Chaos at Crescent City Medical Center (27 page)

Even though Alex was angry at Francois for talking to her like that, she was so glad to see him she almost kisse
d him.  Instead, she said as best she could
, "Captain, they were going to kill that baby.
Oh my God, that’s murder.
We have to go back, we have to
.
Can we go back and get it?"  Alex's voice was scratchy and her throat was sore.

"The baby's fine.  My men rescued her.  Let's get out of here befo
re they cook us in that damn
pot.
”
Alex needed no encouragement.  She bolted, her right arm sagging at her side.

After they had gotten near the cars, Jack asked, “
How are you feeling?  You don't look so good."  Francois examined Alex critically
as he opened the car door.  As the light from the car blanketed her
,
it was obvious she was injured.
  She was pale and sweating.

Indeed, Alex's shoulder was on fire with pain.  "I think my shoulder may be broken. It hurts like crazy."  She was sweating profusely even though the air around her was cool.

"Give me your car keys.  I'll have one of my men drive your car home.  I'm taking you to the emergency department at CCMC."

Alex started to protest, but seeing the look in the captain's eyes, she decided to save her energy.  "Okay," she relented meekly.

The Captain assisted Alex to his unmarked silver
Cadillac
, outfitted with the very latest in police technology.  Jack was obviously proud of his wheels.  He looked at her carefully and said, "Would it be better if I called an ambulance?"

"Heavens, no.  If anybody knew I was out here at a voodoo meeting, I'd get fired - again - twice in one day is more than I can handle.  I'll be okay."  In truth A
lex's shoulder was killing her and she was feeling
woozy
and afraid she might vomit.  S
he couldn't wait to get to the emergency department.

"Jack, who was that man who assaulted me?  He had a killer grip around my neck.
  Thi
nk he was trying to strangle me?
"  Alex barely recognized the sound of her own voice
,
it was so scratchy.

"I don't know.  I don't know if my men caught up with him or not.  He was a
big SOB and strong as
hell
.
  The man's a physical monster.  Do you remember anything else about him?"

"No, not really.  I think he was white and had a ponytail and I think I'm going to pass out."   Alex stopped talking.

When the captain looked over at her, he noticed that she
was sweating
profusely and had passed out.  He checked her pulse and it was racing.  She's going into shock.  I got to get her there fast.  He pulled his siren out and sped towards CCMC.  Damn her, he t
hought.  Just like a dumb woman but, o
f course, he had to admire her spunk, even if what she had done was stupid. 

The care
at CCMC in the emergency department was prompt.  There were no other patients.  Her shoulder was broken, separated actually.  It was after 4:00 a.m. when Francois dropped Alex off at her house.  He walked her to the door and made her a pot of tea.  He even waited until she was in the bed before he left.

"Jack," she murmured quietly.  "Are
there any messages on my voice mail or my cell
?"

"
Nope,
not
a one.  That's good news.  CCMC must be quiet tonight." 

"Of course it is.  We were just there.  Yes, that's good.  But you know Captain, I haven't heard from Mitch today.  That's unusual."  Alex drifted off to sleep.

Before Jack Francois left Alex's home, he looked around and was impressed at the beauty and elegance of the furnishings.  He called her office and left Bridgett a voice mail message, saying Alex would check in at noon.  He left Alex a note telling her he had called Bridgett.  He
also called the station and arranged for a unit to sit outside her apartment for the rest of the night.  The ponytailed stranger could come after her again, a recurring thought that concerned Jack.  He racked his brain to figure out why the ponytail was after Alex.

On the way home, his heart thudded with fear with what had almost happened.  Francois had eyed Alex earlier in the evening, and had almost missed her abduction by the stranger.  I'd like to know who that bastard is and how he fits into this puzz
le.  It's a shame the bastard
got away from my men.  Francois was frustrated and scared as he drove through the cool, New Orleans night.
  Who in the hell was the huge
SOB with the ponytail?

Alex awakened
at eleven in the morning to a
furious pounding on her door. 
As she staggered out of bed
,
pain seared through her arm and shoulder.  She gritted her teeth as she attempted to put on her robe.  The pounding continued until she opened the door.  Robert stood in the alcove.

His face flooded with relief as he saw her.  He pulled her into his arms and hugged her.

  "You're crushing my shoulder.  It hurts bad enough without you squeezing me to death," Alex
attempted
to joke while trying
to hide
her pain
, but felt she was unsuccessful.

"I've been worried about you.  I saw Francois several hours ago
,
and he told me what happened.  Called
you, but there wasn't an answer
so I
decided to just come over here.  How're you feeling?"

Alex yawned.  "
I m
ust have been
really knocked out
not to h
ear the phone.  Truthfully
, R
obert, it hurts like hell
.  I'm going to have a hard time wearing
my ball gown with this sling on.
"  Alex panicked as she realized she still hadn't heard from Mitch.

Robert noticed the look on her face.  "What?  You look worried."

"I haven't heard from a friend for a couple o
f days.  Let me check my voice mail and cell.
  Maybe he left a message this morning."

Alex listened to her answering service
and checked her voice mail
,
but Mitch hadn't
called.  She felt herself becoming increasingly agitated as her concern for him increased.

Robert was aware of her increasing anxiety as she paced around her dining room.  “Maybe we should talk about it a bit.”

Alex wasn’t sure she wanted to discuss her weekend date with her ex-husband and said instead,
"How 'bout some coffee?  I need to get up and get going."

"I'll make
coffee and some breakfast for you
while you start getting ready
,
but let me catch you up on this morning
.
You missed the board of trustees meeting, but not much happened.  They're supportive of the hospital and don't understand Governor Raccine's a
ctions or behavior.
  Several of them expressed overt anger with the Governor.  By the way
, you'll be happy to know Don didn't suggest the board fire you."

Alex gave him a wry smile
,
and her
eyes lit up
.
  “Terrific.
I'm pleased to hear that.  Anything else happen?"

"No, not really.  Today
i
s Ron Davis' funeral.
It's at 1:30
at Saint Anne's Church and Diane's
funeral follows at 3:30
at Saint Bartholomew Parish.   Ron's burial is at Lafayette Cemetery, but Diane's is in Old
Meta
i
rie
.  Can you make it?"

Alex sighed
and sho
ok her head, her face reflected
the misery of the week.  "Have to make it.  Why’
s Diane's funeral so soon?"

Robert's face was sad
and he said slowly, "I think her husband just wanted to get it over with.  I don't think he ever thought she had a chance of surviving.  Besides, I'm sure that both families want them buried before the weekend when Mardi Gras is in full swing.  The traffic will be even more horrendous then."

"I suppose so.  It's so distressing, all of it
.  It's going to be even sadder when we actually bury them."  Alex had tears in her eyes.
  It was a poignant moment for both of them.
  "Do you know if Don Montgomery is going?"

"I would certainly hope so.  I know Dr. Ashley and Elizabeth are planning on coming together.  Would you like to go with me?  If you hurry up and get dressed, we can grab a bite for lunch on the way.  Better still, I'll make us an omelet while you get dressed. Do you need any help because of your
shoulder?  I'm available
."  He looked a little embarrassed.

Alex looked
sharply at him
to see if he was serious.  He apparently was.
She was a bit chagrined.
  Before she could respond, he said, "You know, I'm a doctor."  He was blushing by this time and his tone was officious.

"And, I'm a nurse.  I can manage.  If I need you
,
I'll call, though." 

After her shower, a painful ordeal at best, Alex decided on a black loosely-fitting linen dress.  It was simple in design and
a
strand of pearls was all the jewelry she needed to complete it.
  She selected some black heels and
critically checked herself
in the mirror
. She
decided she looked OK, not great.  She was pale from the pain and her
normally glorious
reddish-
blonde hair had lost it
s
normal luster.  
Af
ter several attempts which caused
agonizing
pain, Alex realized she was unable to button her dress.  She went to her closet to try and find a simpler outfit to wear, but all her clothes seemed to have similar fastenings.  Finally, she went
for help
.

When Alex reached the kitchen, Robert was pouring orange juice into two crystal juice glasses.  Two fresh mushroom and
Andouille
sausage omelets were waiting in the pan beside some grits on the stove.  Rich
New Orleans coffee with
chicory
completed the menu
and it smelled great
.

"Grits are for you," Robert quipped cheerfully.   "I still can't eat them." 

Alex shook her head at him and said woefully, "Guess I'll never make a Virginian out of you.  Eat
ing grits and going to the rivah are fundamental
social requirements.  Do you think you could help me button my dress?"

“Oh, I see, so you do need some help.
”
  Robert’s eyes were
twinkling
at her.
"
I’ll be glad to assist
.
  Let me check that dressing as well.  It looks a bit crooked to me. I may need to adjust it.
"

Alex grinned at him.  “Just keep it professional, please!”

There was little conversation as they ate.
  Both seemed caught up in each other's presence so they only exch
anged polite conversation. 
She felt comfortable and awkward with Robert
.  It
seemed strange, but she sort of liked it.
She decided to take a risk and talk about Mitch.

"Do you know Mitch Landry?"

Robert looked surprised at her question.  "Sure.  I knew him when we were kids.  Haven't seen him much since
undergrad LSU
.  Why?"

Ale
x was silent for a few minutes as she debated
whether she should confide her fears about Mitch.

Robert continued and tried to make it
easier for her.
"I know you've been seeing Mitch.  Is that what you wanted to tell me?"

"
No, not
really
.  Do you know whether he gambles?"

Robert looked at her strangely.  "Gambles?
Y
ou mean like at the c
asinos?
"

"
Yes, I guess.
Francois told me yesterday Mitch was a compulsive gambler.  I've been seeing him for a few months
,
and I've never seen evidence
to suggest that
,
and it threw me for a loop
.  Anyway, Francois thinks he may be in trouble with the mob, or somebody for a bunch of money.  What concerns me
is that I've noticed several me
n loitering around when we've been out.
I haven’t heard from hi
m for a while
,
and I am a little
nervous ab
o
ut it.
"

Robert
thoughtfully
scratched h
is chin
and said, "Well, I've heard rumors, but I don't know for sure
about the gambling
."  Robert stopped speaking for a moment and seemed to be remembering something.

"What?"

"Oh, nothing really.
It
s
eems like I did hear a couple of years ago that he'd been treated
for compulsive gambling.
Tell me more about the men that you have noticed hanging around.
What are the
y like
?"

Alex could picture them vividly in her mind.  "One's short, stocky and smokes a cigar.  The other's tall and has a ponytail."

She dropped her fork in recognition.  "I'm sure the man that grabbed m
e last night had a ponytail also
.  If there's a connection, then Mitch's somehow involved in the CCMC events.  We've got to call Jack." 

She ran out of the kitchen to get Francois' numbers
.  He was out of his office
and his cell phone said, "the party you are trying to reach is unavailable." S
he left her number on his beeper
and cell
. 
As
she returned to the kitchen to finish her coffee
,
Alex continued to think back over her conversations with Mitch and became more convinced that he was involved in the events at the hospital.  It was an upsetting thought, for many reasons. 

She finally said to Robert, who'd been watching her carefully.  "I lef
t my number with 911 on Jack’s cell
.

“
I'm s
u
re he'll call soon,"
said Robert as he took a forkful of omelet.

Within seconds the phone rang.
  It was Francois.  Alex didn't give him time to speak.

"Francois...Jack.  Thanks for calling me back so soon.  I think you're right about Mitch.  I'm so worried.  I haven't heard from him in two days.  That's not like him....."

"Slow down, Alex," he said in a hint of his old self. 

"Sorry, I'm just so worried.  It just hit me.  I think something might have happened..."

"I'll send a car over to his place.  How's the shoulder?"

"Hurts like hell!"

"Lucky you didn't get killed!
Listen, I got to go. 
I'll get back with you."