pissed
as she scrutinized the police captain.  She noticed Jack's discomfort. 

"Landry's a compulsive gambler.  Gets him into
big
trouble.  Guess you didn't know." 

Alex gasped
and her face paled
.  “What, you’re
crazy.”